Charleston County Schools Show Progress in State Report Card

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News Summary

The latest South Carolina Annual State Report Card reveals positive advancements in the Charleston County School District. With a graduation rate increase to 88% and a rise in college and career readiness to 80.5%, the district is proving its commitment to improving education. The number of schools rated ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good’ has risen from 38 to 55, while those rated ‘Below Average’ or ‘Unsatisfactory’ have decreased. Community support and dedicated educators are pivotal to these outcomes, even as challenges remain, particularly for multilingual learners.

Charleston County Schools Shine Bright in Latest State Report Card

Charleston, South Carolina, has some exciting news that everyone in the community can celebrate! The 2023-2024 South Carolina Annual State Report Card has just been released, and it shines a spotlight on the impressive strides made by the Charleston County School District. This district, being the second largest in the state, is showing a whole lot of promise and progress!

Graduation Rates on the Rise

One of the standout stats from the report is the graduation rate, which jumped by 1.5% compared to last year, hitting an impressive 88%. This rise in the graduation rate is a clear indicator that students are not only staying in school, but they are also completing their education successfully. Isn’t that something to cheer about?

College and Career Readiness Boosts

But wait, there’s more good news! The percentage of students who are considered college or career-ready also saw a significant increase — up by 6.9%, which brings the readiness rate to a robust 80.5%. This figure is not only a whopping number itself, but it also beats the state average, demonstrating that Charleston County students are gearing up for future success!

Increasing School Ratings

55 schools in the district were rated as either “Excellent” or “Good” in this year’s report. That’s a significant jump from just 38 schools five years ago! The schools are stepping up their game, which is fantastic for students and parents alike.

As for the schools that were rated “Below Average” or “Unsatisfactory,” the district has seen a decrease from 27 schools in 2019 down to 17 this year. That’s a positive trend that speaks volumes about the hard work being done across the district. Among those that improved, Edith L. Frierson Elementary School made a remarkable leap of four rating levels to achieve an “Excellent” rating.

Progress Amid Challenges

A big shout-out goes to the dedicated school leaders, teachers, and families who have fueled these improvements. However, there are still challenges ahead, especially regarding multilingual learners. The report highlighted that only 32.4% of this subgroup is making progress towards English proficiency, which falls short of the state average of 38.5%. Addressing these needs is now more important than ever, and the district is looking to implement the new Weighted Student Funding Model to provide more resources.

Factors Behind the Positive Trends

The report even identified six key factors contributing to the progress in schools, including collaborative planning among teachers that uses student data to tailor learning experiences. This teamwork is paving the way for a brighter educational future for all students.

What’s Next for Charleston Schools?

It’s important to note that while the number of schools rated “Excellent” dipped compared to last year, the number rated “Unsatisfactory” decreased by 13, which is still a win for the district. Academic performance, especially in areas like English Language Arts and math, continues to show growth. However, one issue that remains a concern is chronic absenteeism, which impacts nearly one in five students in South Carolina.

With these recent improvements and ongoing challenges, the Charleston County School District is poised for a bright future. The community can take pride in the strides their schools are making and the support they are lending to shape the success of their younger generations!