The South Carolina Department of Education has released its 2025 School Report Cards, providing a detailed look at the performance of schools and districts across the state. In the tri-county area, the results show a landscape of steady progress, standout achievement, and areas needing focused improvement.
The annual evaluations assess districts on key metrics including academic achievement, graduation rates, and the readiness of students for college or careers. This year's data highlights Dorchester School District Two as a regional leader, while Charleston County schools demonstrate significant gains, particularly at the elementary level.
Key Takeaways
- Charleston County School District (CCSD): Showed steady improvement, with over 60% of its schools earning “Good” or “Excellent” ratings, surpassing the state average.
- Dorchester School District Two (DD2): Emerged as a top performer in the Lowcountry, with eight schools achieving an “Excellent” rating and a graduation rate that climbed to 91.4%.
- Berkeley County School District (BCSD): Maintained a graduation rate on par with the state but lags in college and career readiness metrics.
A Closer Look at District Performance
The state-issued report cards serve as a critical tool for parents, educators, and community stakeholders to gauge the effectiveness of local schools. The ratings are compiled from a wide range of data points, creating a holistic view of each institution's strengths and challenges.
This year’s findings for the Lowcountry are varied. While some districts celebrate clear victories in student outcomes, others face persistent challenges in preparing graduates for the next chapter of their lives, whether in higher education or the workforce.
Charleston County's Upward Trend
Charleston County School District has made notable strides, according to the 2025 report. A significant indicator of this progress is that more than 60% of its schools received either “Good” or “Excellent” ratings. This figure stands well above the state average of 49%, signaling a positive trajectory for the district.
One of the most celebrated achievements comes from Sanders-Clyde Elementary School, which earned a “Good” rating for the first time. This milestone is part of a broader pattern of improvement seen across the district's elementary schools.
What the Ratings Mean
The South Carolina School Report Cards use a five-tier rating system: Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, and Unsatisfactory. These ratings are based on a comprehensive set of indicators that measure everything from standardized test scores to the school environment and student engagement.
However, the data also points to an area of concern. The district’s college and career readiness metric, which tracks the percentage of graduating students prepared for post-secondary success, dipped slightly to 58.4%. While this is still ahead of the state average, it represents a decline from the previous year.
Dorchester Two Leads the Pack
Dorchester School District Two has distinguished itself as a leader in the region. The district celebrated having eight of its schools earn the state’s highest rating of “Excellent.” Perhaps more impressively, not a single school in the district was rated as below average or unsatisfactory.
This consistent high performance is reflected in the district's graduation rate, which saw a two-percentage-point increase to reach 91.4%. This figure is substantially higher than the statewide average of 86.7%, positioning DD2 as a benchmark for success in the state.
Graduation Rate Comparison
- Dorchester School District Two: 91.4%
- South Carolina State Average: 86.7%
- Charleston County School District: Above state average (specific % not provided)
- Berkeley County School District: 86.2%
The district's success across multiple indicators suggests a comprehensive approach that effectively supports students from their first day of school through graduation.
Berkeley County's Mixed Picture
Berkeley County School District presents a more complex picture. On a positive note, the district’s graduation rate of 86.2% is nearly identical to the state average of 86.7%. Furthermore, the dropout rate has decreased, falling from 2.5% in the previous year.
Despite this, the district faces significant challenges in preparing students for life after high school. The report card reveals that Berkeley County is approximately 10 percentage points lower than the state average in the ‘Students in the graduation cohort who are college OR career ready’ category.
This particular metric is crucial as it measures tangible outcomes, including:
- Scores on standardized tests like the ACT.
- Performance in Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
- Earning industry-recognized certifications at technical colleges.
The gap in this area indicates that while students are successfully earning their high school diplomas, a smaller portion are meeting the benchmarks that predict success in college classrooms or skilled professions.
Implications for the Tri-County Community
The 2025 report cards offer valuable insights for each community. For Charleston County, the results affirm that elementary-level interventions are yielding positive results, though maintaining momentum through high school remains a key focus.
Dorchester Two's performance provides a model of consistency and high achievement that other districts may look to emulate. The combination of high graduation rates and excellent school ratings points to a system that is succeeding on multiple fronts.
For Berkeley County, the data highlights a critical need to strengthen the bridge between high school and post-secondary opportunities. Addressing the college and career readiness gap will likely be a top priority for district leaders in the coming year.
Parents and residents can access detailed reports for individual schools through the South Carolina Department of Education's official report card website to better understand the performance of their local institutions.