Test score data shows York County has the state’s No. 1 performing school district.
Base it entirely on the most recent test score data, and there’s no arguing York County has the top performing school district in South Carolina. There’s a pretty strong argument that it also could have the second best.
The South Carolina Department of Education recently released SCPASS and SC READY scores for elementary and middle school students. The results focused on three subjects. The scores from tests last school year cover English language arts and math for grades 3-8, and science in grades 4-6. Combined, that data scores 14 grade and subject combinations.
The Fort Mill School District performed best among all 76 South Carolina districts in 13 of those 14 metrics. In the lone exception, third grade math, Fort Mill students scored second best.
Fort Mill scores improved from this time last year, when the district performed best across the state in 11 of 14 grade and subject combinations. English language arts scores are now ahead of where they were in Fort Mill prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are very proud of the work being done by our teachers and staff in the district,” Superintendent Chuck Epps said. “This data shows that the district has made great strides in all areas and we will continue our efforts to provide a quality education for all students.”
Fort Mill is on top, but it isn’t alone.
Again like last year, the Clover School District performed well above state averages. Of the 14 metrics in the most recent data, Clover never ranked lower than fifth. In three areas (sixth grade science and math, plus eighth grade math), Clover was second only to Fort Mill.
Clover scores are in tight contention with two Anderson County districts for second best statewide. Clover scored better than Anderson School District One and Anderson School District 4 in both math and science testing. Clover trailed both districts in English language arts. Across grade levels, Clover tested about three times more students than Anderson 4 and slightly fewer than Anderson One.
Clover and Anderson One scored second best three times each, while Anderson 4 was best in third grade math and second best four times. Both Anderson districts had a seventh place score, and Anderson 4 also had a sixth and two fifth-place results. Clover never scored worse than fifth, which it did four times — all in English language arts.
Combining all three score sets, Anderson One finished in an average position of 3.38 for the various grade and subject combinations. Anderson 4 finished with a 3.64 average, followed by Clover at 3.79.
Like Fort Mill, Clover recognized considerable gains even against its own high scores from recent years in an announcement of the new data.
“Our mission in the Clover School District is to prepare each child for a successful, productive and responsible future,” Superintendent Sheila Quinn said. “These test scores demonstrate the commitment our school board, staff, families and students have made to this mission.”
SC test scores
Statewide, almost 54% of students met or exceeded expectations in English language arts testing. That number is up from 47% the prior year and 42% during 2020-21. The final full year before the COVID-19 pandemic of 2018-19 saw 45% of students meet or exceed expectations.
“Reading is the foundation of all other learning,” said Education Superintendent Ellen Weaver in a recent data release. “For the first time in recent history, at least half of our students in each grade level tested as proficient in English language arts.”
Math scores are up, but are not yet back to pre-pandemic levels. The new data shows 41% of students met or exceeded expectations in math, compared to 39% the prior year. Before COVID, the state saw 45% of students meet or exceed expectations.
“The most recent math results underscore the need for us to dig as deep into evidence-based practices like high-dose tutoring to help turn the tide,” Weaver said. “The state is now working to prioritize and simplify standards and learn from effective strategies other states are using (to) propel student achievement forward.”
Rock Hill, York, Lancaster, Chester
Scores vary in the Rock Hill, York, Lancaster County and Chester County school districts.
Lancaster County students ranked in the top 12 districts statewide for fifth grade English (No. 12) and math (No. 8), third grade math (No. 9) and fourth grade math (No. 11). Lancaster County schools trailed Fort Mill and Clover but most often finished ahead of other Rock Hill region districts.
Rock Hill ranked as high as No. 20 (fourth grade English) statewide and as low as No. 49 (sixth grade math) in the 14 course and grade metrics. York was No. 24 in sixth grade math and No. 59 in fifth grade English, at opposite ends of its spectrum. Chester County ranged from No. 39 in fourth grade English to No. 64 in sixth grade science.
At the high end, 80% or more of Fort Mill sixth- and fourth-graders met or exceeded standards in English. Fort Mill had almost 62% of its seventh grade math students meet or exceed standards, at the lowest figure for that district. Clover had just below 50% on its seventh grade math students who met or exceeded standards, up to more than 74% for fourth grade English.
On the opposite end, Chester County didn’t have a grade subject combination where at least half the students met or exceeded expectations. The 49% mark for fourth grade English was the high mark, down to just more than 16% of seventh grade math students. York scores ranged from more than 21% (eighth grade math) to almost 50% (fourth grade English).
Almost 26% of seventh grade math students in Rock Hill met or exceeded standards, up to almost 58% of fourth grade English students who met or exceeded, in that district.
For a full, sortable and searchable list of the numbers by district, use the link below:
This story was originally published September 12, 2023 at 11:39 AM with the headline "Test score data shows York County has the state’s No. 1 performing school district.."
