News Summary
Five Greenville County high schools have made it to the top tiers of the Best Public High Schools in South Carolina rankings.
Greenville, South Carolina – Five high schools in Greenville County have been recognized in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of the Best Public High Schools in South Carolina for the 2025-2026 school year. Riverside High School leads the local rankings, coming in at No. 13 statewide, followed closely by Wade Hampton High School at No. 15 and Mauldin High School at No. 16. Greenville Senior High Academy and J.L. Mann High Academy also made the list, coming in at No. 24 and No. 25, respectively.
These rankings reflect the schools’ academic performance, college readiness, and the diversity of their student bodies. The five schools’ inclusion among the top 25 in the state highlights the commitment to education within Greenville County. Notably, Fountain Inn High School, which opened its doors in 2021, did not qualify for the rankings, as it has not yet established a performance history.
In addition to the rankings, Greenville County Schools have recently faced other developments, including the arrest of a 26-year-old assistant coach, Ceisean Jahad Tucker-Grimes. He was arrested by Simpsonville Police and charged with sexual battery involving a student from Hillcrest High School. The inappropriate relationship was reported on August 11, and the incident allegedly took place off-campus. Following these allegations, Greenville County Schools confirmed that Tucker-Grimes is no longer part of the district’s staff.
On a positive note, 81 schools within the Greenville County School District will benefit from an expansion of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program, which provides free lunches to students. This program will be available during the 2025-26 school year and is guaranteed to continue through at least the end of the 2026-27 school year. The CEP allows schools to serve free meals to all students without requiring individual applications for eligibility. The inclusion of these schools in the program is determined by the percentage of students from households receiving federal benefits, which has expanded to include those enrolled in Medicaid services.
Furthermore, the Greenville County traditional high school graduation ceremonies are set to commence on Tuesday at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. All traditional high schools will hold their graduation events at this venue, providing a unified location for celebrations. Attendees are reminded of a clear bag policy that will be enforced at each ceremony to ensure safety and security.
The recognition of the high schools, the recent arrest of a staff member, and the provisions for free meals are significant developments in the Greenville County educational landscape. These events reflect both achievements in academic performance and ongoing challenges within the school community.
For a comprehensive view of the U.S. News rankings, additional information can be found by visiting the U.S. News education website.
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Additional Resources
- Greenville Journal: 5 Greenville County High Schools Ranked Among Top 25 in SC
- WYFF4: Teacher Arrested for Inappropriate Relationship with Student
- Greenville Online: What Schools Won’t Be Offering Free Lunch in Greenville County
- Fox Carolina: High School Graduations Impact Downtown Greenville Traffic
- WSPA: Greenville County Teacher Coach Arrested for Sexual Battery Involving Student
- Wikipedia: Education in South Carolina
- Google Search: Greenville County Schools
- Google Scholar: Greenville County High Schools
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Schooling
- Google News: Greenville Education News
Author: STAFF HERE GREENVILLE
The HERE Greenville Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Greenville community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Greenville Our team includes lifelong Greenville residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sales in the Heritage Historic District 17 , Greenville’s textile and railroad heritage 2 , and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Greenville Technical College programs) 27 . Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
