SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums Other Prep Sports Poverty Index in S.C. High Schools

An interesting look at the S.C. Poverty Index and the correlation of high school soccer performance.

(Rank) School, Poverty Index -- Boys Rank / Girls Rank
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(1) Chapin, 12.70 -- #4 Boys 3A / #7 Girls 3A
(2) Academic Magnet, 14.31 -- #3 Boys 1A / #6 Girls 2A/1A
(3) Fort Mill, 17.39 -- #12 Boys 4A / #7 Girls 4A
(4) Riverside, 17.48 -- #3 Boys 3A / #3 Girls 3A
(5) Lexington, 19.23 -- #5 Boys 4A / #2 Girls 4A
(6) Charleston School of the Arts, 21.57 -- no teams fielded
(7) Greenville Technical Charter, 22.71 -- NR Boys 1A
(8) Dutch Fork, 22.95 -- #6 Boys 4A / #3 Girls 4A
(9) Wando, 24.00 -- #3 Boys 4A / #1 Girls 4A
(10) Fox Creek, 25.58 -- NR Boys 1A
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(11) Mauldin, 25.73 -- #4 Boys 4A / #8 Girls 4A
(12) Eastside, 27.29 -- #5 Boys 3A / #1 Girls 3A
(13) Daniel, 28.88 -- #8 Boys 3A / #12 Girls 3A
(14) Wren, 29.54 -- NR Boys 4A / #14 Girls 4A
(15) Hilton Head, 30.09 -- #15 Boys 3A / #2 Girls 3A
(16) Ridge View, 30.33 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(17) Waccamaw, 32.48 -- #3 Boys 2A / #3 Girls 2A/1A
(18) Fort Dorchester, 35.39 -- #15 Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(19) Hillcrest, 35.66 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(20) J.L. Mann, 35.95 -- #11 Boys 3A / #10 Girls 3A
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(21) Clover, 36.29 -- NR Boys 4A
(22) Irmo, 36.39 -- #7 Boys 4A / #4 Girls 4A
(23) Indian Land, 36.45 -- NR Boys 1A
(24) North Augusta, 36.63 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(25) James Island Charter, 37.10 -- NR Boys 4A / #15 Girls 4A
(26) White Knoll, 38.00 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(27) Spring Valley, 38.17 -- #1 Boys 4A / #10 Girls 4A
(28) Blue Ridge, 38.47 -- NR Boys 3A
(29) South Aiken, 38.84 -- #11 Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(30) May for Math, Science, & Technology, 39.00
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(31) Summerville, 39.50 -- #10 Boys 4A / #5 Girls 4A
(32) T.L. Hanna, 39.59 -- NR Boys 4A / #13 Girls 4A
(33) Northwestern, 40.22 -- #2 Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(34) Stratford, 40.25 -- #13 Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(35) West Florence, 40.29 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(36) A.C. Flora, 41.44 -- #14 Boys 3A / #9 Girls 3A
(37) Gilbert, 42.22 -- NR Boys 2A / #7 Girls 2A
(38) Boiling Springs, 42.42 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(39) Easley, 42.84 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(40) Blythewood, 43.28 -- NR Boys 3A / #15 Girls 3A
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(41) Bluffton, 43.89 -- #12 Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(42) Wade Hampton-G, 44.30 -- NR Boys 3A / #11 Girls 3A
(43) Byrnes, 44.45 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(44) Lugoff-Elgin, 44.46 -- NR Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(45) Socastee, 45.20 -- #2 Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(46) Greer, 45.64 -- NR Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(47) Pickens, 46.27 -- NR Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(48) Boiling Springs (9th Grade Camp), 46.77
(49) Landrum, 46.83 -- NR Boys 1A
(50) Dorman, 47.23 -- #9 Boys 4A / #6 Girls 4A
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(51) St. James, 47.44 -- NR Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(52) Walhalla, 47.83 -- #5 Boys 2A / NR Girls 2A
(53) Richland Northeast, 48.09 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(54) Buford, 48.31 -- #9 Boys 2A
(55) Dreher, 48.43 -- #6 Boys 3A / #6 Girls 3A
