South Carolina Surge Continues as More Schools Rise

The 2026 South Carolina School Report Cards show historic progress across the state, with more schools earning Excellent and Good ratings and fewer schools rated Below Average and Unsatisfactory.

State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver announced the results at the State House this morning, joined by state and school leaders, students, and parents whose hard work is propelling the progress being made in schools throughout South Carolina.

Key Takeaways:

The number of South Carolina schools earning an overall rating of Excellent increased from 270 to 320, while the number of schools rated Below Average or Unsatisfactory continued to decline. Nearly half of the state's elementary schools and more than half of its middle schools are now rated Good or Excellent.
Nearly a quarter of South Carolina elementary schools improved their overall rating from 2025 to 2026.
Student progress is accelerating across the state, particularly in middle schools, where the share earning a Student Progress rating of Good or Excellent has more than doubled since 2024.
South Carolina's on-time graduation rate reached 87.5%, the highest level in a decade. At the same time, the connection between earning a diploma and being prepared for life after high school continues to strengthen, with more than eight in ten high schools now earning a rating of Good or Excellent for College and Career Readiness.
High-poverty schools were among those posting some of the state's strongest improvements, demonstrating that student achievement is rising in communities in every corner of South Carolina.

The above graph shows the number and percentage of all South Carolina schools earning each rating level since 2018, the first year of the current rating system. The percentage of schools scoring Good or Excellent (52.3%) is at the highest level in the history of the current report card rating system while the percentage of schools scoring Below Average or Unsatisfactory is at its lowest (9.9%). Note: No ratings were assigned in 2020 or 2021.

The above graph shows the number and percentage of South Carolina’s elementary schools earning each rating level since 2018. The percentage of elementary schools scoring Good or Excellent (49.3%) is at the highest level in the history of the current report card rating system while the percentage of elementary schools scoring Below Average or Unsatisfactory is at its lowest (10%). Note: No ratings were assigned in 2020 or 2021.

The above graph shows the number and percentage of South Carolina’s middle schools earning each rating level since 2018. The percentage of middle schools scoring Good or Excellent (50.2%) is at the second-highest level in the history of the current report card rating system while the percentage of middle schools scoring Below Average or Unsatisfactory is at its lowest (7%). Note: No ratings were assigned in 2020 or 2021.

The above graph shows the changes in elementary school rating levels from 2025 to 2026. 391 elementary schools (58.5%) earned the same rating level two years in a row. 20.8% of elementary schools moved up one level, and 1.6% moved up two levels.

The above graph shows the number and percentage of South Carolina’s middle schools earning each rating level on the Student Progress indicator since 2018. The percentage of middle schools scoring Good or Excellent on Student Progress (47.8%) is at the highest level in the history of the current report card rating system while the percentage of middle schools scoring Below Average or Unsatisfactory is at its lowest (16.9%). Note: No ratings were assigned in 2020 or 2021.

The above graph shows the number and percentage of all South Carolina schools earning each rating level on the Academic Achievement indicator since 2018, the first year of the current rating system. The percentage of schools scoring Good or Excellent on Academic Achievement (47.9%) is at the highest level in the history of the current report card rating system while the percentage of schools scoring Below Average or Unsatisfactory is at its lowest (14.5%). Note: No ratings were assigned in 2020 or 2021.

The above graph shows the number and percentage of South Carolina’s high schools earning each rating level on the Graduation Rate indicator since 2018, the first year of the current rating system. The percentage of high schools scoring Good or Excellent on Graduation Rate (79.9%) is at the highest level in the history of the current report card rating system while the percentage of high schools scoring Below Average or Unsatisfactory is at its lowest (5.1%). Note: No ratings were assigned in 2020 or 2021.

