On September 5, 2023, the South Carolina Department of Education released the results of the South Carolina Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (SCPASS) in Science and South Carolina College and Career-Ready Assessments (SC READY) examinations in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics given in the elementary and middle school grades during the 2022-2023 school year. Though the pupil-in-poverty rating for the School District of Pickens County (SDPC) was higher (63%) than the state's pupil-in-poverty rating (62%) last school year, SDPC exceeded the SC average in ELA and math in all grades (3-8) tested.
The data for the School District of Pickens County (SDPC) shows very positive results, particularly in these areas:
- SDPC exceeds the statewide average in all grades (3-8) in ELA and Math
- Of 14 categories (Grades 3-8 ELA, Grades 3-8, Math, Grade 4 and 6 Science), SDPC made gains over 2021-2022 results in 11 of the 14 categories for students scoring Met or Exemplary.
- Math and Science scores have increased in grades in 3, 4, 5, and 8.
- ELA scores have exceeded the pre-pandemic levels results in all grades (3-8).
- When examining cohort scores, for example, 5th grade students in 2022-23 versus the same student group when they were in 3rd grade, we are seeing tremendous growth:
- In ELA, students in 4th grade in 22-23 scoring Met or Exemplary increased 12.8 percentage points over their 3rd grade scores (63.5% vs 50.7%).
- In ELA, students in 5th grade in 22-23 scoring Met or Exemplary increased 15 percentage points over their 3rd grade scores (59.9% vs 44.9%).
- In ELA, students in 6th grade in 22-23 scoring Met or Exemplary increased 7.6 percentage points over their 4th grade scores (57.4% vs 49.8%).
- In ELA, students in 7th grade in 22-23 scoring Met or Exemplary increased 11 percentage points over their 5th grade scores (54.3% vs 43.3%).
- In ELA, students in 8th grade in 22-23 scoring Met or Exemplary increased 12.3 percentage points over their 6th grade scores (55.1% vs 42.8%).
58 percent of SDPC students scored Met or Exemplary on the SC READY ELA assessment, more than four percent (4.3) higher than the state average. SDPC scholars improved their overall average by more than seven percentage points compared to 2022.
46.1 percent of SDPC students scored Met or Exemplary for the SC READY Mathematics assessment, more than five percentage points higher than the state average. The district's overall score also improved by 1.3 percentage points compared to 2022.
Nearly 54 percent (53.7) of students in SDPC met or exceeded expectations on the SCPASS Science assessment. This is almost nine percent higher than the South Carolina average.
“We are very proud of the work of our students and teachers and will continue to strive for continuous improvement and growth. The common knowledge and school-based leadership practices created tremendous progress,” said School District of Pickens County Superintendent Dr. Danny Merck. “To know that our schools are successfully teaching core practices in grades 3-8 ensures the future in Pickens will continue to be bright for our students. Our students will be successful no matter which path they choose!“
To see all the results, visit the state’s Department of Education website (SC READY and SCPASS).
SC READY - English Language Arts (ELA) SDPC Five-Year Comparison
SC READY - Math SDPC Five-Year Comparison
SC PASS - Science SDPC Five-Year Comparison
