Below Average
#884 of 1,176 schools in SC
Buford Middle
Middle School · Lancaster 01 · Lancaster, SC
A Lancaster 01 middle school where students score 16 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1890 North Rocky River Road, Lancaster, SC 29720
- Math 39% proficient (2022)
- Reading 39% proficient (2022)
- 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Buford Middle score 39% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 55%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. SC average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 40 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 39% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 51% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 50% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from SC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
59%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Buford Middle sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Charlotte map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 18Car-Dependent
- Bike 28Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High7,243/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Lancaster), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$59,039
Median home value
$212,800
Median rent
$845/mo
College educated
22.2%
Homeownership
77.7%
Poverty rate
17.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 29720; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 in Lancaster 01
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. R. Rucker MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 2.6 | 6–8 | Not available | 513 | Compare → |
| Andrew Jackson MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 3.8 | 6–8 | Not available | 458 | Compare → |
| Indian Land IntermediateEnrollment path unverified | 6.6 | 5–6 | Not available | 1,130 | Compare → |
| Indian Land MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 6.5 | 7–8 | Not available | 1,061 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Lancaster 01
- Schools in district
- 23
- Rank in district
- #15 of 22
- District spending per student
- $12,216NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 12.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Buford Middle is listed in Lancaster 01; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Buford Middle
Buford Middle is a public middle school in Lancaster, SC, part of Lancaster 01, serving approximately 368 students in grades 6th-8th with a 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.9 out of 10 and ranks #884 of 1,176 schools in SC. State assessment records show 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Buford Middle
What grades does Buford Middle serve?
Buford Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Buford Middle?
Buford Middle has an enrollment of approximately 368 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Buford Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Buford Middle is 14.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Buford Middle rank in SC?
Buford Middle ranks #884 of 1,176 schools in SC.
What is Buford Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Buford Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.9 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Buford Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Buford Middle has 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Buford Middle a charter school?
No, Buford Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Buford Middle a Title I school?
No, Buford Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Buford Middle?
59.0% of students at Buford Middle qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 368
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 25
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Lancaster County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 28.3%
- Phone
- (803) 285-8473
- Area population (ZIP 29720)
- 51,603
- Area average commute
- 30 min
- Area median age
- 41.3
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 29720; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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