Columbia, SC – The SC Education Oversight Committee is pleased to announce the following recipients of its first 2024 Data Trailblazer Awards:

• Joanna-Woodson Elementary School (Laurens County School District 56)
• Lakeside Middle School (Lexington County School District One)
• Spring Hill High School (Lexington-Richland School District Five)

These schools were selected by judges for demonstrating how they successfully use data to improve student outcomes, help families and caregivers understand student data, maintain a culture of school-wide data informed decision making, and incorporate practices that prioritize data privacy.

Twenty schools, from fifteen school districts, entered the competition. Of these, thirteen were elementary schools, four were middle schools and three were high schools.

Schools were judged anonymously by education professionals who scored each school and provided feedback.

“Using data responsibly supports school leaders as they answer questions and take actions to help students succeed,” stated EOC Executive Director Dana Yow. “This is the first year of this award competition, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase exemplar schools who are using data to help students and families. We congratulate each of the 2024 winners!”

To learn more about the 2024 Data Trailblazer awards, visit expectmoresc.com/home/data-trailblazer/

The South Carolina Education Oversight Committee (EOC) is an independent, non-partisan group consisting of 18 educators, businesspeople, and elected officials appointed by the Governor and General Assembly. The EOC is charged with encouraging continuous improvement in SC public schools, approving academic content standards and assessments, overseeing the implementation of the state’s educational accountability system, and documenting improvements in education.