The average SAT score in South Carolina was 1013 for the public school class of 2026: 519 in reading and writing and 493 in math. That's up from 1009 for the class of 2025 and just above the national average of 1011, per the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE). 52% of seniors took the SAT (28,202 of 54,382), up from 49%. Academic Magnet High in Charleston posted the highest average of any South Carolina high school with at least 50 test takers: 1368.
The figures come from SCDE's 2026 school and district SAT files. They cover public school seniors who said they'd graduate in 2025-26, counting each student once using their latest score (not their best score or a superscore). Groups under five students aren't reported.
Top 25 South Carolina high schools by SAT average, class of 2026
High schools with at least 50 test takers.
| # | High school | District | Test takers | Seniors tested | ERW | Math | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Academic Magnet High | Charleston | 169 | 94% | 685 | 683 | 1368 |
| 2 | SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics | Governor's Schools | 143 | 97% | 667 | 678 | 1345 |
| 3 | Charleston School of the Arts | Charleston | 123 | 84% | 600 | 567 | 1167 |
| 4 | Greenville Technical Charter High | SC Public Charter District | 106 | 82% | 594 | 565 | 1159 |
| 5 | SC Governor's School for Arts and Humanities | Governor's Schools | 116 | 100% | 616 | 543 | 1159 |
| 6 | Brashier Middle College Charter High | Charter Institute at Erskine | 114 | 94% | 592 | 552 | 1144 |
| 7 | Greer Middle College Charter High | SC Public Charter District | 74 | 60% | 578 | 547 | 1125 |
| 8 | D. W. Daniel High | Pickens | 193 | 66% | 567 | 558 | 1124 |
| 9 | Riverside High | Greenville | 367 | 86% | 565 | 550 | 1115 |
| 10 | Wando High | Charleston | 503 | 86% | 566 | 546 | 1112 |
| 11 | Oceanside Collegiate Academy | Limestone Charter Association | 118 | 82% | 559 | 541 | 1100 |
| 12 | Fort Mill High | York 4 (Fort Mill) | 469 | 97% | 558 | 539 | 1097 |
| 13 | Lucy Garrett Beckham High | Charleston | 358 | 86% | 559 | 536 | 1094 |
| 14 | A. C. Flora High | Richland 1 | 202 | 64% | 561 | 532 | 1093 |
| 15 | Catawba Ridge High | York 4 (Fort Mill) | 337 | 93% | 555 | 534 | 1089 |
| 16 | West-Oak High | Oconee | 54 | 38% | 553 | 535 | 1087 |
| 17 | Chapin High | Lexington-Richland 5 | 308 | 78% | 554 | 531 | 1086 |
| 18 | James Island Charter High | Charleston | 256 | 73% | 554 | 532 | 1085 |
| 19 | Philip Simmons High | Berkeley | 112 | 66% | 560 | 524 | 1084 |
| 20 | Pickens High | Pickens | 99 | 36% | 552 | 530 | 1081 |
| 21 | Aynor High | Horry | 56 | 34% | 548 | 531 | 1079 |
| 22 | Powdersville High | Anderson 1 | 146 | 58% | 548 | 523 | 1071 |
| 23 | Indian Land High | Lancaster | 331 | 74% | 548 | 523 | 1071 |
| 24 | May River High | Beaufort | 221 | 57% | 553 | 515 | 1068 |
| 25 | St. James High | Horry | 255 | 56% | 545 | 521 | 1066 |
Source: SCDE, Mean SAT Scores for 2026 Graduating Seniors (school file). "Seniors tested" is test takers divided by 12th graders enrolled on the 135th day of school. 158 high schools had at least 50 test takers; their median average was 998.
Two smaller programs scored higher still but fall below the 50-taker line: HCS Scholars Academy in Horry County averaged 1411 (46 test takers, all of its seniors), and Aiken Scholars Academy averaged 1288 (45 of 46 seniors).
Charleston County has 5 of the top 25, more than any other district. Only 11 of the 158 schools averaged 1100 or higher, and 70 were at or above the state's 1013.
Compare schools by how many seniors tested
The share of seniors who take the SAT varies widely, from 34% at Aynor High to 97% at Fort Mill High in this table. A school where only the strongest third of seniors test will tend to post a higher average than one where nearly everyone tests. Fort Mill High (1097, 97% tested) and Catawba Ridge (1089, 93% tested) are notable because nearly every senior sat for the test.
South Carolina school districts by SAT average
Districts and charter authorities with at least 500 test takers.
| District | Test takers | 12th graders | Seniors tested | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| York 4 (Fort Mill) | 1,223 | 1,283 | 95% | 1084 |
| Pickens | 552 | 1,247 | 44% | 1065 |
| Lexington-Richland 5 | 966 | 1,355 | 71% | 1057 |
| Charleston | 2,207 | 3,177 | 69% | 1054 |
| Horry | 1,669 | 3,128 | 53% | 1037 |
| SC Public Charter District | 647 | 1,437 | 45% | 1036 |
| Beaufort | 779 | 1,426 | 55% | 1031 |
| Greenville | 3,329 | 5,181 | 64% | 1024 |
| Charter Institute at Erskine | 713 | 2,315 | 31% | 1018 |
| Lexington 1 | 1,324 | 1,863 | 71% | 1017 |
| Berkeley | 903 | 2,643 | 34% | 1009 |
| Limestone Charter Association | 518 | 972 | 53% | 1004 |
| Anderson 1 | 513 | 711 | 72% | 998 |
| Richland 2 | 1,183 | 2,102 | 56% | 997 |
| Dorchester 2 | 1,142 | 1,922 | 59% | 989 |
| Richland 1 | 663 | 1,415 | 47% | 984 |
| Aiken | 911 | 1,583 | 58% | 980 |
| Lancaster | 767 | 944 | 81% | 975 |
| York 3 (Rock Hill) | 638 | 1,036 | 62% | 969 |
Source: SCDE, Mean SAT Scores for 2026 Graduating Seniors (district file).
York 4 leads with the highest participation. Fort Mill's district tested 95% of seniors and still averaged 1084. Greenville County had the most test takers in the state (3,329).
What the scores mean for scholarships
South Carolina's merit scholarships use individual scores, not school averages, and they accept superscores: Palmetto Fellows needs a 1200 (or 1400 for the alternate route), and LIFE counts an 1100 as one of its three criteria. A school's average tells you where its typical senior lands, not whether you'll qualify. See LIFE requirements and Palmetto Fellows requirements.
Both of the state's flagships are test-optional for fall 2027: see Clemson and USC admissions.
What this means for you
- Compare your school against the state's 1013 and the national 1011. Then look at the share of seniors tested.
- The state's numbers use your latest score. Scholarships use your best: superscore for Palmetto Fellows and LIFE.
- Aim for 1100 or 1200 if you're near LIFE's or Palmetto Fellows' line; a retake can be worth thousands a year.