Is Union County High a good school?

Union County High ranks 158 th of 235 South Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Union County High?

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,069 students attended Union County High.

What is the racial makeup of Union County High?

Students at Union County High are 51% White, 35% African American, 8% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic.

What schools feed into Union County High?

Union County High is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Buffalo Elementary Elementary : Foster Park Elementary Elementary : Jonesville Elementary Middle Elementary : Monarch Elementary Middle : Sims Middle

Union County High

Summary:

Union County High is a public high school in Union, South Carolina, serving 1,069 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Union 01 school district, which is ranked 62 out of 75 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Union County High has a diverse student population, with a racial breakdown of 51.73% White, 35.45% African American, and other minority groups. However, the school has consistently underperformed compared to state and district averages on End-of-Course (EOCEP) assessments, with proficiency rates in Algebra 1, English 1, U.S. History, and English 2 all falling below the district and state levels. Additionally, the school has a 100% free and reduced-lunch rate, indicating a high percentage of students from low-income families.

While Union County High has seen an increase in spending per student, from $9,840 in 2019-2020 to $11,749 in 2022-2023, the school's statewide ranking has declined over the years, dropping from 123 out of 210 South Carolina high schools in 2013-2014 to 158 out of 235 in 2023-2024. In comparison, the nearby Whitmire Community School (High) has consistently outperformed Union County High on academic measures, suggesting that the district may need to identify and address the factors contributing to Union County High's struggles in order to improve student outcomes.

Detail:

Public 9-12

1163 Lakeside Drive
Union, SC 29379

(864) 429-1750

District: Union 01

SchoolDigger Rank:
158^th of 235 South Carolina High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,749

Feeder schools for Union County High:

Elementary:	Buffalo Elementary
	Foster Park Elementary
	Jonesville Elementary Middle
	Monarch Elementary
Middle:	Sims Middle

Student/teacher ratio: 21.3

Number of students: 1,069

Racial breakdown:

White:

51.3%

African American:

35.5%

Two or more races:

8.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

See top rated South Carolina high schools

Compare Union County High to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Union County High ranks worse than 67.2% of high schools in South Carolina. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 31.87. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Union County High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (51.3%), African American (35.5%), two or more races (8.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Union County High is 21.3. (See more...)

Compare Union County High employs 50 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Union County High is $11,749.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Union County High:

SchoolDigger ranks Union County High 158^th of 235 South Carolina public high schools. (See Union County High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Disabled students:

Gifted and Talented students:

Male students:

African American students:

White students:

Union 01:

SchoolDigger ranks Union 01 62^nd of 75 South Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Union County High

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Rank History for all students at Union County High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile
2005	44.58	135^th	187	27.8%
2006	50.63	134^th	191	29.8%
2007	50.86	133^rd	191	30.4%
2008	35.66	136^th	185	26.5%
2009	43.42	129^th	188	31.4%
2010	45.92	129^th	199	35.2%
2011	30.20	147^th	199	26.1%
2012	32.17	148^th	202	26.7%
2013	23.62	163^rd	203	19.7%
2014	44.19	123^rd	210	41.4%
2015	26.03	175^th	232	24.6%
2016	25.46	176^th	231	23.8%
2017	21.90	166^th	223	25.6%
2018	15.85	173^rd	216	19.9%
2019	22.26	164^th	225	27.1%
2021	25.83	161^st	227	29.1%
2022	38.99	128^th	226	43.4%
2023	25.76	169^th	237	28.7%
2024	31.87	158^th	235	32.8%

