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6.5 avg / 10

Best Schools in Conway, South Carolina

15 schools · 7 Elementary · 3 Middle · 4 High · 1 Other

Public: 14
Private: 1
Districts: 1
Avg Rating: 6.5/10
Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Conway?

Use this page to compare every school in Conway by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Hcs Early College High

8.8/10

High · Horry 01. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Palmetto Academy of Learning Motorsports (palm)

8.1/10

High · Horry 01. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

South Conway Elementary

7.7/10

Elementary · Horry 01. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Conway for 2026 are Hcs Early College High (8.8/10), Palmetto Academy of Learning Motorsports (palm) (8.1/10), and South Conway Elementary (7.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 15 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Schools

15

14 public · 1 private

Avg Score

6.5

out of 10

Median Home

$214,550

home value · ACS

District

1

serving the city

Best value · beats the odds
Hcs Early College High

Rates 8.8/10 despite 58% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Conway schools.

Top-Rated Schools in Conway

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (15 of 15). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

# School Rating
1 Hcs Early College High 8.8 / 10
2 Palmetto Academy of Learning Motorsports (palm) 8.1 / 10
3 South Conway Elementary 7.7 / 10
4 Kingston Elementary 7.7 / 10
5 Conway Elementary 7.2 / 10
6 Homewood Elementary 6.7 / 10
7 Waccamaw Elementary 6.7 / 10
8 Pee Dee Elementary 6.6 / 10
9 Hcs Scholars Academy High 6.6 / 10
10 Conway High 6.2 / 10

See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

Family Snapshot

At a glance
Avg school rating
6.5/10

33% of schools rated 7+

Median household income
$59,784

Census ACS, ZIPs in this city

Median home value
$214,550

Owner-occupied units

Bachelor's degree or higher
18%

Adults 25+

Avg commute
26 min

Workers age 16+

Owner-occupied homes
75%

Of occupied housing units

How Conway compares

South Carolina rank

#41 of 129

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

+0.4

above South Carolina avg (6.2)

Median household income

$60k

96% of South Carolina median

Schools in this city

15

About Schools in Conway, South Carolina

Conway, South Carolina has 14 ranked public schools with a city average of 6.5 out of 10. That average sits in acceptable territory, but it conceals real variation across the district. Six schools — 43% of the total — score 7 or above, meaning families who do their homework can access quality well above the city midpoint.

The high school tier is where Conway stands out most clearly. HCS Scholars Academy High scores 9.2 out of 10 — the city's top result and a substantial jump above the 6.5 average. HCS Early College High (8.2) gives high schoolers a second strong option. Palmetto Academy of Learning Motorsports (PALM) rounds out the top high school choices at 7.9, offering a motorsports-integrated curriculum that sets it apart from traditional secondary programs. All three top-rated schools carry scores well above Conway's city average, giving families meaningful options at the secondary level.

On the elementary side, two schools clear the 7-point mark. Kingston Elementary scores 8.0, leading the K-5 tier, while South Conway Elementary earns a 7.2. Both give younger children a strong academic foundation. Below these schools, scores drop toward and under the city average — so address-to-zone research matters even at the kindergarten level, not just for high school placement.

For parents comparing neighborhoods in Conway, the 6.5 average understates how much the right school assignment matters here. The spread from the city's top school (9.2) to its average (6.5) is wide enough to meaningfully shape a child's academic experience. With 43% of schools scoring 7 or above, the right zone genuinely changes outcomes. Check attendance boundaries before committing to a home, and research enrollment requirements for any academy or specialty program on your shortlist.

Elementary Schools

7 schools
# School Rating
1 622 students · Pre-K–5th 7.7
2 483 students · Pre-K–5th 7.7
3 593 students · Pre-K–5th 7.2
4 668 students · Pre-K–5th 6.7
5 1,003 students · Pre-K–5th 6.7
6 933 students · Pre-K–5th 6.6
7 106 students · Pre-K–8th 4.5

Middle Schools

3 schools
# School Rating
1 630 students · 6th–8th 5.5
2 956 students · 6th–8th 5.2
3 796 students · 6th–8th 5.0

High Schools

4 schools
# School Rating
1 342 students · 9th–12th 8.8
2 190 students · 9th–12th 8.1
3 184 students · 9th–12th 6.6
4 1,711 students · 9th–12th 6.2

Other Schools

1 school
# School Rating
1 289 students · Pre-K–12th 5.3

Schools in Conway

Conway, South Carolina · 15 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes

Median Income

$59,784

Median Home Value

$214,550

Median Rent

$953/mo

Population

80,230

College Educated

18%

Homeownership

75%

Avg Commute

26 min

Poverty Rate

16.4%

Community Profile

Conway has a median household income of $59,784. It is a community where 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $214,550, with a median rent of $953/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.4%. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Conway, South Carolina

How many schools are in Conway, South Carolina?

Conway has 15 schools, including 14 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Conway, South Carolina?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Conway is 6.5 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

What is the top-ranked school in Conway, South Carolina?

The top-ranked school in Conway on MySchoolScout is Hcs Early College High with a composite score of 8.8/10.

What is the best elementary school in Conway, South Carolina?

The top-ranked elementary school in Conway on MySchoolScout is South Conway Elementary with a composite score of 7.7/10.

What is the best middle school in Conway, South Carolina?

The top-ranked middle school in Conway on MySchoolScout is Conway Middle with a composite score of 5.5/10.

What is the best high school in Conway, South Carolina?

The top-ranked high school in Conway on MySchoolScout is Hcs Early College High with a composite score of 8.8/10.

How many school districts serve Conway, South Carolina?

Conway is served by 1 school district: Horry 01.

What is the education level in Conway, South Carolina?

According to Census data, 18% of adults in Conway have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Conway, South Carolina?

The median household income in Conway is approximately $59,784 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Conway, South Carolina?

Yes, Conway has 1 private school alongside 14 public schools. The top-rated private school is Conway Christian School with a score of 5.3/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Conway, South Carolina?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Conway is 14.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Conway, South Carolina?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.

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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, South Carolina Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.