State report cards show improvement in South Carolina schools
Statewide gains lifted 320 schools to excellent and cut unsatisfactory ratings to 24, officials said.
- On Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, the South Carolina Department of Education released state school report cards showing 320 schools earned an "excellent" rating, with nearly 90 percent of schools performing at or above average.
- State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver credited this progress to policies emphasizing "high expectations paired with high support," including increased teacher pay to $50,500 and mandatory training on "the science of reading."
- On-Time graduation rates reached 87.5%, the highest level in a decade; meanwhile, the number of schools labeled "unsatisfactory" dropped to 24, down from 74 in 2022.
- Patrick Kelly of the Palmetto State Teachers Association cautioned that students in the 24 "unsatisfactory" schools still receive subpar education, noting concerns about grade floors like 50.
- The South Carolina Department of Education aims to have 70 percent of elementary and middle school students testing at grade level by 2030, emphasizing that early literacy foundations remain critical.
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More SC schools get top scores than ever, but education leaders say there’s still work to do
COLUMBIA — More schools got top scores on South Carolina’s 2026 state report cards than in any year since the rating system began, marking the best results in at least a decade, according to data released Monday.
Charleston Co., S.C. schools earn higher ratings overall
MORNING HEADLINES | Results from the 2026 South Carolina School Report Card show more schools earning top ratings and the state’s graduation rate reaching its highest level in a decade. Of the 1,295 South Carolina public schools that received report cards this year, 90% were “average” or higher.
SC Report Cards surge again, with 90 percent of schools ‘average’ or above
South Carolina’s latest school report card shows significant improvements in overall school ratings, test scores and graduation rates. State education officials attributed the gains to reforms in reading and math instruction.
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