Growth at High School: State End of Course Exams and Career Readiness Assessments
Even though South Carolina’s State Department of Education has identified a continued struggle in Math scores, District 56 is excited to announce that our students exceeded state average in the percentage of students scoring a C or higher and students scoring D or higher on the 2022-2023 State End of Course Examination Program (EOCEP) in Algebra I.
District 56’s Algebra I mean score was 71.81 compared to the state score of 68.34.
State assessments provide school districts one tool to measure students’ progress towards meeting college and career readiness standards. At the high school level, there are numerous data points that allow us to analyze students’ progress towards college and career readiness including but not limited to:
One state assessment that monitors students’ success in high school gateway courses is the EOCEP which is administered to all students at the end of Algebra I, English II, Biology I, and US History and Constitution.
All District 56’s EOCEP scores are encouraging; however, the district continues to strive for improvement to ensure all students meet the state’s college/career readiness benchmarks. District 56 is moving in the right direction by closing the gap to the state average. Here are highlights from all tested subjects:
Algebra I
English II
Biology
US History
Career Readiness
In the 2022-2023 school year, South Carolina changed the career readiness assessment to the South Carolina Career Ready Test. This test is administered to all eleventh-grade students to measure the most common skills that employers define as foundational for career readiness. Students are assessed in four key areas: soft skills, math, reading, and data. Since this is the first year this career readiness assessment has been given, there is no comparative data. This year’s data will set our baseline data.
District 56 had 67% of our students receiving a career readiness certificate. The four key areas mean scores comparison to the state average are described below:
District 56 continues to place high value on the experiences we provide our students in and out of our classrooms. The district is excited with the growth that we are seeing, but we know there is more work to be done. The success of our children depends on our district, schools, teachers, staff, community, parents, and students working together to ACHIEVE!
The Experience Matters!
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South Carolina Department of Education Releases End-of-Course and Career Readiness Assessments |
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Columbia, S.C. - The South Carolina Department of Education has released statewide public school results for the Career Readiness and End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP) assessment tests taken for high school courses in the school year 2022-2023. “The trends we see in this year’s EOCEP test results align with recently-released SC Ready data – South Carolina students have seen marked gains in ELA compared with pre-pandemic data and continue to struggle with Math,” said Ellen Weaver, State Superintendent of Education. Weaver continued: “I’m particularly concerned that nearly 40 percent of students received a failing score on the U.S. History exam. Our future depends upon citizens with knowledge deeply rooted in our shared story and America’s exceptional founding ideals. That’s why a strong focus on civics education will be an ongoing priority of my administration. Over the past two weeks, our Department has announced two civics-based competitions. The first invites students to stand in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “symbolic shadow” to deliver a speech outlining their American dream for our shared future; the second encourages students to create an exemplary community service project that aligns with Constitutional principles and solves a problem through non-profit and/or for-profit enterprise. “South Carolina’s twin state mottos perfectly illuminate the path ahead: the hope (confident expectation) we have for each of our students will propel the hard work (preparation in mind and resources) it will take to face our challenges, build on our successes, and equip every child to reach their full, God-given potential.” End-of-Course Examination Program The End-of-Course Examination Program provides tests in high school core courses and for courses taken in middle school for high school credit. The EOCEP tests the following subject areas: Algebra 1; English 2; US History and the Constitution; and Biology 1. The EOCEP encourages instruction in the specific academic standards for the courses, encourages student achievement, and documents the level of students’ mastery of South Carolina’s academic standards. Additionally, EOCEP examination scores count 20 percent in the calculation of the student’s final grade in gateway courses. The mean score for Algebra 1 increased from 68.12 in 2022 to 69.12 in 2023, surpassing the pre-pandemic mean score of 68.34 in 2019. English 2 mean scores jumped to 77.65 in 2023 from 76.52 in 2022. Biology 1 and U.S. History means scores also increased in 2022 but remained lower than in 2019. EOCEP data by subject showed mixed results. While the number of students scoring F decreased in all subjects but English 2, the percentage of F scores remains significant in Algebra 1 (31.55%), Biology 1 (40.81%), and U.S. History (39.14%). Nearly 16% of students taking the English 2 EOCEP exam scored F. South Carolina Career Ready Test The South Carolina Career Ready Test is a career readiness test administered to all eleventh-grade students to measure the most common skills that employers define as foundational for career readiness. Students are assessed in four key areas: soft skills, math, reading, and data. This is the first year that this particular career readiness assessment has been given, so there is no exact comparative data to results of previous years. South Carolina shifted from the certificate level descriptors provided by assessment vendors to a more definitive statement of job readiness based on the U.S. Department of Labor O*NET Job Zones. Career ready credentials are issued for students who have earned an achievement level 2-5. The levels are defined as follows:
Career Ready Credentials Received Total Students Tested No Credential (Level 1) Received Credential Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 59,687 28.4% 71.6% 19.4% 17.9% 32.8% 1.5% Scores By Test Type Subject Number Tested Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Math Assessment 60,257 19.4% 21.0% 9.7% 43.6% 6.4% Data Assessment 59,890 14.7% 16.8% 22.9% 27.7% 17.9% Reading Assessment 60,166 16.9% 11.1% 22.3% 46.5% 3.2% The Soft Skills Assessment test reports results for the percentage of students who Pass or Fail instead of differentiated achievement levels. Soft Skills Assessment Number Tested Students Passed Students Failed 57,449 67.9% 32.1% State, School District, and School Level Data for EOCEP and Career Readiness assessments can be accessed by visiting EOCEP assessment data and Career Readiness assessment data. ### |
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Total Students Tested |
No Credential (Level 1) |
Received Credential |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Level 4 |
Level 5 |
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59,687 |
28.4% |
71.6% |
19.4% |
17.9% |
32.8% |
1.5% |
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Subject |
Number Tested |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Level 4 |
Level 5 |
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Math Assessment |
60,257 |
19.4% |
21.0% |
9.7% |
43.6% |
6.4% |
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Data Assessment |
59,890 |
14.7% |
16.8% |
22.9% |
27.7% |
17.9% |
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Reading Assessment |
60,166 |
16.9% |
11.1% |
22.3% |
46.5% |
3.2% |
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Number Tested |
Students Passed |
Students Failed |
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57,449 |
67.9% |
32.1% |
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