SC Department of Education releases 2023 Report Cards for schools, districts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
BEAUFORT – The SC Department of Education (SCDE) and the SC Education Oversight Committee (EOC) released the 2023 SC Report Cards for schools. The Report Cards, available at www.screportcards.com, reflect data elements and student performance information from the 2022-23 school year. These state-issued report cards are required by a federal education law called the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
We are succeeding at building a stronger foundation, many thanks to our dedicated educators and staff.
Dr. Frank Rodriguez, BCSD Superintendent
The South Carolina Report Card measures progress of schools toward the goals of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. These goals include Academic Achievement, Preparing for Success, Multilingual Learners Progress, School Climate, Graduation Rate, and producing graduates that are College and/or Career Ready.
The SC Report Cards, which are based on South Carolina’s education accountability system, are required for all elementary, middle, and high schools. Schools receive overall ratings based on a 100-point scale. The ratings follow terms outlined in state law: Excellent (E), Good (G), Average (A), Below Average (BA), and Unsatisfactory (U).
# of BCSD schools per overall ratings:
# of BCSD schools per achievement ratings:
An Excellent rating is defined as school performance that substantially exceeds the criteria to ensure all students meet the Profile of a South Carolina Graduate. District schools at the elementary level that received this rating are Bluffton, Coosa, Okatie, and Red Cedar. At the middle school level Riverview Charter received this top rating. Bluffton High School was also designated with an Excellent rating.
Coosa Elementary, a nationally recognized Blue Ribbon School led by Principal Melissa Pender ranks in the top five percent of SC schools. “The academic gains we have been able to achieve are a testament to our ability to balance meeting students where they are academically, while implementing rigorous, explicit instruction within our classrooms. We remain reflective in our practices to ensure that we are responsive to the ever-changing needs of our students by providing engaging learning experiences.” said Pender. “We are fortunate to have effective educators, strong community partners, and supportive families.”
A Good rating is defined as school performance that exceeds the criteria to ensure all students meet the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. District schools at the elementary level that received this rating are Beaufort, Hilton Head Island (IB), Lady’s Island, Pritchardville, and Port Royal. Schools rated as Good at the middle school level were Bluffton and River Ridge Academy. Hilton Head Island and May River high schools were also designated with a Good rating.
Schools working toward growth for the 2023-24 academic year will have the opportunity to further engage in collaborative instructional reviews. “As a district, we continue to receive positive responses from educators and administrators participating in the instructional review process as a tool for honing in on and improving educational outcomes.” said Chief Instructional Services Officer Dr. Mary Stratos. “Collectively refining and improving our practices to build capacity is essential to serving our students.”
On a statewide scale, State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver plans to redouble efforts in support of literacy and math. “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.”
“We are succeeding at building a stronger foundation, many thanks to our dedicated educators and staff,” said Beaufort County School District (BCSD) Superintendent Dr. Frank Rodriguez. “The number of below and unsatisfactory schools in our district is diminishing; pandemic recovery is taking place.”
“It takes each of us committing to believing in the potential of all children who walk into SC classrooms,” said Weaver. “They are all likely success stories, and it is up to all of us to help get them there.”
Embracing a collective approach, BCSD has expanded the district’s extended learning opportunities with community partners and will offer additional tutoring opportunities as well as increased support for the district’s 4,000+ multilingual learners. Out of the top five districts in the state in terms of the number of multilingual learners, BCSD has the highest percentage per overall district enrollment.
BCSD’s report card reflects that 75 percent of Beaufort County high school seniors were “College- or Career-Ready,” meaning they are prepared for college or careers after graduation. The graduation rate in the report card is measured by the percentage of students who complete high school “on time” and earn a diploma in four years. BCSD’s graduation rate for the class of 2023 reflects 87.2 percent of students completing “on time”.
The percentage of Career and Technical Education (CTE) completers with state and/or national industry certifications has increased from 30.7 to 38.6 percent. These students went above and beyond just taking CTE courses, becoming industry certified and ready to start their career path immediately following graduation.
Earlier this month, the SCDE also released advanced placement (AP), SAT, and ACT data. Nationwide, 60 percent of students who took AP exams scored a 3 or better. BCSD outperformed the nation at 72 percent. BCSD expanded the number of students taking the SAT in 2023. Both SAT and ACT scores are consistent with national and state averages. The district’s ACT scores remain steady, also outperforming both the state and nation.
For more information, please see the SCDE’s Report Card release.