Here are the 10 best SC high schools, US News & World Report says. One is top 10 in US

The highest ranked South Carolina high school is Aiken Scholars Academy, where all 179 students take AP classes and all are considered ready for college upon graduation, according to a new list published by U.S. News and World Report.

The school for gifted students scored 10th nationally.

It is a public high school in Aiken District 1 with a minority enrollment of 34% and 31% of students are economically disadvantaged.

Graduates in 2025 earned a combined $4.6 million in scholarships and 43 were honor graduates.

U.S. News looks at data including graduation rates and AP class participation in about 24,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia.

It includes traditional high schools, charter schools and schools focused on science, technology, engineering and math.

Half of the top 10 South Carolina schools were traditional high schools.

The No. 1 school in the country is BASIS Tucson North in Tuscon, a charter school with 226 students in fifth through 12th grade.

No. 2 on the list of South Carolina high schools was Academic Magnet High School in North Charleston. It was 14th in national rankings and is part of the Charleston County School District’s Choice Program.

There are 718 students and enrollment is by application only.

U.S. News said, “Almost all courses offered at Academic Magnet High School are either honors or Advanced Placement courses, and every student completes an independent research project over their junior and senior years.” Their research has been published in academic and professional journals.

No. 3 is Charleston School of the Arts in North Charleston, a public school in the Charleston County School District.

In all 83% of students take AP classes. Minority enrollment is 31%, and 27% of students are economically disadvantaged. Charleston School of the Arts is 1 of No. 4 is Spring Hill High School in Lexington 5. It was the highest ranked Midlands school on the list.

Its graduation Rate is 95%, college readiness 53.1 with an enrollment of 1,102.

U.S. News says the AP participation rate is 61%, minority enrollment 30%, and 32% of students are economically disadvantaged.

No. 4 is Spring Hill High School in Chapin, with 1,102 students, AP participation rate 61%. The total minority enrollment is 30%, and 32% of students are economically disadvantaged. Spring Hill High School is 1 of 4 high schools in the Lexington 05.

No. 5 is Palmetto Scholars Academy, a public charter school operating through the SC Public Charter School District, and located in North Charleston. It has 258 students and a graduation rate of 99%.

The AP participation rate is 77%, minority enrollment 49%, and 27% of students are economically disadvantaged. There are 16 high schools in the SC Public Charter School District.

No. 6 is Mayo High for Math Science and Technology in Darlington 1.

The AP participation rate is 37%, minority enrollment 46%, and 100% of students are economically disadvantaged.

No. 7 is Chapin High School in Lexington-Richland District 5. AP participation rate is 51%, minority enrollment 19%, and 100% of students are economically disadvantaged. There are 1,618 students enrolled.

No. 8 is Wando High School in the Charleston County School District.

The graduation rate at the 2,593-student school is 94% and college readiness 47.9 %.

AP participation rate is 57%, minority enrollment is 19%, and 18% of students are economically disadvantaged.

No. 9 is Catawba Ridge High School in York 4. It has 1,651 students, AP participation rate 51%. The total minority enrollment is 31%, and 17% of students are economically disadvantaged. Catawba

Rounding out the 10th spot is Nation Ford High School, also in York 4, with 1,871 students. Its graduation rate is 94%, college readiness 46.7%, AP® participation rate 54%. The total minority enrollment is 47%, and 31% of students are economically disadvantaged.

Other Midlands schools on the list of best South Carolina schools were:

• 14th Dutch Fork High School in Lexington 5
• 18th Dreher High School in Richland 01.
• 19th A. C. Flora High School in Richland 01.
• 26th Blythewood High School in Richland 02.
• 34th Spring Valley High School in Richland 02.
• 36th River Bluff High School in Lexington 01.
• 66th Ridge View High School in Richland 02.
• 79th Gray Collegiate Academy in West Columbia, part of the Charter Institute At Erskine.