McCORMICK, S.C. - Tucked away behind tall pines in rural South Carolina is a school that receives more than $43,000 per student in state funding - nearly 25 times what any other school in the state receives.

It has an enviable teacher-student ratio of about one to six and about 30 acres of land for every student. Parents praise it as a place that saves children's lives and helps families heal.

In tough economic times, however, legislators are saddled with the task of deciding whether the John de la Howe School is an untouchable treasure or just so much government waste. More than $3 million of the state's $5.3 billion budget goes to the school, which takes in children with behavior problems and works to help them and their parents.

A House-approved version of the budget cuts about three-quarters of the school's funding and places it under the supervision of the Department of Juvenile Justice, but school officials testified before a Senate Finance subcommittee last week in hopes that senators will save the facility's budget.

Some lawmakers say the school's high cost is hard to justify when public schools and other state agencies offer similar programs.

"The cost certainly concerns (legislators) in difficult budget times," said Rep. Roland Smith, R-Langley. Smith was among House members who visited the school last fall.

Parents fear deep budget cuts will leave their children with no place to go and put them on the road to run-ins with authorities.

John de la Howe is not only a school but a residential group child care agency, according to its mission statement.

Students go to the facility for a variety of reasons: Some have been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder or other conditions that affect their behavior, some have been frequently suspended or expelled after misbehaving in school and some have skipped class. Students come from all parts of the state; most from more urban counties such as Richland, Lexington and Charleston.

In McCormick, about 80 miles west of Columbia and only a few miles from the Georgia state line, the children are free from the distractions of city life. And if a student runs away, he won't get very far, said Cherry Brown, director of children's residential services.

Students, which range from fifth-graders to high school sophomores, take regular courses including math and science, and they get a healthy dose of discipline. Students give themselves goals - working with others or controlling their tempers - and they wake before dawn to do chores.

The one-on-one attention 15-year-old Grace Giles has received at John de la Howe and the daily goals she sets for herself have taught her to cope with her anger, said her father, Hal Giles.

"She's given goals every single day, and she's held accountable," he said.

Giles plucked his daughter from West Ashley Middle School more than a year ago after she started skipping school and shoplifting. He enrolled Grace at John de la Howe after trying family counseling and other therapy programs. Giles said he's noticed changes in his daughter's behavior since she's been here.

"Grace would fly into a rage over something, and it could be minor," Giles said. "She would be in tears. She would be threatening physical violence to some of the members in the house."

On a visit home from the school earlier this month, a similar episode lasted only five minutes without as much emotion, he said.

Interim Superintendent George Young says the school serves far more children than the 87 who attend on a typical day. The school has served an average of 186 students each year for the past five years, he said. Students usually stay at the school for nine to 12 months.

Previous budget cuts have reduced the number of children the school can house each year, making the school appear less efficient, Young said. Fully funded, the school could serve 120 children.

The push to close John de la Howe started last September, when Gov. Mark Sanford's government efficiency panel suggested merging the school with Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School in West Columbia. Sanford proposed cutting the McCormick school's budget and putting the money toward public schools.

The governor's plan gained some traction in the House, but it's likely to face a tougher road in the Senate.

"I will fight with every fiber in me to make sure that John de la Howe stays independent and its budget is retained," said Sen. Tommy Moore, D-Clearwater.

Sanford acknowledges the school is unlikely to be closed.

"I think the tragedy would be to say, 'We just won't touch it. We won't deal with it.' And that's probably the way we're headed right now," he said.