Dropout and graduation rates of student cohorts are measured by the S.C. Department of Education (S.C. DOE) annually. Graduation rates by school and district are reported in the annual school and district report cards. The S.C. DOE keeps dropout data in the form of "School Dropout Listings", reported longitudinally for four consecutive school years.

Dropout rates are a measure of academic progression of a group of students from one period of time to the next. Graduation rates are a measure of the success of those students in attaining the academic goal of graduation. Both dropout and graduation rates are affected by student characteristics, choices and behaviors, as well as by institutional characteristics and programs.

As evidenced by these charts, Spartanburg has a lower composite dropout rate than Greenville, Richland composite, and Charleston, averaged over the 2002-2005 school years. Of all districts, only Spartanburg District 1 evidenced an annual decrease in dropout rate since 2002. Generally, dropout rates fluctuated from year to year in most districts. Spartanburg Districts 3 and 4 evidenced the steadiest rate of retention over the four years.