Public schools in Aiken, SC
17 open public schools with an address in Aiken, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
17
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
10,769
17 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14.1:1
South Carolina median 13.6:1
Charter schools
2
1 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Aiken public schools
The federal directory lists 17 public schools in Aiken, SC: 8 elementary, 4 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. The 17 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 10,769 students, an average of 633 per school. The largest campus is Horse Creek Academy (1,392 students), and the largest elementary school is Millbrook Elementary (664).
Aiken 01 operates the most schools here (15), plus 2 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 14.1:1, similar to the statewide school median of 13.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 2 charter schools, 1 magnet school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 4 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 4 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
School districts and agencies serving Aiken
Elementary schools in Aiken
8| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken Elementary Aiken 01 | PK–05 | 508 | 14.1:1 | |
| Chukker Creek Elementary Aiken 01 | PK–05 | 578 | 14.2:1 | |
| East Aiken School of the Arts Aiken 01 · Magnet | PK–05 | 534 | 13.7:1 | |
| J. D. Lever Elementary Aiken 01 | PK–05 | 452 | 12.6:1 | |
| Millbrook Elementary Aiken 01 | PK–05 | 664 | 14:1 | |
| North Aiken Elementary Aiken 01 | PK–05 | 440 | 12.6:1 | |
| Oakwood-Windsor Elementary Aiken 01 | PK–05 | 427 | 12.9:1 | |
| Redcliffe Elementary Aiken 01 | PK–05 | 588 | 15.3:1 |
Middle schools in Aiken
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken Intermediate Aiken 01 | 06–06 | 427 | 16.7:1 | |
| M. B. Kennedy Middle Aiken 01 | 06–08 | 643 | 19:1 | |
| Schofield Middle Aiken 01 | 07–08 | 356 | 13.7:1 | |
| Tall Pines STEM Academy SC Public Charter School District · Charter | 05–08 | 382 | 15.3:1 |
High schools in Aiken
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken High Aiken 01 | 09–12 | 1,097 | 14.1:1 | |
| Aiken Scholars Academy Aiken 01 | 09–12 | 176 | 25.1:1 | |
| Silver Bluff High Aiken 01 | 09–12 | 756 | 15.8:1 | |
| South Aiken High Aiken 01 | 09–12 | 1,349 | 16.9:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Aiken
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horse Creek Academy Limestone Charters Association · Charter | PK–12 | 1,392 | 12.5:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White46.3%
- Hispanic10.9%
- Black34.2%
- Asian1.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial7.3%
Enrollment-weighted across 17 Aiken schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (10,769 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Aiken
How many public schools are in Aiken, SC?
The current NCES directory lists 17 open public schools with a location address in Aiken: 8 elementary, 4 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 10,769 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Aiken?
Schools with an address in Aiken belong to 3 education agencies, led by Aiken 01 (15 schools), Limestone Charters Association (1 school), SC Public Charter School District (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Aiken?
South Aiken High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Aiken, with 1,349 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Aiken?
Yes. 2 of the 17 public schools in Aiken are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Horse Creek Academy, Tall Pines STEM Academy. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Aiken schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Aiken public schools is 14.1:1, similar to the South Carolina school median of 13.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Aiken guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby South Carolina cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All South Carolina cities