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SC Department of Education releases report cards on schools, districts

frontal view of yellow school bus

ByPatrick Phillips|October 1, 2019 at 11:42 AM EDT - Updated October 1 at 4:26 PM

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) - The South Carolina Department of Education released school, district and state report cards Tuesday morning.

Overall, 77% of school ratings either remained the same or improved, according to a release from the department. Compared to ratings received in 2018, 37% of schools rose by at least one overall rating, 40% of schools maintained the same rating, and 17% of schools dropped by at least one overall rating.

Schools receive descriptive overall ratings of Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, and Unsatisfactory, based on a 100-point scale.

Schools also receive ratings on seven out of the ten key report card indicators, which contain information about schools and districts on how well students performed on state and national assessments, student growth, graduation rates, English language proficiency, student engagement, safety, classroom learning environments and more.

Although school districts and primary schools receive report cards, they are not rated.

The 2018-2019 report cards also contain school level local, state, and federal per pupil expenditure data, the first report cards to contain this information as part of a new federal requirement.

"I hope that parents and communities will use report cards as a tool to engage in important conversations about the previous year’s successes and challenges that schools across our state face every day,” State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman said. “We are continually working to ensure that our accountability system accurately reflects the hard work being done by educators to meet the needs of all students.”

Charleston County School District

The Charleston County School District out-performs state averages in the percentage of students who meet or exceed English Language Arts and Mathematics grade-level expectations. It also outperforms state percentages of students scoring a C-grade or higher in end-of-course assessment results in English 1 and Algebra 1, the report cards states.

The total number of teachers working in the district is 3,456, down from 3,471 in last year’s report. The percentage of teachers with advance degrees is up to 60.3 from 58.9.

The average teacher salary is $52,783, up from $50,068 in 2018’s report card.

The student-teacher ratio in core subjects is 22.2 to 1, down from 22.3 to one the year before.

In terms of school safety, 90.1 percent of parents say their child feels safe at school while 72.5 percent say they feel their child’s teachers and school staff prevent or stop bullying.

When teachers were asked if they felt safe at school before and after hours, 96 percent said they did, and 74 percent said they felt the rules for behavior are enforced at their school.

The school reported there had been incidents involving a firearm at district schools, one incident of rape or attempted rape, nine incidents of robbery without a weapon, one incident of physical attack with a weapon and 420 incidents of physical attack without a weapon.

Twenty-seven students were expelled in CCSD schools and 948 incidents of bullying and harassment were reported.

The district’s graduation rate of 84.2 percent was higher than the state average of 81.1 percent.

Berkeley County School District

The Berkeley County School District out-performs state averages in students who meet or exceed English Language Arts goals, scoring a 48.3% versus a 45.4% state average. But in mathematics, 42.7% of district students meet or exceed expectations in mathematics versus 45.1% in the statewide average. The percentage of students earning a C or higher in end-of-course assessment results in English 1 and Algebra 1 were above the state averages.

The total number of teachers working in the district is 2,198, up from 2,162 in last year’s report. The percentage of teachers with advance degrees is down to 55.6 from 57.3.

The average teacher salary is $50,327, up from $49,172 in 2018’s report card.

The student-teacher ratio in core subjects is 23.9 to 1, up from 23.3 to one the year before.

In terms of school safety, 88.1 percent of parents say their child feels safe at school while 66.4 percent say they feel their child’s teachers and school staff prevent or stop bullying.

When teachers were asked if they felt safe at school before and after hours, 96.5 percent said they did, and 77 percent said they felt the rules for behavior are enforced at their school.

The school reported there had been incidents involving a firearm at district schools, five incidents of sexual assault (not rape), one incident of physical attack with a weapon and 58 incidents of physical attack without a weapon.

The number of students expelled in Berkeley County schools totaled 150, and 77 incidents of bullying and harassment were reported.

The district’s graduation rate of 82.6 percent was higher than the state average of 81.1 percent.

Dorchester County School District 2

DD2 out-performs state averages in students who meet or exceed English Language Arts goals, scoring a 56.4% versus a 45.4% state average. It also out-performs in mathematics, with 52.6% of district students meeting or exceeding expectations versus 45.1% in the statewide average. The percentage of students earning a C or higher in end-of-course assessment results in English 1 and Algebra 1 were above the state averages.

