(South Carolina Department of Education photo)
Rising test scores, student academic growth, and gains in college - and career - readiness fueled improvements across South Carolina schools according to the 2025 South Carolina School Report Cards, released Monday by the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) and South Carolina Education Oversight Committee (EOC).
The new report cards, unveiled at Annie Burnside Elementary School in Richland School District One, measure schools across key performance indicators, including academic achievement, student progress, college and career readiness, and school climate.
The number of South Carolina schools earning an overall rating of ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’ increased from 549 to 623.
South Carolina’s School Report Cards provide families, educators, and the community with a clear snapshot of how schools are performing, helping everyone stay informed and engaged on how their schools stack up.
They also provide a roadmap toward the state’s goal for every child to graduate college, career, or military ready, and that by 2030, at least 75 percent of students at or above grade level.
Officials say these report cards serve as an important accountability measure, allowing parents, educators, and policy makers to understand and identify challenges in their schools. Schools are rated: Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, Unsatisfactory.Elementary Schools
Nearly half of SC’s elementary schools are rated Good or better.
More than a quarter of SC elementary schools improved their Overall rating from 2024 to 2025.
The percentage of elementary schools earning a Good or better on the ‘Academic Achievement’ and ‘Student Progress’ indicators rating increased 3 percent and 7 percent respectively over 2024.
Middle Schools
Nearly one in three middle schools improved their overall ratings from 2024 to 2025.
The percentage of middle schools earning a Good or better for the ‘Student Progress’ indicator rating increased from 22 percent in 2024 to 40 percent in 2025.
High Schools
South Carolina’s On-Time Graduation Rate is at 86.7 percent, a 10-year high.
The percentage of high schools earning a Good or better on the ‘College/Career Readiness’ indicator increased from 63 percent in 2024 to 75 percent in 2025.
Annie Burnside Elementary School in Columbia earned an overall report card rating of Excellent for the 2024-25 school year. This marked an improvement from an Average overall rating in 2023-24.
Annie Burnside Elementary is one of the EOC’s Beating the Odds Investigative Study Schools. Officials said schools in this study are high poverty schools demonstrating strong academic achievement.
Eighty-three percent of students at Annie Burnside are considered Pupils in Poverty.
The ‘Student Progress’ indicator at Annie Burnside improved from Average in 2023-24 to Excellent in 2024-25.
College and career readiness remain a top priority for South Carolina students.
While South Carolina’s on-time graduation rate is at a ten-year high, only 75.1 percent of students are either career or college ready.
Officials say that while the gap between the state’s graduation rate and college or career readiness has narrowed, more work must be done to ensure that a South Carolina diploma directly translates to post-secondary success.
The officials add that recent approval of South Carolina’s tiered stackable credential system is a big step forward to increase alignment of high school credentials with employability.
South Carolina’s business and industry leaders will have a primary role in developing and maintaining the list of credentials.
This tiered system is expected to be fully implemented by the 2027-2028 school year, allowing districts and high schools adequate time to transition to the new system.
“These report cards tell a clear story: South Carolina students and educators are rolling up their sleeves and getting results,” said State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver. “From the Lowcountry to the Upstate, we’re proving that when teachers are empowered, communities are engaged, and high expectations meet strong support students soar.”
Weaver added, “The South Carolina Surge is growing, and together — from the classroom to the Statehouse — we’re building the foundation for every child to reach their God-given potential. This progress is fuel in the tank: energy and inspiration to drive us forward in the vital work still ahead.”
brbr State Treasurer Curtis Loftis, on Oct. 30, 2025, announces that the State Treasurer’s Office investments generated $1.7 billion in earnings over the past year. Read More »
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