Board hears quarterly update on underperforming and Elevate schools; staff cites embargoed state data and LETRS rollout

District staff delivered the quarterly update on state‑designated underperforming schools and the district's Elevate schools during the Committee of the Whole meeting, explaining that some final statewide test results remain embargoed and that current materials show benchmark‑2 projections only.

"What I'm sharing with you today are only the benchmark 2, which are the spring benchmarks," said Dr. McDavid, the presenter, emphasizing that those projections are predictive of only part of the final end‑of‑course (EOC) composite. He and other staff noted that final, unembargoed SC Ready/EOC reports will be available later, when the state reconciles and releases scores.

Staff said the district is using benchmark data and three‑year trend analysis to assess whether schools are on track. For example, presenters reported that Carolina High is projected to exceed last year's performance in multiple EOC areas and that high schools are being tracked toward a 70% graduation threshold. "We are sharing the progress of schools that scored either unsatisfactory or below average on the annual report card for 2023," Dr. McDavid said, noting required turnaround‑plan updates that were submitted in December 2023.

Board members pressed staff on several points. Members asked whether recent, large semester‑to‑semester score swings could reflect test changes, small cohorts, teacher turnover or scheduling rather than steady improvement. "Sometimes if you have a weak year, your test scores can swing," staff said, noting teacher leaves and small sample sizes can make a gain look large; staff recommended reviewing statewide, unembargoed data to place local changes in context.

The board discussed the district's rollout of LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling), a literacy professional‑learning program. Staff said LETRS had been piloted in seven schools and will be implemented across all 51 schools for grades K–3 this summer, and that it is a two‑year program ("4 units, year 1, 4 units, year 2") that may begin to show measurable impacts in future testing cycles.

A remote commenter asked whether retained staff at Lakeview would receive the $5,000 school‑level performance bonus; administration confirmed the bonus applies to faculty and staff at a school that earns the school‑level increase. The presenters also said vacancies at Alexander and Lakeview Middle have been filled and that in‑person professional development is scheduled the week of July 15.

Staff repeatedly cautioned that spring benchmark results do not yet represent the final EOC composite (which will combine fall, spring and summer administrations) and that writing scores remain embargoed until later in the summer. Board members requested the district provide specific graduation‑rate numbers and demographic information about new hires for Elevate schools; staff agreed to supply those figures in follow‑up materials.

The district plans to present full, unembargoed comparisons and the finalized EOC data during the October test‑score workshop, and staff said they will continue quarterly updates per state requirements.