61 GCS Schools Rated Excellent or Good on State Report Cards

GCS graduation rate climbs to 86.1% - up 13.7 points since 2012

A total of 38 public schools in Greenville County scored excellent on the South Carolina Department of Education (SDE) annual school report cards released today. In all, 94% of Greenville County Schools’ elementary, middle, and high schools were rated Excellent, Good, or Average. Additionally, the district’s high school graduation rate increased to 86.1%, a surge of 13.7 points since Superintendent Burke Royster took over the helm in 2012.

The purpose of the annual state report card is to inform and report to parents and the community the performance of entire districts as well as primary, elementary, middle, and high schools.

As with so many other things, the report cards look a little different this year, due to COVID-19.  On March 27, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education approved the South Carolina Department of Education’s request to waive statewide assessment, accountability, and reporting requirements of in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) for the 2019-2020 school year due to widespread school closures. Subsequently, on April 20, 2020, the Education Oversight Committee (EOC) approved the suspension of overall and indicator ratings for the 2019-2020 school year.

The annual state report card rates Academic Achievement, Preparing for Success, English Learner’s Progress, Student Progress, and School Quality for elementary, middle, and high schools. Graduation Rate and College and Career Readiness are additional rated indicators for high schools. High schools are not rated on Student Progress, while Child Development Centers and Career Centers do not receive ratings at all.

Due to annual report card and performance ratings being suspended for one (1) year, Greenville County Schools will retain its school level ratings for the 2020-2021 school year.

*Sterling School received 2 Excellent scores, one each for Elementary and Middle School Programs; This total does not include Langston Charter School, which is also received an Excellent Report Card. Langston is chartered through GCS but has separate governance.

The 2020 state report card shares Graduation Rate and College & Career Readiness data without ratings. Pertinent College and Career Readiness data will be reported as data becomes available to the State. Of 14 GCS high schools, 10 achieved a higher graduation rate than the State, with Riverside, Mauldin, Woodmont, and Wade Hampton High Schools all graduating more than 90% of the students who entered 9th grade four years earlier.

Greenville County Schools vs State of South Carolina - Graduation Rate

Greenville County Schools 2020 Graduation Rate by High School