Florence SC Education News
HERE Education covers every school, deadline, and funding opportunity in Florence. From K-12 to Francis Marion University — use our Right School Right Neighborhood quiz, search the full directory, and track what matters.
Florence is home to 2 school districts serving students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. High schools serving Florence families include West Florence High School (Knights), South Florence High School (Thoroughbreds), Wilson High School (Tigers), Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School (Titans), Florence Christian School (Eagles). HEREFlorence covers every school board meeting, budget cycle, and academic milestone across Florence.
Florence's higher-education landscape includes 2 institutions: Francis Marion University (Patriots); Florence-Darlington Technical College (Stingers). HEREFlorence covers admissions deadlines, scholarship windows, athletic schedules, and campus announcements for each institution.
SC's public-school governance flows through the SC Department of Education, which administers SC READY assessments each spring and enforces the Read to Succeed Act — requiring third-grade reading proficiency before promotion. The South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) governs interscholastic athletics across the state. Teacher pay begins at the state minimum and is locally supplemented — making salaries a perennial flashpoint at budget hearings.
HEREFlorence tracks school-board meetings across Florence — agendas, votes, and budget summaries published before local papers. Our reporters cover graduation rates and SC READY scores; teacher-contract negotiations; school resource officers; SAT and ACT data; Title I funding allocations; building bond referenda; and the Friday Night Football calendar. From dual-enrollment windows at local technical colleges to faculty announcements at area universities — if it happens in a Florence classroom or on a Florence campus, it is HERE.
Education News
SC Research Network Wins $21.3 Million NIH Renewal
Florence SC Education COLUMBIA, S.C. — A statewide program that puts undergraduates in biomedical labs across South Carolina has secured...
Lake City High Calls Off Homecoming Parade, Tailgates Over Safety
Florence SC Education LAKE CITY, S.C. — Most of the homecoming and alumni weekend lineup at Lake City High School...
SC School Safety Symposium Puts Online Threats on the Agenda
Florence SC Education WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — Roughly 300 teachers, school administrators and law enforcement officers spent Tuesday at South...
Pee Dee School Report Cards Show Mixed Results
Florence SC Education FLORENCE, S.C. — South Carolina’s 2026 school report cards released Monday show a mix of strong marks...
Florence County Schools Trail State Average on 2026 Report Cards
Florence SC Education Florence, S.C. — Florence 1 Schools posted scores near the state average on the 2026 South Carolina...
Florence Schools Reflect State Trends in Past Two Academic Calendars
Florence SC Education A review of academic calendars for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years indicates that the majority of...
Right School. Right Neighborhood. HERE!
Tell us what matters to your family — schools, community feel, budget — and we'll match you to the right Florence neighborhood.
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Your Florence Neighborhood Match
Florence offers a range of neighborhoods that match different school and lifestyle priorities. Connect with a local real estate expert to explore what fits your family best.
Florence School Directory, Report Cards, and School News
Florence High Schools
Florence School District One
County: Florence
Independent (SCISA)
County: Florence
SC Governor's School for Science & Mathematics
Type: Residential magnet high school for SC students
Applications open annually
District & Local School News
Lake City High Calls Off Homecoming Parade, Tailgates Over Safety
Florence SC Education LAKE CITY, S.C. — Most of the homecoming and alumni weekend lineup at Lake City High School...
Pee Dee School Report Cards Show Mixed Results
Florence SC Education FLORENCE, S.C. — South Carolina’s 2026 school report cards released Monday show a mix of strong marks...
Florence County Schools Trail State Average on 2026 Report Cards
Florence SC Education Florence, S.C. — Florence 1 Schools posted scores near the state average on the 2026 South Carolina...
National School Calendar Resource Offers Planning Insights for Florence Families and Educators
Florence SC Education A comprehensive planning resource for the 2026–2027 academic year has been released, consolidating school calendars, holidays, spring...
School Report Cards
Official annual ratings from the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee and the South Carolina Department of Education. Showing every rated public school in Florence County for the 2024-25 school year.
Click any school to view the full report card on the official SC Report Cards site (graduation rate, academic progress, school climate, financial data).
Source: SC Report Cards — published annually by the SC Education Oversight Committee and SC Department of Education. Ratings reflect the 2024-25 school year.
Featured Schools & Programs
Francis Marion University serves Florence and the surrounding Pee Dee region.
Florence-Darlington Technical College serves Florence and the surrounding Pee Dee region.
SC's elite residential magnet school for mathematically and scientifically gifted students. Open to all SC students.
$6,000 per year for high school seniors planning to teach in SC. Competitive program recognizing future educators.
High school juniors and seniors can earn college credit at Florence-Darlington Technical College at no cost under SC's Dual Enrollment program.
The HERE Decision Maker
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Your Florence Education & Career Plan
Based on your answers, here are the top 3 paths we recommend in Florence.