(56) Seneca, 48.51 -- NR Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(57) Ninety Six, 48.59 -- NR Boys 2A / NR Girls 2A
(58) Chapman, 48.88 -- NR Boys 2A / NR Girls 2A
(59) Carolina Forest, 49.15 -- NR Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(60) Travelers Rest, 49.23 -- NR Boys 3A / #13 Girls 3A
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(61) Mid-Carolina, 49.30 -- NR Boys 2A
(62) Hanahan, 49.38 -- NR Boys 2A / NR Girls 2A
(63) Pendleton, 49.45 -- NR Boys 2A / NR Girls 2A
(64) Rock Hill, 50.02 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(65) Greenville, 50.27 -- #1 Boys 3A / #14 Girls 3A
(66) Palmetto, 50.40 -- #8 Boys 2A
(67) Dorman (Freshman Campus), 50.42
(68) Aiken, 50.69 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(69) York Comprehensive, 51.46 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(70) South Pointe, 51.51 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
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(71) Belton-Honea Path, 51.55 -- NR Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(72) West Ashley, 51.90 -- NR Boys 4A / #12 Girls 4A
(73) Lewisville, 52.13 -- NR Boys 1A
(74) Greenwood, 53.15 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(75) Dixie, 53.16 -- #5 Boys 1A
(76) Johnsonville, 53.18
(77) Woodruff, 53.57 -- NR Boys 2A / #2 Girls 2A
(78) Beaufort, 53.95 -- #8 Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(79) Chesnee, 54.13
(80) North Myrtle Beach, 54.20 -- #7 Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
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(81) Myrtle Beach, 54.22 -- #10 Boys 3A / #4 Girls 3A
(82) Liberty, 55.10
(83) South Florence, 56.19 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(84) Emerald, 56.75 -- #2 Boys 2A / NR Girls 2A
(85) Camden, 57.09 -- NR Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(86) East Clarendon, 57.37
(87) Andrew Jackson, 57.39 -- #6 Boys 2A / NR Girls 2A
(88) Lockhart, 57.45
(89) Brookland-Cayce, 57.65 -- #9 Boys 3A / #8 Girls 3A
(90) Batesburg-Leesville, 57.97 -- #4 Boys 2A
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(91) Broome, 57.98 -- #10 Boys 2A / NR Girls 2A
(92) Silver Bluff, 58.02 -- NR Boys 2A
(93) Airport, 58.05 -- NR Boys 3A / #5 Girls 3A
(94) Gaffney, 59.17 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(95) Spartanburg, 59.24 -- NR Boys 4A / #11 Girls 4A
(96) Chesterfield, 59.29
(97) Whitmire, 59.70
(98T) Westside, 60.31 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(98T) Barnwell, 60.31 -- #7 Boys 2A / #10 Girls 2A
(100) Ware Shoals, 60.36 -- NR Boys 1A
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(101) Goose Creek, 60.96 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(102) Sumter, 61.14 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(103) Midland Valley, 61.29
(104) Crescent, 61.48
(105) McBee, 61.82
(106) Aynor, 61.90
(107) Laurens District 55, 62.01 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(108) Great Falls, 62.09 -- NR Boys 1A
(109) Berkeley, 62.29 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(110) Woodmont, 62.45 -- NR Boys 3A
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(111) Blacksburg, 63.08
(112) Pelion, 63.16 -- NR Girls 2A
(113) Richland Middle College @ Midlands Tech, 63.30
(114) Union Comprehensive, 63.59 -- NR Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(115) Abbeville, 63.93
(116) Lancaster, 63.96 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 3A
(117) Williston-Elko, 64.00 -- NR Boys 1A
(118) Crestwood, 64.57 -- NR Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(119) Saluda, 64.80 -- NR Boys 2A
(120) Hannah-Pamplico, 65.40
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(121) Branchville, 65.48 -- NR Boys 1A
(122) Wade Hampton-H, 65.64 -- NR Boys 2A
