The Special Education Observatory · South Atlantic · South
Special education in South Carolina
Students with IEPs in South Carolina, where they spend the school day, and all 94 districts, from 2024–25 federal data.
- 106,426school-age students with IEPs1.4% of the national total
- 13.5%of enrolled students have an IEP1.9 points below the nation (15.3%) · 39th of 51
- 64.7%in general education 80% or more of the day3.1 points below the nation (67.9%) · 35th of 51
- 15.6%in general education less than 40% of the day2.6 points above the nation (13.0%) · 9th of 51
- 92districts reporting a count2 withheld for privacy
South Carolina, district by district
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Loading the South Carolina district map.
Where students learn
Every setting the federal educational environments file reports for school-age students with IEPs in South Carolina, beside the national share.
- In general education 80% or more of the day64.7%
- In general education 40% to 79% of the day17.4%
- In general education less than 40% of the day15.6%
- Separate school0.6%
- Residential facility0.1%
- Homebound or hospital1.0%
- Correctional facility0.1%
- Parentally placed in private school0.8%
| Setting | Students | Share | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| In general education 80% or more of the day | 68,890 | 64.7% | 67.9% |
| In general education 40% to 79% of the day | 18,406 | 17.4% | 15.2% |
| In general education less than 40% of the day | 16,447 | 15.6% | 13.0% |
| Separate school | 448 | 0.6% | 2.5% |
| Residential facility | 107 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Homebound or hospital | 933 | 1.0% | 0.3% |
| Correctional facility | 140 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Parentally placed in private school | 593 | 0.8% | 1.8% |
What may be driving it
Where South Carolina sits among the 50 states and DC on five measures, beside the nation.
- Identification rate13.5%39th highest of 51
- In general education 80% or more of the day64.7%35th highest of 51
- In separate settings1.9%28th highest of 51
- Spending per student$15,01032nd highest of 51
- School-age poverty (estimate)17.0%11th highest of 51
Questions worth asking
- 13.5% of South Carolina's students have an IEP, 1.9 points below the nation (15.3%). How do referral, evaluation and eligibility practices shape that share?[1][3]
- 1.9% of students with IEPs learn in separate settings, against 2.8% for the nation. What share of special education spending follows those placements?[2]
Every district in South Carolina
Search by name or city, filter by kind of agency, and select a column heading to sort. Not published always sorts last.
Showing 94 of 94
| Abbeville 60Abbeville · Regular school district | 2,746 | 371 | 13.5% | 65.2% | 8.6% | 19.9% | $14,900 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken 01Aiken · Regular school district | 22,916 | 2,685 | 11.7% | 66.9% | 15.2% | 22.4% | $13,241 |
| Allendale 01Fairfax · Regular school district | 855 | 77 | 9.0% | 66.2% | Not published | 43.6% | $22,420 |
| Anderson 01Williamston · Regular school district | 10,886 | 1,536 | 14.1% | 72.5% | 21.0% | 11.1% | $11,922 |
| Anderson 02Honea Path · Regular school district | 3,404 | 506 | 14.9% | 73.9% | 14.4% | 17.8% | $14,238 |
| Anderson 03Iva · Regular school district | 2,772 | 388 | 14.0% | 67.5% | 26.5% | 20.6% | $14,226 |
| Anderson 04Pendleton · Regular school district | 3,076 | 449 | 14.6% | 76.2% | 18.5% | 14.5% | $15,654 |
| Anderson 05Anderson · Regular school district | 12,131 | 1,659 | 13.7% | 70.2% | 19.0% | 19.3% | $14,626 |
