South Carolina releases 2022 Report Cards for schools

SC schools show improvement despite pandemic-induced disruptions

Editor’s Note: The SC Education Oversight Committee (EOC) and the SC Department of Education (SCDE) held a joint news conference at Prosperity-Rikard Elementary School in Newberry County to release the 2022 School Report Cards. Remarks were provided by SC Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman, EOC Executive Director Matthew Ferguson, Newberry School District Superintendent Alvin Pressley, and April Peel, Principal of Prosperity-Rikard Elementary. A recording of the event is available via each agency’s social media channels. Discussion points detailing each Report Card indicator will be available on each agency’s website following the release.

Columbia – Today, the SC Department of Education (SCDE) and the SC Education Oversight Committee (EOC) released the 2022 School Report Cards, the first cards to contain ratings since 2019. The Report Cards, available at www.screportcards.com, reflect data elements and student performance information from the 2021-22 school year.

Statewide, 20.6 percent of schools received an overall rating of Excellent, consistent with the 2019 percent of schools receiving the highest rating in the state’s education accountability system. Although SCDE and EOC officials are celebrating the rebound of schools amid the challenges brought about by the pandemic, they stress that there is much work ahead for all students to reach college and career-readiness.

Number and percentage of schools receiving Overall Ratings by school year

Overall Rating	Elementary Schools		Middle Schools		High Schools
	2019	2022	2019	2022	2019	2022
Excellent	124 (18.7%)	145 (21.8%)	67 (20.7)	71 (21.4%)	59 (26.0%)	40 (16.7%)
Good	164 (24.7%)	144 (22.1%)	99 (30.7%)	76 (22.9%)	56 (24.7%)	48 (20.0%)
Average	226 (34.0%)	235 (35.3%)	121 (37.5%)	131 (39.5%)	63 (27.8%)	76 (31.7%)
Below Average	111 (16.7%)	100 (15.0%)	29 (9.0%)	43 (12.9%)	39 (17.2%)	53 (22.1%)
Unsatisfactory	39 (5.9%)	42 (6.3%)	7 (2.2%)	11 (3.3%)	10 (4.4%)	19 (7.9%)
Number of School Report Cards	664	666	323	332	227	240

Note: Totals do not include Career Centers or Special Schools. Twenty-five schools did not receive Overall Ratings.

“I commend the effort of South Carolina educators and students,” stated EOC Executive Director Matthew Ferguson. “These results beat all expectations of what was thought possible while living through the COVID disruptions.”

State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman noted the quick rebound of schools amid the challenges brought about by the pandemic but stressed the “real challenges” to overcome. “Though many of the results we see are perhaps expected following the pandemic, we are no less concerned about drops in assessment results and the widening gaps for many of our students. We are encouraged by the growth we see, as we seek to continue the work of ensuring our educational system in South Carolina is preparing all students to be ready for college, careers, and citizenship.”

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

Ferguson pointed out two report card indicators for note. For the first time this year, schools received a rating for School Climate. The measure uses results from the Teacher and Student Climate surveys to measure perceptions of safety, working conditions, and the social-physical environment.

“This is the first time that student and teacher perceptions of school climate are captured in the accountability system,” stated Ferguson. “We know that a positive school climate is highly correlated with increased student outcomes. Surfacing these data in the accountability system will provide schools with the opportunity to take necessary action to make sure that climate is not a barrier to student success or teacher satisfaction.”

Ferguson also discussed Added Value Growth, a student-centered measure that will be included in future accountability systems. The measure, the first of its kind nationally, will focus on rewarding growth that leads to grade level proficiency and preparedness for college and careers, the “ultimate expectation of the accountability system,” according to Ferguson.

Ferguson asserts that the release of the Report Cards presents a tremendous opportunity for parents, families, community leaders, businesspeople, and others to learn what they can do to help students and schools.

“The children remain our inspiration and north star in this work – we believe in their potential, and we want every child to have the opportunity to succeed,” stated Ferguson. “Preparing students to meet college and career readiness standards should not just be an aspirational goal but a promise delivered to each and every student no matter their circumstances.

The School Report Cards, which are 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 graduation rate, academic achievement, and college and career-readiness.

Summary of the Overall Ratings and indicators

Overall Ratings

• Based on a 100-point scale, per state law
• Overall ratings for schools were determined based on SC’s performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in 2015.

Ranges of scores necessary to receive overall Ratings by school type

Overall Rating	Elementary Schools	Middle Schools	High Schools
Excellent*	61-100	56-100	67-100
Good	53-60	48-55	60-66
Average	42-52	36-47	51-59
Below Average	34-41	29-35	40-50
Unsatisfactory	0-33	0-28	0-39

 

How the 100 points are divided by indicator

Indicator	Elementary / Middle Schools		High Schools
	Without ELP*	With ELP	Without ELP	With ELP
Academic Achievement	40	35	30	25
Preparing for Success	10	10	5	5
Student Progress	40	35	N/A	N/A
School Climate	10	10	10	10
English Learners’ Progress Toward Proficiency (ELP)	0	10	0	10
Graduation Rate	N/A	N/A	30	25
College and Career Ready	N/A	N/A	25	25
TOTAL	100	100	100	100

*Schools with ELP 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.

The SC Education Oversight Committee is an independent, non-partisan group made up of 18 educators, business persons, and elected leaders. Created in 1998, the committee is dedicated to reporting facts, measuring change, and promoting progress within South Carolina’s education system.

The mission of the South Carolina Department of Education is to provide leadership and support so that all public education students graduate prepared for success.

 

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