School District of Pickens County

The South Carolina Department of Education released the 2025–26 School Report Cards today, October 12, 2026, highlighting continued academic success and growth in the School District of Pickens County (SDPC). For the ninth consecutive year, all 22 rated SDPC schools earned an overall rating of Average or better. The district also celebrated a record-high graduation rate of 92.7% and continued improvement in college and career readiness.

The South Carolina Report Card measures the progress of schools toward the goals of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. Available at www.screportcards.com, the annual report cards provide information about academic achievement, student growth, school climate, graduation rates, college and career readiness, and other measures of school success.

The School Report Cards, which are based on South Carolina’s education accountability system, are required for all elementary (3rd-5th grade), middle, and high schools that receive overall ratings based on a 100-point scale. The report card assigns ratings of Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, and Unsatisfactory.

• Average means a school meets the state's criteria for preparing students for the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. 

• Good means it exceeds them. 

• Excellent means it substantially exceeds them.

Of the 22 SDPC schools measured in 2025-26, 7 were rated Excellent, 9 schools were rated Good, and 6 schools were rated Average. This means that 16 schools (nearly 73%) earned ratings that exceed or substantially exceed state performance criteria. No SDPC schools received a Below Average or Unsatisfactory rating.

For the ninth consecutive year, no schools in the district received a Below Average or Unsatisfactory rating, continuing the district's trend of strong performance. That means every one of our schools meets the criteria to ensure students meet the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate.

Excellent-rated schools: Clemson Elementary • Dacusville Elementary • Six Mile Elementary • Liberty Middle • R.C. Edwards Middle • D.W. Daniel High • Easley High

Here are some highlights from this year’s Report Cards:

• Five schools moved up a level. Easley High, R.C. Edwards Middle, and Six Mile Elementary went from Good to Excellent. Pickens Middle and Gettys Middle went from Average to Good. Easley High's Excellent rating is its first since the current system began in 2018.

• The high schools' 'College/Career Readiness' indicator increased from 82.4% in 2025 to 85.3% in 2026. This compares to the state average of 78.9%.

• Strong school climate. Ambler, Hagood, McKissick, Pickens, and Six Mile Elementary, plus Pickens Middle and R.C. Edwards Middle, earned Excellent in School Climate, based on teacher and student surveys.

No SDPC schools were rated below the AVERAGE rating for the ninth consecutive year, indicating that ALL our schools meet the criteria to ensure students meet the Profile of a South Carolina Graduate. 

SDPC Celebrates Record Graduation Rate

The School District of Pickens County achieved a record 92.7% on-time graduation rate for the Class of 2026, exceeding the state average of 87.5%. This represents an increase from the district's 90.1% graduation rate in 2025 and marks the highest graduation rate since the current accountability system began.

Three SDPC high schools also surpassed the district's previous individual-school graduation rate record of 92.6%, established by Liberty High School in 2025. D.W. Daniel High School led the district with a 95.1% graduation rate, followed by Liberty High School at 94.4% and Easley High School at 94.1%.

The on-time graduation rates for our SDPC high schools are as follows:

Class of 2026 Successes

The Class of 2026 continued to raise the bar through remarkable achievements:

• Completed 690 dual enrollment courses

• Earned more than $33 million in scholarships

• Produced 26 military enlistments

• Graduated 516 students who completed at least one Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway

These accomplishments showcase the many pathways available to students and the district's commitment to preparing graduates for a wide range of postsecondary opportunities.

Excellence in Advanced Placement

The School District of Pickens County offered 31 Advanced Placement courses across our four high schools.

District students:

• Took 2,255 AP examinations

• Represented approximately 1,200 AP students

• Achieved an impressive 83.7% pass rate, earning scores of 3 or higher

 These results demonstrate the strong academic rigor provided across our high schools and our students' readiness for college-level coursework.

“As a traditional public school district, we have the privilege and responsibility of serving every student in our community. For nine consecutive years, all of our schools have met or exceeded the state's performance criteria, and that is something worth celebrating,”  said Dr. Danny Merck, SDPC Superintendent. “Our record graduation rate of 92.7% is another example of what can happen when students, teachers, staff, and families work together. We are grateful for the tremendous work taking place in our schools, and we remain committed to continuous improvement through teamwork, no matter what."

SDPC Associate Superintendent of Academic Services, Dr. Shannon Sharkey shared, “From record graduation rates to strong academic growth across the district, these achievements demonstrate our commitment to ensuring every student is prepared for success in college, careers, military service, and life.”

For more information, please see the SCDE’s 2026 SC School Report Cards Press Release.

A school-by-school listing of overall report card scores is below. School report cards can be reviewed in detail at www.screportcards.com. 

2026 School District of Pickens County Report Card Results