| Anderson 80Williamston · Specialized public school district | 0 | 0 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Anderson 81Anderson · Specialized public school district | 0 | 0 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Bamberg 03Denmark · Regular school district | 1,817 | 181 | 10.0% | 57.5% | Not published | 30.0% | $19,379 |
| BarnwellBarnwell · Regular school district | 3,123 | 452 | 14.5% | 76.3% | 17.0% | Not published | $16,344 |
| Beaufort 01Beaufort · Regular school district | 21,050 | 2,487 | 11.8% | 66.1% | 14.9% | 12.1% | $17,357 |
| Beaufort 80Ridgeland · Specialized public school district | 0 | 0 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Berkeley 01Moncks Corner · Regular school district | 39,423 | 5,252 | 13.3% | 49.5% | 18.6% | 11.9% | $13,371 |
| Calhoun 01St. Matthews · Regular school district | 1,465 | 258 | 17.6% | 47.7% | 27.9% | 20.7% | $17,737 |
| Charleston 01Charleston · Regular school district | 50,856 | 5,130 | 10.1% | 66.5% | 9.2% | 13.8% | $18,199 |
| Charter Institute at ErskineColumbia · Independent charter district | 26,014 | 3,562 | 13.7% | 79.2% | 9.1% | Not published | Not published |
| Cherokee 01Gaffney · Regular school district | 7,525 | 976 | 13.0% | 68.3% | 12.6% | 20.4% | $14,757 |
| Chester 01Chester · Regular school district | 4,523 | 666 | 14.7% | 78.5% | 9.2% | 19.6% | $16,618 |
| Chesterfield 01Chesterfield · Regular school district | 6,872 | 710 | 10.3% | 48.7% | 24.2% | 24.9% | $14,099 |
| Clarendon 06Manning · Regular school district | 4,216 | 467 | 11.1% | 52.9% | 14.8% | 23.7% | Not published |
| Colleton 01Walterboro · Regular school district | 4,539 | 727 | 16.0% | 53.0% | 17.1% | 26.2% | $15,670 |
| Darlington 01Darlington · Regular school district | 8,793 | 1,447 | 16.5% | 68.6% | 17.1% | 26.5% | $17,954 |
| Deaf & Blind SchoolSpartanburg · State operated agency | 159 | 154 | 96.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| Dept Of Correction N04Columbia · State operated agency | 172 | 25 | 14.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| Dept of Juvenile JusticeColumbia · State operated agency | 417 | 115 | 27.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| Dillon 03Latta · Regular school district | 1,492 | 173 | 11.6% | 82.7% | 11.0% | 24.2% | $11,288 |
| Dillon 04Dillon · Regular school district | 3,659 | 336 | 9.2% | 78.0% | 10.7% | 32.1% | $13,305 |
| Dillon 80Dillon · Specialized public school district | 0 | 0 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Dorchester 02Summerville · Regular school district | 25,928 | 3,358 | 13.0% | 57.1% | 14.8% | 11.1% | $12,547 |
| Dorchester 04St. George · Regular school district | 2,110 | 295 | 14.0% | 42.4% | Not published | 17.0% | $19,421 |
| Dorchester 80Dorchester · Specialized public school district | 0 | 0 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Edgefield 01Johnston · Regular school district | 3,069 | 356 | 11.6% | 65.4% | 13.2% | 18.8% | $17,010 |
| Fairfield 01Winnsboro · Regular school district | 2,103 | 324 | 15.4% | 56.2% | 21.0% | 24.5% | $24,513 |
| Florence 01Florence · Regular school district | 15,861 | 1,909 | 12.0% | 52.6% | 24.9% | 18.6% | $14,216 |
| Florence 02Pamplico · Regular school district | 1,114 | 205 | 18.4% | 66.8% | Not published | 18.9% | $14,974 |
| Florence 03Lake City · Regular school district | 2,767 | 408 | 14.7% | 65.2% | 12.7% | 25.9% | $16,193 |
| Florence 05Johnsonville · Regular school district | 1,143 | 223 | 19.5% | 70.9% | 11.7% | 20.6% | $15,178 |
| Georgetown 01Georgetown · Regular school district | 8,208 | 1,317 | 16.0% | 59.4% | 10.5% | 27.6% | $16,913 |
