Beating the Odds Investigative Study

Pursuant to state law, the Education Oversight Committee (EOC) has an obligation to the citizens of South Carolina to gather, analyze and report on data from a variety of sources to communicate school performance to the public.

 

In studying schools with high rates of poverty, EOC members and staff found a correlation between high poverty and low academic achievement – particularly when compared to counterparts not experiencing poverty.

 

One EOC member asked, “Where is it going well for students in poverty?” and the Beating the Odds Investigative Study (BTOIS) was born.”

Beating the Odds Investigative Study Questions

1. Of the schools in South Carolina that have high populations of student poverty and low student achievement, which are “beating the odds”?

2. What is happening in these schools to achieve academic outcomes different from other schools with high poverty rates?

3. Are there patterns across schools beating the odds? If so, what are they?

4. Can these patterns be scaled up so that all children in poverty who attend SC public schools become high academic achievers?

The Report

EOC Director of Qualitative Research Dr. Jenny May led and compiled a report of the Beating the Odds Investigative Study. The report covers the study’s methodology, findings and suggestions.

The full report can be viewed here: BTOIS 2025 Report