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Very Good

#355 of 1,176 schools in SC

Top 30% in state

St. James High

High School · Horry 01

10800 Highway 707, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

Enrollment

1,880

Student-Teacher

17.7:1

Score

7.1

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

South Carolina high schools

#100 of 216

In district

#13 of 55

Horry 01

Academic performance

9.7 / 10

Exceptional

About St. James High

St. James High serves 1,880 students in grades 9-12 in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, operating as a regular public school in Horry County. With 106 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 17.7:1, providing a manageable learning environment for its large student body.

The school demonstrates strong academic performance, earning a 7.5 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking #107 out of 1,192 schools statewide, placing it in the 91st percentile among South Carolina high schools. Students consistently perform well on standardized assessments, with 88% achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts and Reading, and 81% meeting or exceeding proficiency standards in Mathematics. These results reflect the school's solid academic foundation and effective instruction across core subjects.

St. James High is situated in a stable suburban community where the median household income reaches $65,890 and median home values average $284,900. The surrounding area shows economic stability with a relatively low poverty rate of 8.4%, while 30% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher.

The school's location along Highway 707 places it at the heart of a growing suburban area that balances residential development with proximity to South Carolina's coastal attractions.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.4Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+1.02 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendImproving
Academics9.7Exceptional25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency81%
Reading/ELA Proficiency88%
Overall Proficiency85%
Expected (poverty-adj.)62%
vs. Expected+22.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile95th
College Readiness6.5Above Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation15.6%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment3.0Fair20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,785

St. James High — Students at St. James High score 84% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 62%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

43%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores SC EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 78.3%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 88.3%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from SC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
77%
ELA
86%
2021*
Math
77%
ELA
91%
2022
Math
81%
ELA
88%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.4/10.

How St. James High Compares

See how St. James High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.1/10
70th percentile in SC
Academic
9.7/10
9.7/10
Growth
8.4/10
Above average
Environment
3.0/10
Below average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
43%
Teaching Staff
18:1 student-teacher ratio
106 teachers

Location

10800 Highway 707, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering St. James High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Bridgewater Academy Charter (rated 7.8/10, 10.2 miles away, in nearby Myrtle Beach), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Waccamaw Intermediate (rated 7.7/10, 9.2 miles away, in nearby Pawleys Island), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Socastee High (rated 7.5/10, 5.7 miles away, in nearby Myrtle Beach), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Murrells Inlet, see our Murrells Inlet schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 10.6 mi
School Distance Rating
St. James Middle Myrtle Beach 1.1 mi 6.3
St. James Elementary Myrtle Beach 1.2 mi 5.0
Burgess Elementary Myrtle Beach 2.6 mi 4.9
St. James Intermediate Myrtle Beach 2.7 mi 6.0
Seaside Elementary Garden City 3.1 mi 4.9
ST MICHAEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL Murrells Inlet 3.4 mi 5.5
CALVARY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Myrtle Beach 4.7 mi 5.2
Socastee High Myrtle Beach 5.7 mi 7.5
Socastee Middle Myrtle Beach 5.6 mi 5.4
Socastee Elementary Myrtle Beach 6.4 mi 6.8
Coastal High School Myrtle Beach 6.3 mi
Lakewood Elementary Myrtle Beach 6.2 mi 7.2
Palmetto Bays Elementary Myrtle Beach 8.1 mi 6.1
Forestbrook Elementary Myrtle Beach 7.9 mi 6.6
Forestbrook Middle Myrtle Beach 8.2 mi 3.9
Waccamaw Middle Pawleys Island 8.8 mi 7.0
Palmetto Academy of Learning and Success Charter Myrtle Beach 8.2 mi 5.0
Waccamaw Intermediate Pawleys Island 9.2 mi 7.7
Bridgewater Academy Charter Myrtle Beach 10.2 mi 7.8
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF MYRTLE BEACH Myrtle Beach 10.6 mi 5.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 29576 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$70,343

Median Home Value

$315,700

Median Rent

$1,467/mo

Population

32,975

College Educated

32%

Homeownership

87.2%

Avg Commute

22 min

Poverty Rate

7.9%

Median Age

62.3

Community Profile

The community surrounding St. James High has a median household income of $70,343. It is an area where 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $315,700, with a median rent of $1,467/month. The local poverty rate of 7.9% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
D. W. Daniel High Central, SC 7.1
Fort Dorchester High North Charleston, SC 7.0
RB Stall High North Charleston, SC 7.0
Spring Valley High Columbia, SC 7.0
Northwestern High Rock Hill, SC 7.2
Greenwood High Greenwood, SC 6.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about St. James High

What grades does St. James High serve?

St. James High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend St. James High?

St. James High has an enrollment of approximately 1,880 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at St. James High?

The student-teacher ratio at St. James High is 17.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does St. James High rank in SC?

St. James High is ranked #355 out of 1,176 schools in SC.

What is St. James High's MySchoolScout rating?

St. James High has a composite rating of 7.1 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at St. James High?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, St. James High has 78.3% math proficiency and 88.3% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is St. James High a charter school?

No, St. James High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is St. James High a Title I school?

No, St. James High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for St. James High?

43.0% of students at St. James High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
25 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
31 Somewhat Bikeable
County Safety
Low (3/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,880
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
106
Free/Reduced Lunch
43.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Horry County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Horry 01
District Enrollment
48,205
Schools in District
57
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,222
District Rank
#13 of 55

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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