| Governor's School for Science and MathematicsHartsville · Regular school district | 296 | 0 | 0.0% | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Governor's School for the Arts and HumanitiesGreenville · Regular school district | 235 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Greenville 01Greenville · Regular school district | 77,774 | 11,495 | 14.8% | 67.5% | 19.1% | 12.0% | $13,376 |
| Greenwood 50Greenwood · Regular school district | 8,477 | 862 | 10.2% | 51.4% | 18.9% | 21.4% | $14,578 |
| Greenwood 51Ware Shoals · Regular school district | 888 | 119 | 13.4% | 61.3% | Not published | 24.0% | $15,507 |
| Greenwood 52Ninety Six · Regular school district | 1,359 | 131 | 9.6% | 47.3% | Not published | 18.6% | $14,636 |
| Greenwood 80Greenwood · Specialized public school district | 0 | 0 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| HamptonVarnville · Regular school district | 2,272 | 292 | 12.9% | 67.5% | 20.9% | 27.9% | $18,342 |
| Horry 01Conway · Regular school district | 48,662 | 6,249 | 12.8% | 55.8% | 16.7% | 21.6% | $14,340 |
| Jasper 01Ridgeland · Regular school district | 2,901 | 225 | 7.8% | 51.1% | 23.1% | 28.1% | Not published |
| Kershaw 01Camden · Regular school district | 11,135 | 1,529 | 13.7% | 52.9% | 18.4% | 15.7% | $12,809 |
| Lancaster 01Lancaster · Regular school district | 15,417 | 2,349 | 15.2% | 59.1% | 21.2% | 12.8% | $13,299 |
| Laurens 55Laurens · Regular school district | 4,984 | 732 | 14.7% | 59.4% | 19.1% | 26.5% | $15,531 |
| Laurens 56Clinton · Regular school district | 2,707 | 453 | 16.7% | 59.4% | 28.0% | 31.3% | $16,370 |
| Lee 01Bishopville · Regular school district | 1,275 | 161 | 12.6% | 42.9% | Not published | 31.4% | $19,480 |
| Lexington 01Lexington · Regular school district | 27,074 | 3,824 | 14.1% | 73.8% | 8.9% | 10.6% | $15,085 |
| Lexington 02West Columbia · Regular school district | 8,465 | 1,319 | 15.6% | 61.5% | 14.6% | 21.2% | $15,713 |
| Lexington 03Batesburg-Leesville · Regular school district | 1,961 | 304 | 15.5% | 71.7% | 16.1% | 19.2% | $17,732 |
| Lexington 04Swansea · Regular school district | 3,474 | 637 | 18.3% | 78.3% | 13.5% | 24.8% | $15,026 |
| Lexington 05Irmo · Regular school district | 17,053 | 2,502 | 14.7% | 72.9% | 10.1% | 10.4% | $16,036 |
| Limestone Charters AssociationColumbia · Independent charter district | 7,387 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Marion 10Marion · Regular school district | 3,633 | 524 | 14.4% | 72.3% | 13.2% | 42.5% | $17,669 |
| Marlboro 01Bennettsville · Regular school district | 3,380 | 423 | 12.5% | 58.4% | 28.6% | 32.1% | $17,053 |
| McCormick 01McCormick · Regular school district | 523 | 97 | 18.5% | 54.6% | Not published | 28.9% | $28,611 |
| Newberry 01Newberry · Regular school district | 5,714 | 642 | 11.2% | 63.1% | 22.0% | 26.8% | $15,697 |
| Oconee 01Walhalla · Regular school district | 9,978 | 1,881 | 18.9% | 63.5% | 18.2% | 31.6% | $15,320 |
| OrangeburgOrangeburg · Regular school district | 10,089 | 1,158 | 11.5% | 45.0% | 36.4% | 26.4% | $18,009 |
| Orangeburg 80Cope · Specialized public school district | 0 | 0 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Orangeburg 81Orangeburg · Specialized public school district | 0 | 0 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Pickens 01Easley · Regular school district | 16,313 | 2,259 | 13.8% | 67.6% | 17.4% | 14.2% | $12,476 |
| Richland 01Columbia · Regular school district | 21,814 | 2,477 | 11.4% | 57.1% | 16.3% | 24.2% | $20,012 |
| Richland 02Columbia · Regular school district | 28,841 | 3,850 | 13.3% | 73.0% | 12.6% | 15.0% | $14,935 |
