Education
Laurens County is proud of the educational opportunities available here: two public school districts and three private schools for elementary and secondary students; one four-year college, one technical college, and a branch-university. There are also numerous other colleges and universities are within a one hour commute.
Education and Economic Development Brochure High-quality, educational facilities and institutions provide the business community with a work force that is skilled on all levels. Please download our new brochure.
Laurens County District 55 serves the City of Laurens and surrounding area. Enrollment is approximately 6,300 students in seven elementary schools and two secondary schools. Student-teacher ratio is 18:1.
Laurens County District 56 serves the City of Clinton and surrounding area. Enrollment is approximately 3500 students in four elementary and three secondary schools. Student-teacher ratio is 18:1.
Faith Christian is a full-service private institution with K-12 classes, as well as day care. Founded in 1965 and operated by Faith Baptist, average class size is 15 students.
Laurens Academy, is a private school with classes for K4-12 is accredited by the SC Independent School Association. College preparatory curriculum has a non-denominational Christian emphasis.
Thornwell Home & School for Children is a ministry of the Presbyterian Church (USA) since 1875. The independent schools (grades 4K-12) are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Enrollment is approximately 250 students.
Presbyterian College founded in 1880 is one of the top colleges in the country: a fully accredited four-year, private, co-educational, liberal arts institution, classified by the Carnegie Foundation in its top category of small liberal arts schools.
University of South Carolina-Union at Laurens satellite operations began in Laurens in 1983 with classes offered at the local junior high school.
Piedmont Technical College became the eighth of the 16 member institutions in the South Carolina Technical Education System when it was established in 1966 to serve Laurens, Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, McCormick, Newberry and Saluda Counties. In 1991, the Laurens County Center opened to provide additional local access to credit and non-credit courses for area residents.
Laurens County Lifelong Learning Center uses the B-Best model to incorporate skills needed in industry into the local schools and colleges. Numerous communities inside and outside the state of South Carolina have benchmarked Laurens County Lifelong Learning, which is a part of the public school system in Laurens County.
