Public schools in Gaffney, SC
13 open public schools with an address in Gaffney, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
13
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
6,871
13 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.3:1
South Carolina median 13.6:1
Charter schools
2
0 virtual
An overview of Gaffney public schools
The federal directory lists 13 public schools in Gaffney, SC: 8 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. The 13 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 6,871 students, an average of 529 per school. The largest campus is Gaffney High (1,827 students), and the largest elementary school is B. D. Lee Elementary (603).
Cherokee 01 operates the most schools here (11), 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 13.3:1, 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. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
School districts and agencies serving Gaffney
Elementary schools in Gaffney
8| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. D. Lee Elementary Cherokee 01 | PK–05 | 603 | 15.2:1 | |
| Corinth Elementary Cherokee 01 | PK–05 | 292 | 12.7:1 | |
| Draytonville Elementary Cherokee 01 | PK–05 | 264 | 13.9:1 | |
| Goucher Charter Academy Limestone Charters Association · Charter | PK–08 | 244 | 10.2:1 | |
| Grassy Pond Elementary Cherokee 01 | PK–05 | 519 | 15.5:1 | |
| Limestone-Central Elementary Cherokee 01 | PK–05 | 436 | 13.3:1 | |
| Luther L. Vaughan Elementary Cherokee 01 | PK–05 | 399 | 11.9:1 | |
| Northwest Elementary Cherokee 01 | PK–05 | 423 | 13.9:1 |
Middle schools in Gaffney
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaffney Middle Cherokee 01 | 06–08 | 851 | 12.4:1 | |
| John E. Ewing Middle Cherokee 01 | 06–08 | 380 | 12.1:1 |
High schools in Gaffney
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaffney High Cherokee 01 | 09–12 | 1,827 | 17.7:1 | |
| Institute of Innovation Cherokee 01 · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 0 | 0:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Gaffney
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee Charter Academy Charter Institute at Erskine · Charter | KG–10 | 633 | 15.1:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White53.7%
- Hispanic12.1%
- Black29.4%
- Asian0.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial3.7%
Enrollment-weighted across 12 Gaffney schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (6,871 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Gaffney
How many public schools are in Gaffney, SC?
The current NCES directory lists 13 open public schools with a location address in Gaffney: 8 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 6,871 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Gaffney?
Schools with an address in Gaffney belong to 3 education agencies, led by Cherokee 01 (11 schools), Charter Institute at Erskine (1 school), Limestone Charters Association (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 Gaffney?
Gaffney High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Gaffney, with 1,827 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Gaffney?
Yes. 2 of the 13 public schools in Gaffney are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Cherokee Charter Academy, Goucher Charter Academy. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Gaffney schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Gaffney public schools is 13.3:1, 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 Gaffney 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