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District reports five-year highs in many SC Ready categories; EOC results show resequencing effects
Summary
Dr. McDonald told the board the district saw its highest SC Ready scores in five years in five of six tested grades for both ELA and math, while end-of-course (EOC) results for Algebra I and Biology reflected state-level resequencing that altered cohort composition and percent-C-or-better calculations.
District leaders presented 2025–26 assessment results and identified mixed but generally positive trends. Dr. McDonald said five of six tested grades recorded the district's highest ELA performance in five years and five of six tested grades posted gains in math; science also showed improvements in tested grades. She emphasized that growth analysis must account for state-level resequencing and cohort composition changes that affected Algebra I and Biology I cohorts this year.
"This year, for the first year in a few years, we actually have the data early enough to do some proactive pieces with our schools," Dr. McDonald said, summarizing SC Ready and other accountability data released Aug. 10 by the state. She noted Algebra I’s percent-of-students-with-C-or-better was depressed this year because the cohort tested were largely repeaters after the math sequence change; conversely, Biology I results reflected honors cohorts in the sampled group. The administration said it will continue targeted remediation, benchmark assessments, and state-supported teacher coaching to address gaps and replicate practices from high-growth classrooms.
Board members asked for follow-up visits to schools with strong gains and requested a summary of the specific instructional changes that produced the biggest growth in fifth and eighth grade math; administration agreed to schedule school visits and return with findings.