The total number of teachers working in the district is 1,597, down from 1,612 in last year’s report. The percentage of teachers with advance degrees is up to 56.4 from 55.8.

The average teacher salary is $49,332, up from $48,656 in 2018’s report card.

The student-teacher ratio in core subjects is 23.4 to 1, up from 23.0 to one the year before.

Evaluations by parents state 84.6 percent say their child feels safe at school while 62.9 percent say they feel their child’s teachers and school staff prevent or stop bullying.

When teachers were asked if they felt safe at school before and after hours, 97.7 percent said they did, and 79.5 percent said they felt the rules for behavior are enforced at their school.

The school reported there had been incidents involving a firearm at district schools, one incident of rape or attempted rape, three incidents of sexual assault (not rape), two incidents or robbery without a weapon, and 51 incidents of physical attack without a weapon.

The number of students expelled in Dorchester County District 2 schools totaled 71, and 222 incidents of bullying and harassment were reported.

The district’s graduation rate of 90.3 percent was higher than the state average of 81.1 percent.

Dorchester County School District 4

DD4 falls below state averages for the percentage of students who meet or exceed English language arts and mathematics as well as the percentage of students scoring a C or higher in English or algebra.

The total number of teachers working in the district is 1,597, down from 1,612 in last year’s report. The percentage of teachers with advance degrees is up to 56.4 from 55.8.

The district’s report card does not list information on teacher staffing or salaries, student-teacher ratios.

It also shows that no current records on school safety or safety incidents were provided by the district.

But the district’s graduation rate of 92.9 percent was higher than the state average of 81.1 percent.

Colleton County School District

The Colleton County School District falls below state averages in terms of the number of students who meet or exceed grade expectations for English language arts (24.4 percent district average verses a 45.4 percent state average) and in mathematics (21.3 percent district average verses a 45.1 percent state average). It also underperforms against state percentages of students scoring a C grade or higher in end-of-course assessment results in English 1 and Algebra 1, the report cards states.

The total number of teachers working in the district is 357, down from 358 in last year’s report. The percentage of teachers with advance degrees is up to 49.3 from 51.4.

The average teacher salary is $45,722, up from $44,931 in 2018’s report card.

The student-teacher ratio in core subjects is 30.9 to 1, up from 23.6 to one the year before.

Evaluations reveal 67.2 percent of parents say their child feels safe at school while 55.8 percent say they feel their child’s teachers and school staff prevent or stop bullying.

When teachers were asked if they felt safe at school before and after hours, 93.9 percent said they did, and 71 percent said they felt the rules for behavior are enforced at their school.

The school reported there had been no incidents involving a firearm at district schools. It did report six incidents of physical attacks without a weapon.

Five were expelled in Colleton County schools and 40 incidents of bullying and harassment were reported.

The district’s graduation rate of 78.4 percent was belowr than the state average of 81.1 percent.

Williamsburg County School District

The Williamsburg County School District falls below the state averages in overall student performance. In English language arts, 25.1 percent of students meet or exceed grade-level expectations compared with a 45.4 percent state average. In mathematics, 21.9 percent of students meet or exceed expectations compared with a 45.1 percent state average. The district underperforms against state averages in the percentage of students scoring a C grade or higher in English (27.6% versus 56.3% state) and algebra (31.1% versus 54.9% state).

The total number of teachers working in the district is 233, down from 268 in last year’s report. The percentage of teachers with advance degrees is up to 58.8 from 54.5.

The average teacher salary is $46,338, up from $44,009 in 2018’s report card.

The student-teacher ratio in core subjects is 23.7 to 1, up from 18.2 to one the year before.

In terms of school safety, 84.9 percent of parents say their child feels safe at school while 68 percent say they feel their child’s teachers and school staff prevent or stop bullying.

When teachers were asked if they felt safe at school before and after hours, 95.1 percent said they did, and 79.7 percent said they felt the rules for behavior are enforced at their school.

The school reported there had been incidents involving a firearm at district schools and 13 incidents of physical attack without a weapon.

One student was expelled in CCSD schools and 32 incidents of bullying and harassment were reported.

