FLORENCE, S.C. — South Carolina 2026 school report card ratings released Monday show a mix of strong marks and schools needing improvement across the Pee Dee, including Florence County districts.
In Florence 1, 11 of 20 report cards were Good or Excellent. Wallace Grey Elementary School received a Below Average rating. Florence 5 had two of three ratings at Good or Excellent, while Johnsonville Elementary School received Below Average. Florence 3 had one Below Average rating and the only Unsatisfactory rating among Pee Dee districts reviewed.
The South Carolina Department of Education assigns five overall ratings: Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, and Unsatisfactory. Statewide, 50 more schools earned an Excellent rating than last year. State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver said children in poverty are every bit as capable when schools provide foundational support.
Horry County saw nearly 80 percent of schools earn Good or Excellent. Darlington County posted 10 of 15 Good or Excellent cards. Marion County had three of eight ratings Below Average. Florence sits in the heart of the Pee Dee region. The city anchors a healthcare-and-logistics economy and serves as the commercial hub for eastern South Carolina.
Francis Marion University and Florence-Darlington Technical College remain the area’s main public higher-ed options as K-12 report cards shape local workforce pipelines.