We'll send a PDF summary plus local scholarship and program contacts.
Online & Hybrid Education
Accredited programs for Florence residents who need flexibility.
Online and hybrid degree and certificate programs. SC in-state tuition rates available for eligible students.
Online and hybrid degree and certificate programs. SC in-state tuition rates available for eligible students.
Google, IBM, Meta, and other employer-backed certificates. Many are accepted by Florence's manufacturing and tech employers. Some WIOA-funded.
The SC Technical College System offers online certificates and associate degree programs through the state's 16 technical colleges.
School Board Meetings
HEREFlorence covers every public school board meeting in Florence — agendas published in advance, votes summarized after.
Location: Florence — district office
Location: Florence — district office
Key Education Policy Issues — Florence
Education FAQ — Florence
How many school districts does Florence have?
Florence is served by 2 school districts. Each district has its own elected board, superintendent, and budget. Use our School Neighborhood Matcher above to find which district fits your family.
How do I enroll my child in a Florence school?
Enrollment is handled at the district level. Your school district is determined by your home address. Contact the relevant district office or visit their website for forms, residency requirements, and deadlines.
What colleges are in or near Florence?
Florence and Florence are served by 2 higher-education institutions: Francis Marion University, Florence-Darlington Technical College. Use our Decision Maker tool above to find the right fit for your goals.
Is there financial aid available for Florence students?
Yes — the SC LIFE and Palmetto Fellows scholarships are merit-based awards for students attending SC colleges. SC WINS is a workforce scholarship for technical programs. FAFSA is available for all eligible students. Florence-Darlington Technical College's Dual Enrollment program lets high schoolers earn free college credits. The SC Teaching Fellows scholarship provides $6,000/year for future educators.
How does high school athletics work in Florence?
High school athletics in Florence are governed by the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL). Schools compete in classifications based on enrollment (1A–5A for most sports). HEREFlorence covers every home game, playoff bracket, and signing-day announcement.
How do I submit a tip or story idea to HEREFlorence?
Use the Submit an Education Tip form at the top of this page. We cover school board decisions, program announcements, scholarship opportunities, enrollment deadlines, and any issue affecting Florence students and families. Tips can be submitted anonymously.
Florence is in Florence County, South Carolina. Colleges serving the area: Francis Marion University and Florence-Darlington Technical College.
Latest Florence Education News
Lake City High Calls Off Homecoming Parade, Tailgates Over Safety
LAKE CITY, S.C. — Most of the homecoming and alumni weekend lineup at Lake City High School is off this year after Florence County School District Three pulled…
Pee Dee School Report Cards Show Mixed Results
FLORENCE, S.C. — South Carolina’s 2026 school report cards released Monday show a mix of strong marks and schools needing improvement across the Pee Dee, including Florence County…
Florence County Schools Trail State Average on 2026 Report Cards
Florence, S.C. — Florence 1 Schools posted scores near the state average on the 2026 South Carolina School Report Cards, while the county’s smaller districts trailed the state…
SC Research Network Wins $21.3 Million NIH Renewal
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A statewide program that puts undergraduates in biomedical labs across South Carolina has secured another five years of federal money, and it is adding more…
SC School Safety Symposium Puts Online Threats on the Agenda
WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — Roughly 300 teachers, school administrators and law enforcement officers spent Tuesday at South Carolina's first statewide School Safety and Security Symposium, a full-day session…
Federal Tax Credit Scholarships Come to SC Students
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A new federal program will let South Carolina nonprofits begin handing out scholarships for private school tuition and other K-12 costs in January, funded by…
SC Leaders Urge Drivers to Use Care Around School Buses
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina's education and highway safety leaders are using National School Bus Safety Week to remind drivers that the yellow bus in front of them…
Meeting Street Scholarships Now Open Statewide to Seniors
COLUMBIA, S.C. — High school seniors in every South Carolina county can now compete for a college scholarship worth as much as $40,000, after state lawmakers set aside…
Federal Ruling on ABA Law School Accreditor Due by Year End
WASHINGTON — The federal government is expected to rule by the end of December on whether the American Bar Association keeps its decades-old federal standing as the national…
Sylvia Wright Pitches Statewide School Plan to SC Voters
COLUMBIA, S.C. — With the November election weeks away, Democrat Sylvia Wright is pressing a four-part education plan in her bid to unseat Republican Ellen Weaver as South…
SC Opens First Veterinary Medicine College at Peeler
CLEMSON, S.C. — South Carolina’s first veterinary college took the spotlight Friday as leaders cut the ribbon on the Peeler College of Veterinary Medicine, a campus built to…
Hochul opts New York into federal school choice tax credit
WASHINGTON — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday her state will join the new federal scholarship tax credit, becoming the second Democratic governor to opt in voluntarily…