The above graph shows the number and percentage of South Carolina’s high schools earning each rating level on the College and Career Readiness indicator since 2018, the first year of the current rating system. The percentage of high schools scoring Good or Excellent on College and Career Readiness (83%) is at the highest level in the history of the current report card rating system while the percentage of high schools scoring Below Average or Unsatisfactory is at its second-lowest (5.1%). Note: No ratings were assigned in 2020 or 2021.

Why it Matters:

Behind these results are years of decisive leadership, sustained effort, rigorous standards, and a refusal to accept the status quo or anything less than what we know our students can achieve and deserve. Over the past several years, the South Carolina Department of Education has worked alongside educators, families, school and district leaders, the governor, the General Assembly, business leaders, and local communities to help build a powerful and growing level of alignment around improving outcomes for students and the rigorous standards, support, and accountability this work demands. Underpinning that effort is a shared recognition that student success is too important for fragmented efforts and competing priorities. From the schoolhouse to the State House, leaders at every level have remained committed to the high expectations and high support that keep student success at the center of every decision.

What They’re Saying:

“This Report Card is great news for South Carolina because when our education system excels, our entire state excels. I want to thank Superintendent Weaver, our teachers, parents, and students for the hard work and dedication that made these outstanding results possible. This achievement demonstrates that when we as a state commit ourselves to a common goal and work together to achieve it, we can accomplish great things. Superintendent Weaver, Governor McMaster, and the General Assembly have worked together to ensure that our education system continues to improve and provides our children with the opportunities they deserve."

-- Senate President Thomas Alexander

"The students in our classrooms today will inherit the responsibility of leading South Carolina. They will shape the future of our state in ways we cannot yet imagine. Education touches virtually every issue we address in the House because strong schools strengthen everything else: our workforce, our economy, our communities, and our quality of life. What we're seeing across South Carolina is the payoff of a long-term commitment to students and a shared belief that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed. That's an investment that benefits not only today's students, but the future of our entire state."

-- Speaker of the House Murrell Smith

"I've had the privilege of visiting every school district in South Carolina, many of them multiple times, and these results mirror what I see in classrooms across our state. Students are rising to the challenge, educators are working tirelessly to help them succeed, and schools are proving every day that ZIP code does not define destiny. When we combine high expectations with strong support, South Carolina students can compete with anyone, anywhere. The South Carolina Surge is about recognizing the limitless potential of every child and matching that belief with action. I'm deeply grateful to the teachers, school leaders, parents, community partners, and lawmakers whose hard work and shared commitment are making this progress possible. Together, we're redefining not only what others expect from South Carolina, but what we expect from ourselves.”

-- State Superintendent Ellen Weaver

“This year’s school report cards tell an encouraging story for South Carolina, and we’re especially proud of the progress in Darlington County. In just one year, our district more than doubled the number of schools earning Good or Excellent ratings, from four to ten. Even more encouraging, our students demonstrated academic growth above the state average, both overall and among our lowest-performing students. That’s particularly meaningful in a year of improvement across South Carolina. These results reflect the hard work of our teachers, principals and staff, and our shared commitment to getting better at the work that matters most: strong instruction, meaningful collaboration and high expectations. School Report cards help us celebrate progress, identify where we need to improve and hold ourselves accountable for results. Better ratings are encouraging, but they aren’t the destination. Our commitment is excellence in teaching and learning for each child, every day.”

-- Dr. Matthew Ferguson, Superintendent, Darlington County School District

“This recognition means so much more than an achievement. It represents Centerville Elementary’s journey. Last year, our teachers, students, families, and district decided that a difficult chapter would not define us. Our students rose to the challenge, and our teachers rose with them through countless moments of encouragement, extra effort, perseverance, and an unwavering belief in what our children can achieve. At Centerville, we live by three words: Connect. Empower. Succeed. Centerville is a testament to what happens when people believe in children, believe in one another, and refuse to give up. This achievement belongs to our entire school family, and I am honored to lead a community so deeply committed to bringing those words to life for every child.”