(123) Hartsville, 66.32 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(124) Swansea, 66.52 -- NR Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(125) Cheraw, 66.75 -- NR Boys 2A
(126) Battery Creek, 67.36 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(127) Southside, 68.33 -- NR Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(128) Georgetown, 69.25 -- NR Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(129) Chester, 69.28 -- NR Boys 3A
(130) Clinton, 69.71 -- NR Boys 3A
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(131) Westminster MS, 70.04
(132) Berea, 70.52 -- NR Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(133) Strom Thurmond, 70.54 -- NR Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(134) Lower Richland, 70.58
(135) Bamberg-Ehrhardt, 70.60 -- NR Boys 1A
(136) Wagener-Salley, 70.86 -- NR Boys 1A
(137) Tamassee-Salem, 71.00
(138) Conway, 71.59 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(139) Latta, 71.70
(140) Central, 71.83
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(141) Aiken Performing Arts Academy, 72.92
(142) Columbia, 73.32 -- NR Boys 2A
(143) Wilson, 73.81 -- #13 Boys 3A
(144) Newberry, 73.82 -- NR Boys 2A / NR Girls 2A
(145) Ridge Spring-Monetta, 74.31
(146) North Central, 74.39
(147) Colleton County, 74.44 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(148) Charlestowne Academy, 74.87
(149) Marion, 75.73 -- NR Boys 2A
(150) Edisto, 75.78 -- NR Boys 2A / NR Girls 2A/1A
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(151) Jonesville, 76.08
(152) Lake View, 76.88
(153) Timberland, 77.06 -- NR Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(154) Loris, 77.17 -- NR Boys 2A / NR Girls 2A/1A
(155) Keenan, 77.38
(156) Lakewood, 78.41 -- NR Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(157) Darlington, 78.68 -- NR Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(158T) Manning, 79.27
(158T) Lamar, 79.27
(160) Woodland, 80.29
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(161) Garrett Academy of Technology, 81.06
(162) Calhoun Falls, 81.09
(163) The Phoenix Center, 81.82
(164) Orangeburg-Wilkinson, 82.24 -- NR Boys 4A / NR Girls 4A
(165) Jasper County, 82.43
(166) Green Sea-Floyds, 82.76
(167) Timmonsville, 82.97
(168) Carolina, 83.26 -- NR Boys 2A
(169) Andrews, 83.51 -- NR Boys 2A / NR Girls 2A/1A
(170) Marlboro County, 83.70 -- NR Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
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(171) Lake City, 84.01 -- NR Boys 3A
(172) McCormick, 84.04
(173) Dillon, 84.09
(174) St. John's, 84.55
(175) Blackville-Hilda, 85.27
(176) Mullins, 85.74
(177) North, 85.76
(178) Wohali Academy, 85.88
(179) Lincoln, 86.00 -- #2 Boys 1A
(180) Carvers Bay, 86.51
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(181) Cross, 86.67
(182) R.B. Stall, 86.80 -- NR Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(183) Fairfield Central, 87.02
(184) North Charleston, 87.10 -- NR Boys 3A / NR Girls 3A
(185) Septima Clark Corporate Academy, 87.23
(186) Eau Claire, 87.76 -- NR Boys 3A
(187) Military Magnet Academy, 88.04
(188) Calhoun County, 88.12
(189) Lake Marion, 89.33
(190) Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, 89.82
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(191) Estill, 90.15
(192) Hemingway, 90.18
(193) Allendale-Fairfax, 90.28
(194) C.A. Johnson Prepatory Academy, 91.27
(195) Kingstree, 91.47
(196) Youthbuild Charleston Center, 92.45
(197) Baptist Hill, 93.00
(198) Hall Institute, 93.20
(199) Scott's Branch, 93.85
(200) Burke, 93.99
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(201) C.E. Murray, 94.00
(202) Denmark-Olar, 94.06
(203) Washington Center Sp, 94.40
(204) Morningside MS, 94.41
(205) Bethune-Bowman MS/HS, 94.80
(206) McCarthy/Teszler Learning Center, 95.59
(207) Lee Central, 95.74
(208) Creek Bridge, 95.80
(209) Pendergrass-Fairwold School, 98.18

