Reports Cards on Our Community's Public Schools

District 56 Proud of State Report Card Ratings

District 56 is excited to announce the 2022-2023 State Report Cards’ Overall Rating results:

Superintendent Dr. David O’Shields stated, “We are very encouraged by and appreciative for the hard work our teachers give on a daily basis to increase student learning. Having all three elementary schools rated as ‘Good’ indicates all of our elementary schools are building the foundation for our middle and high school.” Josie Kate Haupfear, Director of Secondary, stated, “Our secondary schools worked incredibly hard this past year to identify and initiate strategies that benefit all students academically. We are excited to see that these initiatives have allowed us to increase in certain report card indicators. District 56 is excited to see the work of its students and staff recognized and acknowledged in this measure of progress.” 

Few districts across the state can announce that all schools are meeting or exceeding the criteria needed to ensure all students meet the Profile of the SC Graduate (World Class Knowledge, World Class Skills, Life and Career Characteristics). Mr. Eddie Marshall, Director of Federal Programs and Elementary Education stated, “Our students and teachers have been focused on making continuous improvement in all areas of our educational programs, and our report card ratings show these positive results!”

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), states are required to release district and state report cards. The current South Carolina report card system is a rigorous accountability system that uses multiple measures to show the public the overall performance of schools and districts. The report card system evaluates schools and districts on the following areas: student performance on state and national assessments, student growth/progress, English Learners’ progress, graduation rates, college and/or career readiness, and school climate. 

Schools are awarded an overall school rating based on how the school’s performance prepares all students to meet the Profile of the SC Graduate. The ratings are:

Excellent – School performance substantially exceeds the criteria to ensure all students meet the Profile of the SC Graduate.

Good – School performance exceeds the criteria to ensure all students meet the Profile of the SC Graduate.

Average – School performance meets the criteria to ensure all students meet the Profile of the SC Graduate.

Below Average – School performance is in jeopardy of not meeting the criteria to ensure all students meet the Profile of the SC Graduate.

Unsatisfactory – School performance fails to meet the criteria to ensure all students meet the Profile of the SC Graduate.

District 56 administrators recognize there is still work to do. Dr. Brenda Schrantz, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, emphasized, “Until all students are scoring meeting or exceeding expectations, all students are graduating in four years, and all students who are graduating are college and/or career ready, District 56 will not be satisfied. The district will continue to focus on every child’s needs and designing instructional programs to help all students meet the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate and become college and/or career ready.” 

In summary, Dr. David O’Shields stressed, “We must see these report card ratings as a single measure to the overall quality of our schools. Students are more than numbers and we in District 56 recognize ‘The Experience Matters’ is far more than a motto; it is the continuous development of future citizens who are well equipped to take their roles in and make positive contributions to society.” 

Laurens District 55 here.

THE STATE:

South Carolina releases 2023 Report Cards for public schools

SC schools show continued progression from challenges brought on by the pandemic

 Columbia – Today, the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) and the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee (EOC) released the 2023 SC School Report Cards at Kelly Edwards Elementary School in Williston, SC. The Report Cards, available at www.screportcards.com, highlight student performance information and other elements of school quality and effectiveness for the 2022-2023 school year.

Statewide, 22.5 percent of schools received an overall rating of Excellent, the highest rating in the state’s education accountability system, representing an almost two percent increase from the previous year. Additionally, half of all students in SC public schools are enrolled in a school with an overall rating of Excellent or Good.

State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver commented, “One of the greatest joys of this job is visiting schools like Kelly Edwards Elementary, to see firsthand how strong principal leadership – paired with high-quality curriculum and professional development for teachers – is building a culture of academic achievement and proving that all students can attain excellence. The faculty, staff, and students at Kelly Edwards are living proof of the progress that is possible with a clear vision and alignment of resources around what matters most: student success.”

She continued, “Looking forward, we must redouble our efforts to support early literacy using the Science of Reading, a strategy that we already see showing strong promise in SC’s ELA scores. We must also focus the same attention on boosting effective math materials and instruction. Our students will never get a second chance at their education, and our urgent priority must be equipping them with the foundational skills they need for success in school and life.”

"The performance of schools like Kelly Edwards Elementary is evidence that high academic standards, quality teaching, parental and community support, and a relentless focus on helping students get what they need each day to thrive are critical components to success,” stated April Allen, EOC Chair.

“It takes each of us committing to believing in the potential of all children who walk into SC classrooms; they are all likely success stories, and it is up to all of us to help get them there.”

While SCDE and EOC officials are encouraged to see continued progression from schools that rebounded from the challenges brought on by the pandemic, specifically citing the gains in English Language Arts scores, they stress that there is much work ahead for all students.

Allen noted that more than half of SC students are not meeting grade level standards in math, an area that she states will be a priority of the legislative committee she chairs.

“The Report Card release also shows us that we continue to do a good job graduating students out of the K-12 system but are we preparing them for what comes after?” questioned Allen, citing the disconnect between the state’s 84% high school graduation rate and the data that show that only 29% of students in last year’s graduating class were college and career-ready.

The Report Cards and ratings are designed to increase accessibility and accountability in South Carolina’s public schools by providing easy-to-understand and use information for families and the public.

A new indicator is reflected on this year’s report card. The High School Student Success indicator measures the percentage of 9th graders earning at least 6 credits, to include both a math and an English credit in addition to five-year student success rate. Given its first year of existence on the report card, a school’s report card rating is not affected by this indicator.

The School Report Cards, based on South Carolina’s education accountability system, are required for all elementary, middle, and high schools which receive overall ratings based on a 100-point scale. The ratings follow terms outlined in state law: Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, and Unsatisfactory. Schools also receive ratings on various indicators such as academic achievement, college and career-readiness, and graduation rate.

Range of scores necessary to receive overall Ratings by school type

How the 100 points are divided by indicator

*Schools with MLP have 20 or more English Learners and receive a rating for English Learners’ Proficiency. Schools without ELP have fewer than 20 English Learners and do not receive a rating for English Learners’ Proficiency; those points are distributed elsewhere and not reflected in this table.

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