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Superintendent: district assessment data shows gains; literacy initiatives highlighted
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Dixon and presenter Miss Crowley reported district gains in reading and other subjects, noting strong elementary ELA growth the past five years and plans for additional supports and standards-aligned materials for 2025–26.
Superintendent Dr. Dixon told the board Sept. 2 that the state data embargo had been lifted and that Berkeley County School District logged notable gains in reading, math, science and end-of-course exams.
Dr. Dixon said districtwide percentages of students not meeting grade level in reading decreased and several schools achieved 75% or more of students reading on grade level. He praised teachers, administrators, central-office staff and parents for the progress and emphasized continuing the district’s work to sustain momentum.
Miss Crowley, presenting South Carolina Ready assessment insights, outlined five-year trends showing elementary ELA growth: the transcript reports third-grade students meeting or exceeding standards rose from about 43% in 2020–21 to nearly 59% in 2024–25; grade 4 rose to roughly 61% and grade 5 to about 61% as well. Crowley said third graders reached 59% compared with the state average of 61% in 2024–25 and noted the district’s goal of 75% meeting grade level by 2030.
On math, Crowley described steady elementary gains (grade 3 from 41% in 2021 to 49% in 2025, grade 4 from 35% to 47%, grade 5 from 31% to 40%) and said middle-school math remains a focus. She reported Algebra I proficiency improved from 25% in 2021 to 39% in 2025 but remains below the state average (transcript cites the state at about 53%).
Board members asked whether early-grade gains would hold as cohorts move up and about changes to the Algebra I sequence. Crowley and Dr. Dixon said diagnostic windows had just closed and data were being analyzed; they cited exemplars and system alignment as strategies to sustain gains. The presenters also said the state changed the math sequence so Algebra I timing now differs from prior years.
Dr. Dixon and the presenters framed the results as evidence progress is possible while noting remaining gaps in some subject areas.
