School Days

Education has long been a concern of Lancaster's citizens.

Early Schools

Waxhaw Academy

The earliest educational facility in Lancaster County was in the Waxhaw Settlement. The Waxhaw Academy was organized by Reverend William Richardson (1729 - 1771) and flourished for many years.

By 1825, the Waxhaw Academy had disappeared as Robert Mills noted in his Statistics of South Carolina:

". . . at one period this part of the State could boast of having the best institution of learning in the upper country; nay, the only one above Charleston. It was conducted with ability and was highly respectable. In this institution many gentlemen, who afterwards distinguished themselves, were educated."

Students included Andrew Jackson (1767 - 1845), seventh President of the United States, and William Richardson Davie (1756 - 1820), founder of the University of North Carolina.

Dunlap Street, Town of Lancaster

West Dunlap Street has seen five buildings and a number of name changes over the course of two centuries.

Barr Street, Town of Lancaster

Shortly after the end of the Civil War, education for the black community became a priority. A site on Barr Street has also gone through a number of changes over time.

Mill Village

The school at the Mill Village was just outside the city limits.

Countryside

Schools were also operating in various communities around the countryside. Teaching the basics, these were often called Field Schools.

Today's Schools

High schools in Lancaster County include Andrew Jackson, Buford, Indian Land, and Lancaster High.

Middle schools are Andrew Jackson, Barr Street, Buford, Indian Land, Rucker, and South Middle.

The elementary schools are Brooklyn Springs, Buford, Clinton, Erwin, Heath Springs, Indian Land, Kershaw, McDonald-Green, and North Elementary.