For the 2025 school year, there are 5 public middle schools serving 2,391 students in Darlington County, SC.
The top ranked public middle schools in Darlington County, SC are Butler Academy, Spaulding Middle School and Darlington Middle School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Darlington County, SC public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 28% (versus the South Carolina public middle school average of 33%), and reading proficiency score of 34% (versus the 46% statewide average). Middle schools in Darlington County have an average ranking of 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of South Carolina public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 67% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public middle school average of 52% (majority Black).
Best Public Middle Schools in Darlington County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Butler Academy
Charter School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
710 South 5th Street
Hartsville, SC 29550
(843) 287-2399
Hartsville, SC 29550
(843) 287-2399
Grades: K-7
| 350 students
Rank: #22.
Spaulding Middle School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
400 East Cartersville Highway
Lamar, SC 29069
(843) 326-7625
Lamar, SC 29069
(843) 326-7625
Grades: 6-8
| 209 students
Rank: #33.
Darlington Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
150 Pinedale Drive
Darlington, SC 29532
(843) 398-5088
Darlington, SC 29532
(843) 398-5088
Grades: 6-8
| 895 students
Rank: #44.
Hartsville Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1427 Fourteenth Street
Hartsville, SC 29550
(843) 857-3121
Hartsville, SC 29550
(843) 857-3121
Grades: 6-8
| 872 students
Rank: #55.
Rosenwald Elementary Middle School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
508 Church Street
Society Hill, SC 29593
(843) 398-2700
Society Hill, SC 29593
(843) 398-2700
Grades: PK-8
| 65 students
Darlington County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
400 Wells Street
Darlington, SC 29532
(843) 398-5080
Darlington, SC 29532
(843) 398-5080
Grades: 3-5
| n/a students
607 First Street
Darlington, SC 29532
(843) 398-5020
Darlington, SC 29532
(843) 398-5020
Grades: PK-2
| n/a students
214 North Darlington Avenue
Lamar, SC 29069
(843) 326-7575
Lamar, SC 29069
(843) 326-7575
Grades: PK-2
| n/a students
204 East Pearl Street
Lamar, SC 29069
(843) 326-7666
Lamar, SC 29069
(843) 326-7666
Grades: 3-5
| n/a students
325 Washington Street
Hartsville, SC 29550
(843) 383-3141
Hartsville, SC 29550
(843) 383-3141
Grades: 1-2
| n/a students
214 Clyde Road
Hartsville, SC 29550
(843) 857-3270
Hartsville, SC 29550
(843) 857-3270
Grades: 3-5
| n/a students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public middle schools in Darlington County, SC?
The top ranked public middle schools in Darlington County, SC include Butler Academy, Spaulding Middle School and Darlington Middle School.
How many public middle schools are located in Darlington County?
5 public middle schools are located in Darlington County.
What is the racial composition of students in Darlington County?
Darlington County public middle schools minority enrollment is 67% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public middle schools average of 52% (majority Black).
Recent Articles

Parents’ Guide to Special Education
Special education law is not easy to decipher, with several regulations that govern special education services for disabled students. In this article, learn about the core components of the laws, rights, and individual education plans that can help create the best public school environment for your child.

Surveillance Cameras: Violation of Rights or Improved Security?
A school district in Virginia has given the green light to schools that want to install surveillance cameras in common areas like cafeterias and hallways. We’ll look at whether this is a violation of student privacy or the best way to keep order in schools.

Teachers in 19 States Allowed to Physically Punish Students
As of 2014, nineteen states still allow corporal punishment – spanking and paddling the most common choices – in their public schools. However, some argue that not only are these punishments physically harmful, they also are disproportionately administered to students of color. As a result, House democrats have taken up the issue in a new bill that would ban all forms of corporal punishment nationwide.