Public schools in Orangeburg, SC
12 open public schools with an address in Orangeburg, operated by 5 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
12
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
4,802
12 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14.6:1
South Carolina median 13.6:1
Charter schools
3
3 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Orangeburg public schools
The federal directory lists 12 public schools in Orangeburg, SC: 8 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high. The 12 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 4,802 students, an average of 400 per school. The largest campus is Orangeburg Wilkinson High (992 students), and the largest elementary school is Marshall Elementary (625).
Orangeburg operates the most schools here (8), plus 4 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 14.6:1, 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 3 charter schools, 3 magnet schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
School districts and agencies serving Orangeburg
Orangeburg
Public school district
8 schools in Orangeburg · 24 total
Charter Institute at Erskine
Independent charter agency
1 school in Orangeburg · 28 total
Limestone Charters Association
Independent charter agency
1 school in Orangeburg · 17 total
Orangeburg 81
Specialized public school district
1 school in Orangeburg
SC Public Charter School District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Orangeburg · 45 total
Elementary schools in Orangeburg
8| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookdale Elementary Orangeburg | PK–05 | 215 | 13.3:1 | |
| Edisto Elementary Orangeburg · Magnet | 03–05 | 419 | 15.3:1 | |
| Felton Laboratory Charter School SC Public Charter School District · Charter | KG–08 | 279 | 20.8:1 | |
| Marshall Elementary Orangeburg · Magnet | PK–05 | 625 | 16.1:1 | |
| Mellichamp Elementary Orangeburg · Magnet | 03–05 | 144 | 10:1 | |
| Sheridan Elementary Orangeburg | PK–05 | 450 | 13.9:1 | |
| Whittaker Elementary Orangeburg | PK–05 | 325 | 15.5:1 | |
| Willie Jeffries School of Excellence Charter Institute at Erskine · Charter | KG–07 | 274 | 11.2:1 |
Middle schools in Orangeburg
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William J. Clark Middle Orangeburg | 06–08 | 587 | 13:1 |
High schools in Orangeburg
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orangeburg High School for Health Professions Limestone Charters Association · Charter | 09–12 | 492 | 18.9:1 | |
| Orangeburg Wilkinson High Orangeburg | 09–12 | 992 | 16.5:1 | |
| The Orangeburg Career & Technology Center Orangeburg 81 · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 0 | 0:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White5.6%
- Hispanic4.6%
- Black85.1%
- Asian1.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial2.7%
Enrollment-weighted across 11 Orangeburg schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (4,802 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Orangeburg
How many public schools are in Orangeburg, SC?
The current NCES directory lists 12 open public schools with a location address in Orangeburg: 8 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high. Together they reported 4,802 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Orangeburg?
Schools with an address in Orangeburg belong to 5 education agencies, led by Orangeburg (8 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 Orangeburg?
Orangeburg Wilkinson High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Orangeburg, with 992 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Orangeburg?
Yes. 3 of the 12 public schools in Orangeburg are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Felton Laboratory Charter School, Orangeburg High School for Health Professions, Willie Jeffries School of Excellence. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Orangeburg schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Orangeburg public schools is 14.6:1, 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 Orangeburg 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