-- Jenifer Seymour, Principal, Centerville Elementary School, Anderson School District 05

Snapshots of Success:

While thousands of educators and hundreds of schools across South Carolina contributed to this year's success, we are honored to welcome representatives from a small group of schools whose stories reflect the extraordinary progress taking place statewide. Though their journeys are unique, they exemplify the shared determination, leadership, and commitment to excellence that are helping raise performance and expanding opportunities for students across South Carolina.

At the elementary level, Centerville Elementary School in Anderson 5 achieved one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the state, moving from Below Average to Excellent overall while also advancing from Below Average to Excellent in Student Progress. North Hartsville Elementary School in Darlington County climbed from Average to Excellent overall and improved Student Progress from Unsatisfactory to Excellent. Lockett Elementary School in Orangeburg County advanced from Good to Excellent overall, with Student Progress improving from Average to Excellent.

Middle schools across the state also demonstrated substantial growth. Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School improved from Average to Excellent in both overall performance and Student Progress. James Simons Montessori School in Charleston County advanced from Good to Excellent overall while raising Student Progress from Average to Excellent. Carver-Edisto Middle School in Orangeburg County moved from Unsatisfactory to Average overall and improved Student Progress from Unsatisfactory to Good, reflecting meaningful gains in student achievement.

At the high school level, several schools posted notable improvements in overall performance, graduation outcomes, and college and career readiness. Blackville-Hilda High School improved its overall rating from Below Average to Good while raising its graduation rating from Below Average to Excellent. Burke High School in Charleston County advanced from Below Average to Good overall, maintained an Excellent college-and-career-readiness rating, and improved its graduation rating from Average to Good. Dillon High School moved from Below Average to Good overall while elevating both its college-and-career-readiness and graduation ratings from Good to Excellent.

Across the state, schools in urban, suburban, and rural communities demonstrated meaningful progress. Clifdale Middle School in Spartanburg District 3 advanced from Average to Excellent, while Pine Street Elementary School in Spartanburg District 7 moved from Good to Excellent. Loris Middle School in Horry and South Lake Elementary School in Lexington District 1 each improved by a full performance category, while Daisy Elementary School in Horry and Beech Springs Middle School in Spartanburg 5 advanced from Average to Good. Richmond Drive Elementary School in Rock Hill also showed tangible improvement, increasing its score by nearly 12 points and moving up two report card levels.

Looking Ahead:

Continuing to Strengthen College & Career Readiness
One of the most encouraging signs in this year's results is that more students are not only graduating but graduating prepared for what comes next. Significant ongoing work is strengthening meaningful career pathways and connecting classroom learning to real-world application. The gap between South Carolina's graduation rate and college- and career-readiness has narrowed to 8.6 percentage points, the smallest margin in state history. While the goal remains to close that gap entirely, the positive trajectory is clear. Increasingly, a South Carolina diploma reflects both successful completion of high school and meaningful preparation for college, careers, or military service.

Expanding Opportunity for Every Learner

South Carolina has built a strong foundation for academic achievement through the science of reading, the Palmetto Math Project, rigorous standards, and high-quality instructional materials. Now we must ensure every single student has meaningful access to that foundation.

While our students with disabilities are making academic progress, significant achievement gaps remain. Closing those gaps is a major priority for the South Carolina Department of Education and will require two important shifts: raising our expectations for what students with disabilities can achieve and ensuring they have access to strong Tier 1 instruction in reading and math, paired with the individualized support they need to succeed. Inclusion must mean more than being present in a classroom. It must mean meaningful access to grade-level learning.

To advance this work, the Department is partnering with national experts who have helped other states improve outcomes for students with disabilities. Together with district leaders and educators, we are examining current instructional practices, developing practical guidance and resources for schools, and piloting promising approaches that can be scaled statewide.

Our goal is clear: high expectations and high support for EVERY student. Every child has purpose and potential, and our committment is to continually strengthen our schools to help each one reach theirs.

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