The district’s graduation rate of 73.1 percent was higher than the state average of 81.1 percent.

Georgetown County School District

The Georgetown County School District falls below the state averages in overall student performance. In English language arts, 40.1 percent of students meet or exceed grade-level expectations compared with a 45.4 percent state average. In mathematics, 37.6 percent of students meet or exceed expectations compared with a 45.1 percent state average. The district underperforms against state averages in the percentage of students scoring a C grade or higher in English (46.5% versus 56.3% state) and algebra (44.3% versus 54.9% state).

The total number of teachers working in the district is 635, down from 663 in last year’s report. The percentage of teachers with advance degrees is down to 62 from 65.

The average teacher salary is $49,893, down from $50,619 in 2018’s report card.

The student-teacher ratio in core subjects is 18.5 to 1, up from 18.4 to one the year before.

In evaluating school safety, 88.8 percent of parents say their child feels safe at school while 73 percent say they feel their child’s teachers and school staff prevent or stop bullying.

When teachers were asked if they felt safe at school before and after hours, 97 percent said they did, and 76.4 percent said they felt the rules for behavior are enforced at their school.

The school reported there had been incidents involving a firearm at district schools and five incidents of physical attack without a weapon.

Ten students were expelled in CCSD schools and 109 incidents of bullying and harassment were reported.

The district’s graduation rate of 85.8 percent was higher than the state average of 81.1 percent.

Beaufort County School District

The Beaufort County School District out-performs state averages in students who meet or exceed English Language Arts goals, scoring a 45.5% versus a 45.4% state average. In mathematics, 48% of district students meet or exceed expectations in mathematics versus 45.1% in the statewide average. The percentage of students earning a C or higher in end-of-course assessment results in English 1 and Algebra 1 were above the state averages.

The total number of teachers working in the district is 1663, up from 1650 in last year’s report. The percentage of teachers with advance degrees is 63.4, up from 62.7.

The average teacher salary is $51,643, up from $51,017 in 2018’s report card.

The student-teacher ratio in core subjects is 13.9 to 1, down from 22.6 to one the year before.

In evaluating school safety, 87.6 percent of parents say their child feels safe at school while 69.4 percent say they feel their child’s teachers and school staff prevent or stop bullying.

When teachers were asked if they felt safe at school before and after hours, 95.8 percent said they did, and 73.5 percent said they felt the rules for behavior are enforced at their school.

The school reported there had been incidents involving a firearm at district schools. It also reported three incidents of rape or attempted rape, 11 incidents of sexual assault (non-rape), two incidents of robbery without a weapon and 135 incidents of physical attack without a weapon. It listed two incidents of students in possession of a firearm or explosive.

Twelve students were expelled in CCSD schools and 316 incidents of bullying and harassment were reported.

The district’s graduation rate of 86.9 percent was higher than the state average of 81.1 percent.

Schools rated across the Lowcountry

Here is a breakdown of schools that received ratings of excellent, good, average, below average and unsatisfactory.

Of Lowcountry schools, the Charleston County School District, the state’s largest district by number of students, is home to both the schools that earned the highest and lowest overall scores.

Academic Magnet High School, rated excellent, received a 97 score, while Mitchell Elementary, which ranked unsatisfactory, received an overall score of 20.

A total of nine Lowcountry schools received the unsatisfactory rating.

EXCELLENT

No schools in Dorchester District 4, Colleton County, Williamsburg County or Georgetown County received an excellent rating.

Charleston County School District:

  • Academic Magnet High
  • Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary
  • Belle Hall Elementary
  • Buist Academy (Middle)
  • Camp Road Middle
  • Carolina Park Elementary
  • Charles Pinckney Elementary
  • Charleston Charter School For Math And Science (High)
  • Charleston School Of The Arts (Middle/High)
  • East Cooper Montessori Charter School (Elementary/Middle)
  • Harbor View Elementary
  • James Island Charter High
  • Jennie Moore Elementary
  • Laing Middle
  • Montessori Community School (Middle)
  • Moultrie Middle
  • Mt. Pleasant Academy (Elementary)
  • Murray-Lasaine Elementary (Middle)
  • Oakland Elementary
  • Orange Grove Charter
  • Thomas C. Cario Middle
  • Wando High