See the entire list of South Carolina High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Union County High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	5.23	57^th	57	0.0%
2024	20.86	48^th	53	9.4%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Union County High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	16.44	184^th	214	14.0%
2019	19.75	181^st	217	16.6%
2021	26.51	158^th	213	25.8%
2022	45.78	105^th	220	52.3%
2023	28.34	162^nd	226	28.3%
2024	36.49	144^th	229	37.1%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Union County High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	10.86	187^th	210	11.0%
2019	22.31	161^st	213	24.4%
2021	24.54	162^nd	213	23.9%
2022	35.46	142^nd	220	35.5%
2023	23.78	167^th	223	25.1%
2024	30.87	157^th	225	30.2%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Union County High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	31.79	95^th	137	30.7%
2019	22.35	116^th	143	18.9%
2021	39.78	74^th	115	35.7%
2023	38.11	87^th	141	38.3%
2024	52.72	62^nd	145	57.2%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Union County High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	66.54	54^th	156	65.4%
2024	67.29	52^nd	157	66.9%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Union County High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	19.16	166^th	213	22.1%
2019	22.06	161^st	218	26.1%
2021	25.84	154^th	215	28.4%
2022	41.07	121^st	224	46.0%
2023	25.75	168^th	229	26.6%
2024	33.43	145^th	228	36.4%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Union County High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	19.66	160^th	183	12.6%
2019	27.96	139^th	184	24.5%
2021	29.10	134^th	178	24.7%
2022	51.94	75^th	190	60.5%
2023	32.11	136^th	199	31.7%
2024	34.63	136^th	194	29.9%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for White students at Union County High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	4.78	181^st	185	2.2%
2019	12.48	171^st	191	10.5%
2021	16.27	167^th	189	11.6%
2022	27.09	141^st	192	26.6%
2023	17.45	169^th	197	14.2%
2024	24.69	156^th	196	20.4%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: South Carolina Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: South Carolina State Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Union County High

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	831	541	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	1372
1989	741	558	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	1303
1990	728	509	1	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	1239
1991	725	526	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	1253
1992	756	508	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	1266
1993	764	520	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	1287
1994	749	490	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	1244
1995	725	503	0	3	1	n/a	n/a	0	1232
1996	725	503	0	3	1	n/a	n/a	0	1232
1997	682	502	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	1188
1998	653	479	3	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	1136
1999	566	415	4	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	988
2000	598	435	3	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	1040
2001	589	422	2	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	1016
2002	655	475	4	1	0	n/a	n/a	2	1137
2003	655	475	4	1	0	n/a	n/a	2	1137
2004	613	462	6	4	0	n/a	n/a	2	1087
2005	576	451	3	5	0	n/a	n/a	1	1036
2006	597	447	3	5	2	n/a	n/a	2	1056
2007	587	467	3	5	1	n/a	n/a	0	1063
2008	766	511	4	4	1	n/a	n/a	3	1289
2009	762	525	4	8	1	n/a	n/a	6	1306
2010	733	534	7	7	1	n/a	n/a	4	1286
2011	770	479	6	6	0	1	1	0	1263
2012	744	481	2	7	0	1	0	0	1235
2013	697	498	4	7	1	2	3	0	1212
2014	705	482	3	8	2	2	4	0	1206
2015	658	479	4	8	1	1	7	0	1158
2016	663	452	5	8	1	1	12	0	1142
2017	632	441	4	12	2	0	17	0	1108
2018	606	436	3	15	4	1	23	0	1088
2019	614	401	3	16	3	2	29	0	1068
2020	591	381	4	22	3	2	43	0	1046
2021	590	386	8	21	1	3	45	0	1054
2022	573	389	7	38	1	2	73	0	1083
2023	553	379	5	49	1	1	81	0	1069
2024	548	379	4	47	0	1	90	0	1069

