The Rock Hill/Charlotte commute: Here’s what to know about schools along the way
The Charlotte area has one of the nation’s fastest growing populations and the region’s school districts are working to keep up.
Between July 1, 2020 and 2021, the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia metropolitan area grew by more than 31,000 people to reach more than 2.7 million residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That was the ninth-highest population increase in U.S. metropolitan areas in that year period.
The area’s growth was fueled by counties such as Lancaster, which crossed the threshold of more than 100,000 residents in 2021, according to population estimates. York County also added nearly 5,000 residents during the same period.
And the area’s school districts, which are considered some of the best in the region and are home to top-ranked high schools, are filling up just as fast.
Here’s what to know about the school districts.
Fort Mill School District
The Fort Mill School District has about 18,000 students and is the largest of the four public districts in York County. It serves students in the town of Fort Mill, Lake Wylie and Tega Cay. The district has 20 schools: 11 elementary schools, six middle schools and three high schools.
The district, considered one of the best in the Charlotte area, has received several national awards and honors. Fort Mill High School and Nations Ford High School are ranked No. 8 and No. 9, respectively, among South Carolina high schools, according to the U.S. News rankings.
Last year, Gold Hill Elementary School, which serves parts of Tega Cay and unincorporated Fort Mill, earned National Blue Ribbon Schools status. The recognition is based on overall academic performance. Up to 420 schools nationwide can be nominated each year.
Nation Ford High School won the same award in 2020, two years after Fort Mill High.
Last school year, the district’s end-of-course high school tests scores were top in the state. The S.C. Department of Education ranked more than 80 districts statewide based on testing in four core classes.
Fort Mill led the state in Algebra 1, Biology 1 and English 2 testing. In U.S. History and the Constitution testing, the district was No. 3.
All three Fort Mill high schools graduated more than 96% of students on time, which is higher than the South Carolina average of nearly 84%, according to its latest state report card.
Rock Hill Schools
The Rock Hill School District, which has more than 16,000 students, is the second-largest school district in York County. The district serves students in and around the city of Rock Hill, which is about 20 miles south of Charlotte.
The district has 24 schools: 14 elementary schools, five middle schools, three high schools, a preschool and a technology center.
Its three high schools are ranked within the top 100 South Carolina high schools, according to the U.S. News and World Report rankings.
Last school year, Rock Hill’s end-of-course high school tests scores were in the top half of the statewide rankings.
In Algebra 1 testing, Rock Hill was No. 33 out of more than 80 school districts. The district was No. 38 in Biology 1 and No. 40 in English 2 testing. In U.S. History and the Constitution testing, Rock Hill was No. 18.
All three Rock Hill high schools graduated 83% of students on time, according to its latest state report card.
Clover School District
The Clover School District, just across Lake Wylie, has about 9,000 students and is home to one of the largest high schools in South Carolina. The district has seven elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school, including a ninth grade campus.
Last year, York County voters passed a bond to allow the district to build a second high school. The new school is expected to open for enrollment by the 2026-27 school year and have a capacity of around 2,100 students.
Clover High School is ranked No. 57 out of 246 high schools in South Carolina, according to the U.S. News rankings.
Last month, S.C. Association of School Administrators named Clover High School Principal Rod Ruth the 2023 South Carolina Secondary Principal of the Year.
The district’s high school graduated more than 95% of students on time, according to its latest state report card.
Clover earned top three ranks in three end-of-course high school test subjects.
Last school year, the district was second in English 2 and third in Algebra 1 and Biology 1 testing. In U.S. History and the Constitution testing, Clover was No. 26 out of more than 80 districts.
Lancaster County School District
The Lancaster County School District is one of the state’s largest school districts. The district has about 15,000 students and serves all parts of the county, including Indian Land, which is just south of Ballantyne in southern Charlotte.
The district has 13 elementary schools, five middle schools and four high schools.
Indian Land High School is ranked No. 43 out of 246 high schools in South Carolina, according to the U.S. News rankings.
Last school year, the district’s end-of-course high school tests scores were in the top half of the statewide rankings.
In Algebra 1 testing, Lancaster was No. 35 out of more than 80 school districts. The district was No. 34 in Biology 2 testing. And Lancaster was No. 37 in English 1 and in U.S. History and the Constitution testing.
Lancaster County’s high schools graduated 79% of students on time, according to its latest state report card.
Steele Creek
Steele Creek, which is served by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, is a community in southwest Mecklenburg County. It includes the area south of the Charlotte-Douglas Airport and west of Sugar Creek and Interstate 77.
CMS, which has nearly 143,000 students, is split into nine learning communities — each led by a superintendent.
The Steele Creek area, which is part of the Southwest learning community, includes one high school, two middle schools and six elementary schools in the area. The area’s students would likely attend Olympic High School, which is ranked No. 15 out of the 35 high schools in the school district, according to the U.S. News rankings.
CMS opened a new high school, Palisades High School, in August to relieve overcrowding at Olympic High. The new 100-classroom high school serves students in grades 9-11.
Last school year, Olympic High received a performance score of 56 — or a letter grade “C.” The high school did not meet their academic growth expectations. The high school graduated more than 77% of its students on time, which is lower than the North Carolina average of 86%, according to its latest school report card.
A school’s performance grade is based on its achievement score and academic growth, according to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. High school performance grades consider end-of-course test, ACT scores and four-year graduation rates.
Pineville
Pineville, which is also served by CMS, is a town in the southern part of Mecklenburg County between Charlotte and Fort Mill.
The town is included in the district’s Southwest learning community. Its students would likely attend Pineville Elementary School, Quail Hollow Middle School and South Mecklenburg High School.
The high school, which has more than 3,000 students, is ranked No. 8 out of the 35 high schools in the school district, according to the U.S. News rankings.
South Meck received a performance score of 60 — or a letter grade “C” last school year. The high school did not meet their academic growth expectations. The high school graduated 82% of its students on time, according to its latest school report card.
Ballantyne
Ballantyne is another Charlotte community served by CMS. It runs adjacent to the South Carolina border and is located in the school district’s South learning community.
The area’s high school, Ardrey Kell High School, is ranked No. 1 out of the 35 high schools in the school district, according to the U.S. News rankings. The high school, which has more than 3,400 students, also is one of the district’s largest.
Last school year, Ardrey Kell received a performance score of 90 — or a letter grade “A.” The high school also exceeded their academic growth expectations. The high school graduated 95% of its students on time, which is higher than the state average, according to its latest school report card.
This story was originally published January 23, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