| Saluda 01Saluda · Regular school district | 2,525 | 337 | 13.3% | 70.3% | 13.4% | 20.9% | $12,940 |
| SC Governor's School for Agriculture at John de la Howe SchoMcCormick · Regular school district | 81 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| SC Public Charter School DistrictColumbia · Independent charter district | 21,383 | 2,748 | 12.9% | 82.4% | 2.6% | Not published | Not published |
| South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special NeedsColumbia · Other local education agency | 0 | 0 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Spartanburg 01Campobello · Regular school district | 5,364 | 684 | 12.8% | 68.1% | 12.6% | 15.5% | $13,212 |
| Spartanburg 02Chesnee · Regular school district | 11,806 | 1,793 | 15.2% | 70.1% | 16.1% | 14.7% | $11,533 |
| Spartanburg 03Spartanburg · Regular school district | 2,748 | 402 | 14.6% | 65.9% | 16.4% | 17.2% | $15,560 |
| Spartanburg 04Woodruff · Regular school district | 2,961 | 439 | 14.8% | 56.9% | 23.0% | 15.1% | $12,851 |
| Spartanburg 05Duncan · Regular school district | 11,066 | 1,509 | 13.6% | 73.3% | 11.0% | 11.5% | $13,331 |
| Spartanburg 06Roebuck · Regular school district | 11,714 | 2,068 | 17.7% | 69.8% | 18.4% | 16.6% | $15,369 |
| Spartanburg 07Spartanburg · Regular school district | 7,255 | 1,147 | 15.8% | 65.5% | 22.7% | 21.0% | $19,714 |
| Spartanburg 80Spartanburg · Specialized public school district | 0 | 0 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Spartanburg 81Spartanburg · Specialized public school district | 0 | 0 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Spartanburg 82Inman · Specialized public school district | 0 | 0 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Sumter 01Sumter · Regular school district | 13,871 | 1,967 | 14.2% | 46.7% | 14.1% | 21.8% | $14,531 |
| Union 01Union · Regular school district | 3,542 | 670 | 18.9% | 78.1% | 15.4% | 24.6% | $13,938 |
| Wil Lou Gray OpportunityWest Columbia · Other local education agency | 0 | 0 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Williamsburg 01Kingstree · Regular school district | 2,716 | 405 | 14.9% | 53.6% | 14.8% | 30.0% | $20,570 |
| York 01York · Regular school district | 4,946 | 945 | 19.1% | 65.0% | 11.5% | 14.1% | $15,668 |
| York 02Clover · Regular school district | 9,038 | 961 | 10.6% | 70.0% | 12.9% | 7.2% | $14,772 |
| York 03Rock Hill · Regular school district | 16,034 | 2,647 | 16.5% | 67.7% | 13.8% | 13.3% | $15,605 |
| York 04Fort Mill · Regular school district | 18,445 | 2,023 | 11.0% | 75.3% | 14.2% | 4.5% | $13,698 |
South Carolina in the South Atlantic division
The U.S. Census Bureau groups South Carolina with these states in the South Atlantic division of the South.
| State | Identification rate | 80% or more | Under 40% | School-age poverty | Spending per student |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 18.5% | 64.4% | 15.3% | 13.1% | $22,201 |
| District of Columbia | 16.2% | 62.9% | 18.5% | 24.6% | $31,529 |
| Florida | 14.9% | 78.4% | 14.3% | 14.5% | $12,692 |
| Georgia | 13.2% | 60.7% | 18.5% | 16.2% | $15,763 |
| Maryland | 12.3% | 73.4% | 11.0% | 10.3% | $20,208 |
| North Carolina | 13.1% | 71.0% | 11.2% | 15.6% | $12,995 |
| South Carolina | 13.5% | 64.7% | 15.6% | 17.0% | $15,010 |
| Virginia | 14.0% | 70.8% | 9.8% | 11.1% | $17,104 |
| West Virginia | 19.0% | 62.1% | 7.7% | 18.9% | $15,490 |
How these figures are built
Both parts. Rates use only the districts that reported both parts of the fraction. A district missing either part is left out of that rate, never counted as zero.