#14 Wren was ranked #14 in girls 4A, not ranked in boys 4A.

Throw in flexible/open enrollment along with the private schools and you see some disparities—what I would suggest are unbalanced playing fields. State championships in soccer at all classifications are dominated by affluent schools, private schools, and schools with flexible/open enrollments (and of course some combination of those three, often all three).

Class 4A
(1) Fort Mill, 17.39
(2) Lexington, 19.23
(3) Dutch Fork, 22.95
(4) Wando, 24.00
(5) Mauldin, 25.73
(6) Wren, 29.54
(7) Ridge View, 30.33
(8) Fort Dorchester, 35.39
(9) Hillcrest, 35.66
(10) Clover, 36.29
(11) Irmo, 36.39
(12) North Augusta, 36.63
(13) James Island, 37.10
(14) White Knoll, 38.00
(15) Spring Valley, 38.17
(16) South Aiken, 38.84
(17) Summerville, 39.50
(18) TL Hanna, 39.59
(19) Northwestern, 40.22
(20) Stratford, 40.25
(21) West Florence, 40.29
(22) Boiling Springs, 42.42
(23) Easley, 42.84
(24) Byrnes, 44.45
(25) Dorman, 47.23
(26) Richland Northeast, 48.09
(27) Rock Hill, 50.02
(28) Aiken, 50.69
(29) York, 51.46
(30) South Pointe, 51.51

Class 3A
(1) Chapin, 12.70
(2) Riverside, 17.48
(3) Eastside, 27.29
(4) Daniel, 28.88
(5) Hilton Head, 30.09
(6) JL Mann, 35.95
(7) Blue Ridge, 38.47
(8) AC Flora, 41.44
(9) Blythewood, 43.28
(10) Bluffton, 43.89
(11) Wade Hampton-G, 44.30
(12) Lugoff-Elgin, 44.46
(13) Socastee, 45.20
(14) Greer, 45.64
(15) Pickens, 46.27
(16) St. James, 47.44
(17) Dreher, 48.43
(18) Seneca, 48.51
(19) Carolina Forest, 49.15
(20) Travelers Rest, 49.23
(21) Greenville, 50.27
(22) Belton-Honea Path, 51.55
(23) North Myrtle Beach, 54.20
(24) Myrtle Beach, 54.22
(25) Camden, 57.09
(26) Brookland-Cayce, 57.65
(27) Airport, 58.05
(28) Midland Valley, 61.29
(29) Woodmont, 62.45
(30) Union, 63.59

Dorman and Spartanburg seem to buck the trend. Very good girls soccer programs despite being ranked fairly low on the totem pole.

Sorry, while I support 100% that Dorman and Spartan High have fine programs and fine coaches, they are not low on the totem pole.

The first list in this thread has over 200 schools, placing Dorman in the upper quartile and Spartan High in the upper half. Both schools also have distinct socio-economic sub-categories in their schools—pockets of affluence and pockets of poverty. The pockets of affluence in both schools feed their soccer programs, fitting the pattern.

Academically, a poverty index in a high school above the mid-40s has a notable negative impact; while I haven't looked closely, I would argue that a poverty index in the 60s and above is likely where you see poverty impacting athletics negatively.

greenville is an exception to the trend

Spartan High has a greater PI than Greenville High—

(65) Greenville, 50.27 -- #1 Boys 3A / #14 Girls 3A
(95) Spartanburg, 59.24 -- NR Boys 4A / #11 Girls 4A

And Greenville High is in a large district with OPEN ENROLLMENT; so I would argue that it does not break the trend. Greenville High is much like DHS and SHS noted by another post. A significant school-within-a-school that feeds soccer well.

In response to a 60 or above psi affecting athletics -not "athletics", but soccer and all affluent sports. Lots of football powerhouses there.

In summary, as long as a "pocket" of avg to affluent kids exist + a club association within reasonable driving distance - a high school's soccer performances and the PI mean less than it would seem.

[Note: Sorry for the late response to this -- been too busy to log on for quite a while...]

At this moment, I don't have time to go through and test this hypothesis -- but I'll offer it anyway and qualify it as only a theory.

To me, the school that stood out on this list as an exception was BC. Over an average of the last few years, it seems to me that BC has had a higher ranked boys and girls program than their PI would indicate that they should.

If true (and that's a big, big if), this would line up with the qualitative opinion that I have that the club serving this area, CRSA, has done more than the average club in South Carolina in trying to penetrate underserved markets with respect to youth soccer.

I'd encourage anyone reading to find a youth soccer club that is trying hard to expand youth soccer beyond its traditional USYSA-type of affluent target market and volunteer either your time or your money helping them do that. These are the folks on the front lines of trying to make a difference.