9 colleges and universities within a 30-minute drive and a healthy public school district offer Fairfield residence the best opportunity to be a part of a growing, productive community.
Primary & Secondary Education
Fairfield County has 10 public schools: 1 early childhood school, 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 1 high school, 1 career center, and 1 learning center.
In addition to its traditional educational programs, the district offers both a learning center and a career center for the students of Fairfield County. The Learning Center is an alternative program that gives students facing expulsion a chance to change. The Learning Center is considered the model for programs like this around the state. The Fairfield County Career Center offers many areas of vocational training and boasts nationally certified welding and electricity programs. The health occupations class and the graphics department routinely win awards and all departments at the school have had students place in regional and state competitions. The Career Center also has a highly successful school-to-work program for students. The district also has a summer enrichment program, during which media centers and computer labs are open for students.
Other impressive educational institutes include the Fairfield Magnet School for Math and Science and the STEM Early College Academy. The Fairfield Magnet School for Math and Science was one of only five schools in the state to receive the Palmetto Finest School distinction in 2014. Additionally, our STEM Early College Academy is one of the most cutting-edge programs in the country. Started in 2011, the program will have approximately 10 students graduate this year with Associate degrees from Midlands Technical College by the completion of their senior year of high school.
Fairfield County has one private school, the Richard Winn Academy. RWA offers kindergarten for 3-, 4- and 5-year olds. A daycare center on the campus is available for students from noon to 6 pm. The school is divided into a lower school for grades 1-5 and an upper school for grades 6-12. The curriculum is focused on academics and, for older students, preparation for college.
Higher Education
Numerous institutions of higher education are located a short drive away from Fairfield County. The state’s flagship university, the University of South Carolina, is located in the heart of downtown Columbia. There are nine colleges and universities in the Columbia area including the University of South Carolina, Midlands Technical College, Allen University, Benedict College, Columbia College, Columbia International University, Columbia Jr. College, and Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. Also located close by are the Central Carolina Technical College in Sumter and Newberry College in Newberry.
