South Carolina Education Report Cards Released

News Summary

The South Carolina Department of Education has unveiled the 2024 SC School Report Cards, showcasing significant achievements and areas for improvement among schools. Pinecrest Elementary stands out with an ‘Excellent’ rating, while Charleston County School District shows impressive graduation rate growth. However, challenges like chronic absenteeism and unsatisfactory ratings at some schools remain. Overall, the report reflects the ongoing efforts towards enhancing education quality across the state.

Greenwood Buzz: South Carolina Education Report Cards Released!

In an exciting reveal, the South Carolina Department of Education and the Education Oversight Committee have rolled out the 2024 SC School Report Cards! This happening took place on a sunny Tuesday at Pinecrest Elementary in Greenwood, setting the stage for discussions about both achievements and opportunities for improvement in schools across the state.

Ratings for a Better Future

The report cards dive deep into assessing how students are performing and the overall quality of schools for the 2023-2024 school year. Schools are rated on a 100-point scale that reflects their overall performance, academic achievement, student progress, and graduation rates. And guess what? More schools have earned an Excellent rating this year in Academic Achievement compared to last!

For the curious minds out there, about 54% of students in grades 3 to 8 have met or exceeded expectations when it comes to English Language Arts. That’s a great indicator of progress!

Pinecrest Elementary Shines Bright

Pinecrest Elementary has truly outdone itself! Receiving an Excellent rating, this school stands out, especially with 87% of its students coming from low-income families. It goes to show how dedication and support can lead to fantastic results in education.

Concerns Still Loom

49 schools in South Carolina have received an unsatisfactory grade this year, with 10 schools in the Midlands alone. Richland County School District One unfortunately has one of the highest numbers of unsatisfactory ratings in the state.

Positive Progress in Charleston County

1.5% increase in graduation rates compared to last year, plus there’s been a 6.9% rise in students deemed college or career-ready. Among the 55 schools rated either Excellent or Good, that number has jumped from 38 just five years ago!

Below Average or Unsatisfactory has decreased from 27 in 2019 to just 17 this year! Even better, three schools labeled as Unsatisfactory made improvements by moving up at least one level since last year. There’s no doubt that supportive leadership, fantastic teachers, and dedicated families are contributing to Charleston’s success.

Every Student Matters

Weighted Student Funding Model to better assist these learners, alongside forming a new task force aimed at improving curriculum and teacher-student ratios.