Berkeley County School District:

  • Berkeley Middle College High School
  • Daniel Island School (Elementary/Middle)
  • Hanahan Middle School
  • Marrington Elementary School
  • Marrington Middle School Of The Arts

Dorchester District 2:

  • Ashley Ridge High School
  • Beech Hill Elementary School
  • Fort Dorchester Elementary School
  • Fort Dorchester High School
  • Rollings Middle School Of The Arts (Middle)
  • Sand Hill Elementary School
  • Summerville Elementary School
  • Summerville High School

Beaufort County School District:

  • Bluffton High School
  • May River High School
  • Pritchardville Elementary School
  • Riverview Charter School

GOOD

No schools in Colleton or Georgetown Counties received a rating of good.

Charleston County School District:

  • Charleston Development Academy (Middle)
  • Charleston Progressive Academy (Elementary)
  • Drayton Hall Elementary
  • Haut Gap Middle
  • James B. Edwards Elementary
  • Lambs Elementary School
  • Mamie P. Whitesides Elementary
  • Military Magnet Academy (Middle/High)
  • Montessori Community School (Elementary)
  • Orange Grove Charter (Middle)
  • St. Andrew’s School Of Math And Science (Elementary)
  • St. James-Santee Elementary (Middle)
  • Sullivan’s Island Elementary

Berkeley County School District:

  • Berkeley Intermediate School (Elementary)
  • Cane Bay High School
  • Cane Bay Middle School
  • H. E. Bonner Elementary
  • Hanahan Elementary School
  • Hanahan High School
  • Macedonia Middle School
  • Philip Simmons Elementary
  • St. Stephen Elementary School
  • Stratford High School
  • Westview Middle School
  • Whitesville Elementary School

Dorchester District 2:

  • Alston Middle School
  • Joseph Pye Elementary
  • Oakbrook Middle School
  • Windsor Hill Arts Infused Elementary

Dorchester District 4:

  • St. George Middle School

Williamsburg County School District:

  • Hemingway M. B. Lee Middle Schoo
  • Kingstree Middle Magnet School of the Arts

Beaufort County School District:

  • Beaufort Elementary School
  • Beaufort High School
  • Beaufort Middle School
  • Bluffton Elementary And Early Childhood Center (Elementary)
  • Bluffton Middle School
  • Hilton Head Island High School
  • Lady’s Island Elementary
  • Lady’s Island Middle School
  • Michael C. Riley Early Childhood Center And Elementary School
  • Okatie Elementary School
  • Red Cedar Elementary School
  • River Ridge Academy (Elementary/Middle)
  • Robert Smalls International Academy (Middle)
  • Whale Branch Early College High School

AVERAGE

Charleston County School District:

  • A.C. Corcoran Elementary
  • Allegro Charter School Of Music (Middle)
  • Angel Oak Elementary
  • Baptist Hill High School
  • Buist Academy (Elementary)
  • C.E. Williams Middle School For Creative And Scientific Arts
  • Carolina Voyager (Elementary)
  • Edith L. Frierson Elementary
  • Garrett Academy Of Technology (High)
  • James Island Elementary
  • James Simons Elementary (Middle)
  • Jerry Zucker Middle School Of Science (Middle)
  • Malcolm C. Hursey Elementary (Elementary/Middle)
  • Mary Ford Elementary
  • Meeting Street Elementary
  • Minnie Hughes Elementary
  • Mt. Zion Elementary
  • Murray-Lasaine Elementary
  • Northwoods Middle
  • Sanders-Clyde Elementary
  • Simmons Pinckney Middle
  • Stiles Point Elementary
  • West Ashley High

Berkeley County School District:

  • Berkeley High School
  • Berkeley Middle School
  • Boulder Bluff Elementary School
  • Bowen’s Corner Elementary
  • Cane Bay Elementary School
  • College Park Elementary School
  • College Park Middle School
  • Devon Forest Elementary School
  • Goose Creek High
  • Howe Hall Arts Infused Magnet School (Elementary)
  • Nexton Elementary
  • Philip Simmons Middle School
  • Sangaree Middle School
  • St. Stephen Middle
  • Timberland High School
  • Westview Elementary

Dorchester District 2:

  • Alston-Bailey Elementary School
  • Dubose Middle School
  • Eagle Nest Elementary School
  • Flowertown Elementary School
  • Gregg Middle School
  • James H. Spann Elementary School
  • Knightsville Elementary School
  • Newington Elementary School
  • Oakbrook Elementary School
  • River Oaks Middle School
  • William M. Reeves, Jr. Elementary

Dorchester District 4:

  • Clay Hill Elementary School
  • Williams Memorial Elementary School
  • Woodland High School

Colleton County School District:

  • Northside Elementary

Williamsburg County School District:

  • C.E. Murray Middle School
  • C.E. Murray High School

Georgetown County School District:

  • Andrews High School
  • Brown’s Ferry Elementary School
  • Carvers Bay High School
  • Carvers Bay Middle School
  • Coastal Montessori Charter School (Elementary/Middle)
  • Georgetown High
  • Georgetown Middle School
  • Kensington Elementary School
  • Maryville Elementary School
  • Mcdonald Elementary
  • Pleasant Hill Elementary School
  • Rosemary Middle School
  • Waccamaw Middle School

Beaufort County School District:

  • Battery Creek High School
  • Coosa Elementary School
  • H.E. Mccracken Middle School
  • Hilton Head Island Elementary School
  • Hilton Head Island Middle School
  • Hilton Head Island School For The Creative Arts (Elementary)
  • Mossy Oaks Elementary School
  • Port Royal Elementary School
  • St. Helena Elementary School
  • Whale Branch Middle School

BELOW AVERAGE

Charleston County School District:

  • Baptist Hill High School
  • Burke High
  • Charleston Charter School For Math And Science
  • Charleston Development Academy
  • Chicora Elementary
  • Deer Park Middle
  • E.B. Ellington Elementary
  • Edmund A. Burns Elementary
  • Hunley Park Elementary
  • James Simons Elementary
  • Jane Edwards Elementary
  • Ladson Elementary
  • Memminger Elementary
  • Morningside Middle
  • North Charleston Creative Arts Elementary
  • North Charleston Elementary
  • North Charleston High
  • Pepperhill Elementary
  • Pinehurst Elementary
  • Prestige Preparatory Academy
  • R.B. Stall High
  • St. James-Santee Elementary
  • St. John’s High
  • Stono Park Elementary
  • West Ashley Middle

Berkeley County School District:

  • Cross Elementary
  • Cross High School
  • Foxbank Elementary School
  • Goose Creek Elementary
  • J. K. Gourdin Elementary
  • Mount Holly Elementary School
  • Sangaree Intermediate School
  • Sedgefield Middle

Dorchester District 2:

  • Dr. Eugene Sires Elementary School

Dorchester District 4:

  • Harleyville Elementary School
  • Harleyville-Ridgeville Middle School

Colleton County School District:

  • Bells Elementary School
  • Colleton County High School
  • Colleton County Middle School
  • Cottageville Elementary School

Williamsburg County School District:

  • D.P. Cooper Elementary School
  • Greeleyville Elementary School
  • Hemingway High School
  • Kenneth Gardner Elementary School

Georgetown County School District:

  • Andrews Elementary School
  • Plantersville Elementary

Beaufort County High School:

  • Broad River Elementary School
  • Joseph Shanklin Elementary School
  • Robert Smalls International Academy (Elementary)
  • Whale Branch Elementary

UNSATISFACTORY

No schools in Dorchester Districts 2 or 4, Colleton, Beaufort or Georgetown Counties received this rating.

Charleston County School District:

  • Mitchell Elementary
  • Springfield Elementary
  • W.B. Goodwin Elementary

Berkeley County School District:

  • Cainhoy Elementary School
  • Cross High School

Colleton County School District:

  • Forest Hills Elementary
  • Hendersonville Elementary

Williamsburg County School District:

  • Hemingway Elementary School
  • Kingstree High School

State law was recently amended to require that report cards be distributed by October 1, 2019 for the 2018-2019 school year rather than November 15 as was previously required. For the 2019-2020 school year, and every subsequent year, report cards will be issued by September 1.

Click hereto see the complete report for all districts and schools across the state.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Copyright 2019 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Photo: Getty Images


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