At Darlington County Institute of Technology, students prepare to excel in the next phase of their lives. From classroom and shop activities to field trips to guest speakers, students are exposed to a wide range of opportunities.

Founded in 1963 as a part of the South Carolina Technical Education System to attract industry to South Carolina, Florence-Darlington Technical College provides comprehensive technical education, workforce development, and educational services to students, businesses, and industries.

Through instructional programs, business and industry partnerships, and community involvement, the college plays a prominent role in the economic development and quality of life for Florence, Darlington, and Marion counties. FDTC’s enrollment exceeds 6,000 students in more than 60 fields of study, and its 240-acre campus comprises a complex of ten facilities totaling nearly 750,000 square feet.

The Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing & Technology (SiMT) provides students with strategic training and manufacturing technology solutions that maximize workforce productivity in advanced manufacturing environments. The learning-centered environment gives potential employees the skills to be proactive in problem solving and enables them to help businesses make rapid improvements in quality, productivity, and profitability.

Coker University is a student-centered, comprehensive college dedicated to providing every student with a uniformly excellent liberal arts core that enhances the structured development of key personal skills. The university’s goal is to graduate students who think analytically and creatively and communicate effectively.
Experiences both in and out of the classroom are focused on active student involvement and the practical application of academic knowledge that lead to lifelong learning. Coker is ranked among the “Best Colleges in the South” by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review. Coker University is a student-centered, comprehensive college dedicated to providing every student with a uniformly excellent liberal arts core that enhances the structured development of key personal skills. The university’s goal is to graduate students who think analytically and creatively and communicate effectively.

Francis Marion University is located on the outskirts of Florence, SC in the heart of South Carolina’s famed Pee Dee Region, just 18 miles from Darlington. Francis Marion University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, masters, and specialist level degrees.  
Francis Marion has also been awarded by the U.S. News & World Report for:Best Social Mobility, Best Regional University in the South, Top Public University, Top Performer, Economic Diversity and Top Business & Engineering School.
Aside from their academic pride, FMU offers several campus community organizations. They also have a study-abroad program which is made available to all students through its International Studies program.

The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM), located in Hartsville, is one of 12 public, residential high schools in the United States for academically talented and motivated juniors and seniors. Its two-year program is dedicated to the advanced study of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Instructed by Ph.D. professors, nearly 90 percent of alumni work in STEM fields at companies around the globe such as Intel, GE, Google, Microsoft, Citigroup, NASA and more.
With a capacity of 300 students in residence, GSSM educates young minds from across South Carolina while introducing them to Darlington County. Students are required to contribute 80+ hours of community service each year. Mentorship programs, road cleaning efforts and a variety of public services have come from this yearly commitment.
In addition, GSSM’s Duke Energy Center for Outreach & Research delivers novel learning opportunities for students statewide to explore STEM during either day-long educational activities or by attending GoSciTech, a week-long, residential summer camp.

Mayo High School is a Darlington County School District public four-year magnet high school, with an emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). The curriculum provides unique academic programs for motivated and talented students, combining strong academics with specialized instruction in the areas of math, science, and the technologies while offering enhanced courses in the humanities.

Mayo strives to ensure that all students have the opportunity to pursue and acquire a degree in higher education. Realizing this goal requires technological aptitude as well as the ability to perform complex mathematical skills and grasp the concepts required of higher-level sciences. The school has an enrollment of 353 students and a staff of 20 teaching faculty.