Public schools in Lake City, SC
6 open public schools with an address in Lake City, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
6
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
1,827
5 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
15.3:1
South Carolina median 13.6:1
Charter schools
1
1 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Lake City public schools
The federal directory lists 6 public schools in Lake City, SC: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high. The 5 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 1,827 students, an average of 365 per school. The largest campus is Lake City High (492 students), and the largest elementary school is Lake City Early Childhood Center (357).
Florence 03 operates the most schools here (5), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. 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 15.3:1, higher than 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 1 charter school, 1 magnet school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
School districts and agencies serving Lake City
Elementary schools in Lake City
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake City Early Childhood Center Florence 03 | PK–02 | 357 | 15.3:1 | |
| Main Street Elementary Florence 03 | 03–06 | 318 | 19.3:1 | |
| Pee Dee Innovation & Leadership Academy SC Public Charter School District · Charter | 02–05 | — | — |
Middle schools in Lake City
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ronald E. McNair Junior High Florence 03 | 07–08 | 275 | 15.7:1 |
High schools in Lake City
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Paul Truluck Creative Arts and Science Magnet Florence 03 · Magnet | 07–12 | 385 | 13.7:1 | |
| Lake City High Florence 03 | 09–12 | 492 | 13.9:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White15.9%
- Hispanic5.2%
- Black76.3%
- Asian0.2%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial2.1%
Enrollment-weighted across 5 Lake City schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (1,827 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Lake City
How many public schools are in Lake City, SC?
The current NCES directory lists 6 open public schools with a location address in Lake City: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high. Together they reported 1,827 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Lake City?
Schools with an address in Lake City belong to 2 education agencies, led by Florence 03 (5 schools), 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 Lake City?
Lake City High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Lake City, with 492 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Lake City?
Yes. 1 of the 6 public schools in Lake City are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Pee Dee Innovation & Leadership Academy. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Lake City schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Lake City public schools is 15.3:1, higher than 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 Lake City 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