South Carolina Schools: Steady Progress, Big Goals Ahead

South Carolina’s educational leaders have set an ambitious goal: by 2030, they want at least 75% of students to be at or above grade level in reading, writing, and math. The recent school report cards show that schools are making progress, but they still have a long way to go to hit this target. The report cards evaluate schools based on factors like academic achievement, college readiness, graduation rates, and safety—each school gets a score out of 100. This year, Pinecrest Elementary in Greenwood shone, earning the second-best score in the state and an "Excellent" rating.However, the number of top-rated schools slightly decreased compared to last year. On the bright side, fewer schools received the lowest "Unsatisfactory" rating. Around half of students in grades three to eight are meeting or exceeding grade level standards in reading and writing, while less than half are doing so in math. Superintendent Ellen Weaver highlighted the importance of boosting math education and maintaining strong early literacy skills. One major hurdle is chronic absenteeism, with one in five students missing at least 10% of the school year. The state is digging into the root causes to find effective solutions. The impact of Hurricane Helene is still being felt, with many students losing substantial school time. The Department of Education is collaborating with districts to make up for this lost time and prevent further learning gaps.