Education in South Carolina
Time to Expect More
Our children deserve a better educational system – one that prepares them for college, careers and life. To deliver on that promise will require the support and engagement of all South Carolinians. This site was created to empower parents, stakeholders and civic/business leaders to get the facts and take action towards a brighter education future in South Carolina.




The Impact of Education
Education is at the center of everything that matters. Want your kids to support themselves? Help create and sustain a safe community? Help us build a thriving economy? It all begins with education. No investment matters more than the one we make in our future workers, leaders and entrepreneurs. Don’t believe us?

The 21st Century Student
It’s time to start thinking bigger about what’s possible for South Carolina’s students. It’s time to start setting a higher standard for what a globally competitive, 21st century student looks like. It’s time to start expecting more out of the system created to support them. Check out South Carolina’s vision below.
The Stats
South Carolina’s Rankings
But, the challenges are many and, unfortunately, South Carolina’s educational system is not meeting the needs of all students. We’re falling even further behind our peers around the country, a fact that we can’t ignore any longer. It’s time to get real about education and that starts with the cold, hard facts.
-8
Number of spots SC slipped between 2015 and 2017 on the “Nation’s Report Card”. The second largest DECLINE in the nation.
#43
SC’s 2017 ranking for 4th Grade Math on the “Nation’s Report Card”
-15
The number of spots SC has slipped between 2005 and 2017 on the “Nation’s Report Card”, falling below Mississippi.
2/3
The percentage of SC kindergartners considered “not ready” based on a 2017 Kindergarten Readiness Assessment administered to 53,927 students (64%).
Our Stories
Rankings and statistics can only do so much. Hear what others are saying about education in South Carolina. From high achieving schools succeeding despite high poverty conditions to lessons learned from states that are making improvements, these are the faces, voices and stories that are defining the state of education in South Carolina and elsewhere. What’s your story?
Our Guide to
The SC Report Card
Improving education begins with understanding the conditions, successes, and challenges of each school. The South Carolina School Report Card provides information to build that understanding. The information enables individuals and entire communities to make change happen. We’ve created everything you need to know about this new report card in a fun and intuitive guide designed to help you gain knowledge and make smart decisions.
Understanding The Indicators
The performance indicators are areas in which South Carolina schools are measured.