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Union County High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1372	56.7	24.1	n/a
1989	1303	59.0	22.0	n/a
1990	1239	62.0	19.9	n/a
1991	1253	62.8	19.9	21.8
1992	1266	61.9	20.4	23.7
1993	1287	82.6	15.6	22.8
1994	1244	82.3	15.1	31.1
1995	1232	85.3	14.4	28.9
1996	1232	85.3	14.4	28.9
1997	1188	88.0	13.5	29.8
1998	1136	84.0	13.5	28.5
1999	988	85.0	11.6	38.8
2000	1040	82.0	12.7	38.8
2001	1016	80.5	12.6	46.4
2002	1137	81.8	13.9	44.9
2003	1137	81.8	13.9	44.9
2004	1087	80.6	13.5	47.4
2005	1036	76.8	13.5	51.8
2006	1056	73.5	14.4	50.6
2007	1063	80.0	13.3	53.8
2008	1289	68.0	19.0	52
2009	1306	74.0	17.6	54.8
2010	1286	75.0	17.1	60.5
2011	1263	71.0	17.7	57.4
2012	1235	72.0	17.1	56.6
2013	1212	71.9	16.8	57.1
2014	1206	53.7	22.4	58.6
2015	1158	54.0	21.4	65.4
2016	1142	58.0	19.6	58.6
2017	1108	59.5	18.6	61
2018	1088	54.5	19.9	100
2019	1068	57.0	18.7	100
2020	1046	55.0	19.0	100
2021	1054	50.0	21.0	100
2022	1083	51.5	21.0	100
2023	1069	50.0	21.3	100
2024	1069	50.0	21.3	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Union County High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1372	56.7	24.1	n/a
1989	1303	59.0	22.0	n/a
1990	1239	62.0	19.9	n/a
1991	1253	62.8	19.9	21.8
1992	1266	61.9	20.4	23.7
1993	1287	82.6	15.6	22.8
1994	1244	82.3	15.1	31.1
1995	1232	85.3	14.4	28.9
1996	1232	85.3	14.4	28.9
1997	1188	88.0	13.5	29.8
1998	1136	84.0	13.5	28.5
1999	988	85.0	11.6	38.8
2000	1040	82.0	12.7	38.8
2001	1016	80.5	12.6	46.4
2002	1137	81.8	13.9	44.9
2003	1137	81.8	13.9	44.9
2004	1087	80.6	13.5	47.4
2005	1036	76.8	13.5	51.8
2006	1056	73.5	14.4	50.6
2007	1063	80.0	13.3	53.8
2008	1289	68.0	19.0	52
2009	1306	74.0	17.6	54.8
2010	1286	75.0	17.1	60.5
2011	1263	71.0	17.7	57.4
2012	1235	72.0	17.1	56.6
2013	1212	71.9	16.8	57.1
2014	1206	53.7	22.4	58.6
2015	1158	54.0	21.4	65.4
2016	1142	58.0	19.6	58.6
2017	1108	59.5	18.6	61
2018	1088	54.5	19.9	100
2019	1068	57.0	18.7	100
2020	1046	55.0	19.0	100
2021	1054	50.0	21.0	100
2022	1083	51.5	21.0	100
2023	1069	50.0	21.3	100
2024	1069	50.0	21.3	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Union County High

Year	Personnel Expenditures from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Expenditures from Federal Funds	Total Expenditures from Federal Funds	Personnel Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$385 (4.3%)	$287 (3.2%)	$672 (7.5%)	$6,706 (74.7%)	$1,598 (17.8%)	$8,305 (92.5%)	$8,977
2020	$437 (4.4%)	$381 (3.9%)	$818 (8.3%)	$7,366 (74.9%)	$1,656 (16.8%)	$9,022 (91.7%)	$9,840
2021	$385 (3.6%)	$510 (4.8%)	$896 (8.5%)	$7,879 (74.4%)	$1,820 (17.2%)	$9,699 (91.5%)	$10,595
2022	$332 (3.1%)	$584 (5.4%)	$916 (8.5%)	$7,834 (72.9%)	$2,000 (18.6%)	$9,833 (91.5%)	$10,749
2023	$575 (4.9%)	$1,474 (12.5%)	$2,048 (17.4%)	$7,762 (66.1%)	$1,939 (16.5%)	$9,701 (82.6%)	$11,749

