Exciting Report Card Results Reveal Progress in Laurens County Schools

Exciting Report Card Results for Laurens County Schools!

Hey there, Laurens! If you’ve been curious about how our local schools are doing, you’re in for some good news. Last week, the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) and the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee (EOC) dropped their 2023-2024 School Report Card Data. And let’s just say, there are some bright spots! So, pull up a chair and let’s dive into the details.

Highlighting Student Growth and School Climate

These school report cards provide a snapshot of several important factors like student growth, teacher qualifications, school climate, student safety, and of course, test performance. For Laurens County School District 55 (LCSD 55), the results show a positive trend. A total of eight schools earned ratings of average or good concerning student progress, while six schools received an overall average or good rating.

One standout in our district is Waterloo Elementary School (WES), which boasts a good overall rating! It’s not just about the overall scores; WES also shines with a good academic achievement rating. Although their school climate rating is average, it’s great to see schools striving for improvement.

Working Towards Excellence

Did you know that nine of our schools are just a hair away—between two to five points— from hitting the next higher rating? That’s right! The district is dedicated to providing support to ensure that each school sets realistic goals and follows through on action plans to enhance its performance.

This academic year, Amanda Lecaroz, our Director of Accountability, Federal Programs, and Professional Learning, has been on the ground collaborating with schools. Together, they’re diving deep into data and creating Turnaround Plans or School Improvement Plans, showing how serious our district is about turning things around for the better.

Positive Changes at Laurens Schools

Notably, both Laurens Elementary School (LES) and Laurens District 55 High School (LDHS) have made fantastic strides with their Turnaround Plans. For example, LES moved up from an overall unsatisfactory rating to an average rating this year! That’s a big leap in the right direction.

Moreover, LDHS is making waves as well! All students who took the High School Civic Exam passed it. That’s right, 100% of students enrolled in a US Government course scored at or above the required passing score on the civic test. Impressive, right?

Graduation Rates and Student Success

But wait, there’s more! The LDHS Report Card highlights some remarkable numbers. The percentage of students in the graduating class who completed college applications has jumped up to 82.3%, which is a whopping increase of 44.1% from last year. And let’s not overlook the overall graduation rate, which stands at 82.6%—just shy of the statewide graduation rate of 85.4%.

Even the Five-Year Student Success Rate (5YSSR) at LDHS increased to 82.1%, getting closer to the state average of 85%. They are not just meeting expectations but exceeding many of their state goal targets!

Looking Ahead

In the words of our district’s Superintendent, Dr. Jody Penland: “As we strive to provide a 5-star educational system, our focus will be to grow our areas of weakness and expand on our areas of excellence.” It’s a refreshing reminder that we have much to be proud of, but there’s still room for growth across all our schools.

So, kudos to all the students, teachers, and staff at LCSD 55 for their hard work and dedication! The journey of learning, growing, and improving is ongoing, but it’s heartening to see everyone on board working together for a brighter educational future.