Local, state report cards improve

More South Carolina families should be pleased with their schools' report cards this year, according to results released today from the state Department of Education.

Graduation rates for the state and Lowcountry districts improved, and most districts maintained or improved their ratings from last year.

"If the state is to see gains again next year, schools must maintain their laser-like focus on high school graduation -- the state's economy depends on it," state Superintendent of Education Mick Zais said.

Part of the statewide boost in graduation rates may be attributed to a change in the calculation process.

The state used to include all students from high schools' feeder schools in enrollment counts, regardless of whether students set foot in that school. To keep this from happening, high schools had to prove those students never enrolled. This year, the state started counting freshmen on the 45th day of school.

The state's on-time graduation rate increased from 72 percent last year to 74 percent, ending two consecutive years of decline. Still, the state's rate is lower than it was earlier this decade -- 78 percent.

District report card ratings reflect high schools' performance, based on graduation rates, end-of-course exams and exit exams, as well as elementary and middle schools' performance, based on the Palmetto Assessment of State Standards. Schools and districts can rate either "excellent," "good," "average," "below average" or "at-risk."

In the past, parents received copies of their children's school report card, but the General Assembly cut funding for that printing to save money.

Charleston County

For the first time ever, Charleston County schools earned an overall rating of "good," and Superintendent Nancy McGinley said that's her best birthday present ever. She'll be 57 on Nov. 14.

"It's something we've been working on for years and years," she said. "I'm just so pleased and proud and encouraged that our work is finally paying off."

The district scored a 3.18 on the rating scale to rate "good;" a 3.17 would've been "average."

She said that rating is proof the district's progress is significant, and that's supported by the district's growth rating of "excellent."

"When you keep jumping to different silver bullets and quick fixes, you don't make this type of progress," she said. "It's slow and steady."

All but two schools -- E.B. Ellington Elementary and Baptist Hill High -- maintained or improved their ratings.

None of the district's 12 "at-risk" schools' ratings improved, however.

"We are extremely encouraged, but we'll never be satisfied until we can say we have zero children going to 'below average' or 'at-risk' schools," she said.

Dorchester County

Every school in Dorchester District 2 is rated "good" or "excellent" after a couple of middle schools -- River Oaks and Oakbrook -- improved from last year.

That's great news, but Superintendent Joe Pye couldn't help but feel frustrated about how close his district came an overall rating of "excellent." The district scored a 3.39, or "good"; 3.4 would've pushed it to "excellent."

"How close is that?" he said.

The district's graduation rate of 74 percent was one of the biggest reasons the district didn't make that jump, and Pye plans to boost that by concentrating on students' reading and math skills at every grade.

In Dorchester District 4, Superintendent Jerry Montjoy pointed out that a few years ago, the district had two "at-risk" schools, two "below average" schools, and one "average" school, and the district rated "below average."

Now, all schools either are "average" or "good" with the exception of St. George Middle, which is "below average."

"I think we've come a long way," he said. "And we're on the way to getting (St. George) where it needs to be."

Berkeley County

The district didn't have the best graduation rate in the Lowcountry, but it did have the most improvement -- from 68 percent to 75 percent.

Superintendent Rodney Thompson was pleased to see so much progress in one year. The district's graduation rate goal is 80 percent by 2015-16, and that's where the district plans to focus its efforts, he said.

"We're excited about that spike," he said. "It's a tribute to the teachers and administrators and their hard work over the last several years."

The district did see some declines, with five schools receiving worse ratings, two of which -- Cross High and St. Stephen Middle -- fell to "below average." Thompson said the district would continue monitoring those schools and making adjustments.

Standout schools

Local and state officials have cited a number of Lowcountry schools for extraordinary achievement or gains made this year.

The state Education Oversight Committee listed 13 schools rated "excellent" or "good" where more than 90 percent of their students live in poverty. Three of those schools were in Charleston County.

The high school portion of "excellent"-rated Military Magnet Academy has 92 percent of its students in poverty. The school accepts students from across the county.

Stono Park Elementary in West Ashley is a traditional neighborhood school with 97 percent of its students in poverty, and it's rated "good."

Charleston Development Academy is a charter school made up mostly of students who live in nearby public housing; 92 percent live in poverty. The school rated "good."

"Poor kids can learn, and in South Carolina, we don't spell poor 'f-a-i-l,'" Zais said.

Statewide, 19 percent of schools improved their report card ratings, and a handful of local schools were among those to jump two levels.

In Berkeley County, Hanahan High moved from "average" to "excellent." In Charleston County, Haut Gap on Johns Island moved from "below average" to "good."

And in Dorchester 4, Woodland High moved from "at-risk" to "average."