Data source: South Carolina Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Union County High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 164^th of 225 High schools	Ranks 169^th of 237 High schools	1.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (Union County High)	31.5	39.7	8.2%
End of Course Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (Union 01)	48	53.1	5.1%
End of Course Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (South Carolina)	68.6	68.3	0.3%
End of Course Biology 1/Applied Biology 2 (Union County High)	49.7	44.5	5.2%
End of Course Biology 1/Applied Biology 2 (Union 01)	49.7	44.5	5.2%
End of Course Biology 1/Applied Biology 2 (South Carolina)	67.2	59.1	8.1%
End of Course English 1 (Union County High)	52.4	76.2	23.8%
End of Course English 1 (Union 01)	65.1	76.2	11.1%
End of Course English 1 (South Carolina)	78.9	84	5.1%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1068	1069	0.1%
African American	401	379	5.5%
American Indian	3	1	66.7%
Asian	3	5	66.7%
Hispanic	16	49	206.3%
Pacific Islander	2	1	50%
White	614	553	9.9%
Two or More Races	29	81	179.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	100%	100%

Schools Near Union County High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				SC READY English Language Arts (2024)			SC READY Mathematics (2024)			EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (2024)	EOCEP English 1 (2024)	EOCEP U.S. History and the Constitution (2024)	EOCEP English 2 (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SC READY English Language Arts 6th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 7th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 8th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 6th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 7th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 8th Grade	EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 End of Course	EOCEP English 1 End of Course	EOCEP U.S. History and the Constitution End of Course	EOCEP English 2 End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Union County High	Public	9-12	1163 Lakeside Drive	Union	29379	Union County	Union 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 429-1750	1,069	50	21.3	100.0%	548 (51.3%)	379 (35.5%)	47 (4.4%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	90 (8.4%)	31.9	158^th of 235 public high schools	32.8%		25.8	169^th of 237 public high schools	28.7%	11							67.1	53.4	50.9	77.2	$11,749	$575	$1,474	$2,048	$7,762	$1,939	$9,701
Union County Career and Technology Center	Public	9-12	1165 Lakeside Drive	Union	29379	Union County	Union 01	No	No	No	No	(864) 429-1765	0	15	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Tyger River High	Public	9-12	200 Prison Road	Enoree	29335	Spartanburg County	Dept Of Correction N04	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 896-3527	5	5	1.0		0 (0.0%)	4 (80.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (20.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Whitmire Community School (High)	Public	6-12	2597 SC Highway 66	Whitmire	29178	Newberry County	Newberry 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 694-2320	268	22	12.1	63.4%	183 (68.3%)	49 (18.3%)	8 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (9.3%)	59.8	77^th of 235 public high schools	67.2%		58.1	79^th of 237 public high schools	66.7%	2	51.4	71.8	46.6	37.1	46.2	22.2	87.9	60.4	66.7	86.4	$12,976	$509	$838	$1,346	$9,237	$2,393	$11,630
School School for the Blind High	Public	9-12	355 Cedar Springs Road	Spartanburg	29302	Spartanburg County	Deaf & Blind School	No	No	No	No	(864) 577-7600	25	7	3.5	12.0%	12 (48.0%)	9 (36.0%)	3 (12.0%)	1 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
School School for the Deaf High	Public	9-12	355 Cedar Spring Road	Spartanburg	29302	Spartanburg County	Deaf & Blind School	No	No	No	No	(864) 577-7743	26	14	1.8	11.5%	12 (46.2%)	8 (30.8%)	4 (15.4%)	2 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)

Union County High

Union County High:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Union 01:

What do you think?

Rank History for Union County High

Rank History for all students at Union County High

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Union County High

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Union County High

Rank History for Female students at Union County High

Rank History for Disabled students at Union County High

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Union County High

Rank History for Male students at Union County High

Rank History for African American students at Union County High

Rank History for White students at Union County High

Enrollment information for Union County High

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Union County High

Student/Teacher Ratio Union County High

Per Pupil Expenditures for Union County High

Impact of COVID-19 on Union County High

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Union County High