Not published. Not published means the publisher suppressed the figure to protect student privacy, did not report it, or the count is fewer than 10 students. It is never zero.
- Students with IEPs, school age
- Students with IEPs ages 5 (in kindergarten) through 21 served under IDEA Part B on the state’s child count date.Who is counted: Students with IEPs ages 5 (in kindergarten) through 21.Source: IDEA Section 618 Part B Child Count (file specification 002), district level, 2024–25 school year.
- Identification rate
- School-age students with IEPs as a share of all students enrolled in the same districts. A district that sends students to another district’s schools can count residents with IEPs it does not enroll, so its rate can run high.Who is counted: School-age students with IEPs, over all students enrolled prekindergarten through grade 12.Source: IDEA Section 618 Part B Child Count (file specification 002), district level, 2024–25 school year.Both parts: School-age students with IEPs (IDEA child count), over Students enrolled (Common Core of Data membership).
- In general education 80% or more of the day
- Share of school-age students with IEPs inside the regular class 80% or more of the school day.Who is counted: Students with IEPs ages 5 (in kindergarten) through 21.Source: IDEA Section 618 Part B Educational Environments (file specification 089), district level, 2024–25 school year.Both parts: Students in this setting, over All school-age students with IEPs in the environments file.
- In general education less than 40% of the day
- Share of school-age students with IEPs inside the regular class less than 40% of the school day.Who is counted: Students with IEPs ages 5 (in kindergarten) through 21.Source: IDEA Section 618 Part B Educational Environments (file specification 089), district level, 2024–25 school year.Both parts: Students in this setting, over All school-age students with IEPs in the environments file.
- In separate settings
- Share of school-age students with IEPs in a separate school, a residential facility, at home or in a hospital, or in a correctional facility, taken together. Counted only where all four are published.Who is counted: Students with IEPs ages 5 (in kindergarten) through 21.Source: IDEA Section 618 Part B Educational Environments (file specification 089), district level, 2024–25 school year.Both parts: Students in the four separate settings, over All school-age students with IEPs in the environments file.
- School-age poverty (estimate)
- Estimated share of related residents ages 5 to 17 living in families in poverty, within the district’s boundaries. A model-based estimate with a margin of error.Who is counted: Related residents ages 5 to 17 living within the district’s boundaries.Source: SAIPE school district estimates, Income year 2024.Both parts: Residents ages 5 to 17 in families in poverty, over Related residents ages 5 to 17.
- Spending per student
- Current spending on elementary-secondary education per pupil, as the Census Bureau publishes it: spending for students outside the system’s fall membership, capital outlay and debt service are excluded.Who is counted: All students enrolled in the school system (Census fall membership).Source: Public elementary-secondary education finance data, per-pupil spending by school system (table elsec24t), Fiscal year 2024 (the 2023–24 school year).Both parts: Current elementary-secondary spending, over Fall membership.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. IDEA Section 618 Part B Child Count (file specification 002), district level, 2024–25 school year. data.ed.gov. Public domain. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. IDEA Section 618 Part B Educational Environments (file specification 089), district level, 2024–25 school year. data.ed.gov. Licensed CC BY. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Common Core of Data, district membership (final), 2024–25 school year. nces.ed.gov. Public domain. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Common Core of Data, district directory (final), 2024–25 school year. nces.ed.gov. Public domain. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. SAIPE school district estimates, Income year 2024. www.census.gov. Public domain. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances (F-33). Public elementary-secondary education finance data, per-pupil spending by school system (table elsec24t), Fiscal year 2024 (the 2023–24 school year). www.census.gov. Public domain. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE program. School district boundaries (composite), simplified for display, 2024–25 school year. nces.ed.gov. Public domain.
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