On September 2, 2025, the South Carolina Department of Education released the 2024-2025 school year performance results. Despite a higher pupil-in-poverty rate (64.6%) compared to the state average (61.4%), the School District of Pickens County (SDPC) outperformed state benchmarks in nearly all tested areas, showing remarkable year-over-year growth. These results highlight SDPC’s commitment to academic excellence, preparing students for college, careers, and beyond while delivering exceptional value to the community.
Highlights
SC READY English Language Arts (ELA): SDPC surpassed state averages in grades 3–8, with every grade and school improving from 2024.
SC READY Math: District-wide proficiency increased from 2024, with gains up to 10.0 percentage points above the state.
SC READY Science: SDPC outperformed the state in 4th and 6th grades, with proficiency rates 5.6 and 12.6 percentage points higher, respectively.
End-of-Course Exams (EOCOP): SDPC students excelled in Algebra 1 and English 2, with Dacusville Middle School achieving 100% proficiency in Algebra 1. Proficiency rates rose in Algebra 1, English 2, and U.S. History, with every high school improving in U.S. History.
Career Readiness: 79.5% of SDPC students earned a career-ready credential (Levels 2–5), compared to 69% statewide, reinforcing SDPC’s leadership in workforce preparation.
SC READY Assessments
The South Carolina College-and-Career Ready Assessments (SC READY) evaluate students in grades 3–8 on English Language Arts (ELA), Math, and Science. Students are rated as “Achievement levels are reported as 'Exceeds Standard,' 'Meets Standard,' 'Approaches Standard,' or 'Does Not Meet Standard.’
The data for the School District of Pickens County (SDPC) shows very positive results, particularly in these areas:
SC READY ELA: SDPC exceeded the state average in every grade 3–8, with increases in nearly every grade and every school from 2024 to 2025.
The percentage of SDPC students scoring at the highest performance levels (Meets or Exceeds Standard) in ELA ranged between 0.8 and 7.2 percentage points higher than the state.
SC READY Math: The district’s overall math proficiency rate rose compared to 2024.
The percentage of SDPC students scoring at the highest performance levels (Meets or Exceeds Standard) in Math ranged from -0.4 to 10.0 percentage points higher than the state.
SC READY Science: SDPC outperformed the state average in both tested grades (4th and 6th).
The percentage of SDPC students scoring at the highest performance levels (Meets or Exceeds Standard) in Science was 5.6 percentage points higher than the state for grade 4 and 12.6 percentage points higher than the state for grade 6.
End-of-Course Exams (EOCEP)
The End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP) tests high school students in Algebra 1, Biology 1, English 2, and U.S. History and Constitution. Results are used in the calculation of state accountability ratings for high schools. To meet federal accountability requirements, all public high school students must be administered End-of-Course tests by the third year of high school, including students with disabilities. SDPC’s 2025 achievements include:
SDPC students scored above state averages in English 2 and Algebra 1.
Proficiency rates increased in Algebra 1, English 2, and U.S. History compared to 2024.
Every high school improved in U.S. History.
Dacusville Middle School achieved a 100% proficiency rate in Algebra 1.
SDPC South Carolina Career Readiness Assessment Scores
The South Carolina Career Ready Test is a career readiness assessment designed to measure essential workforce skills in four areas: Math Assessment, Data Assessment, Reading Assessment, and Soft Skill Assessment. Students earn four levels of achievement depending on their score on the test: Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, and Level 5.
79.5 percent of SDPC students taking the assessment earned a career-ready designation (Levels 2-5), compared to 69% statewide. These results show SDPC’s continued ranking among the state’s strongest districts in workforce readiness.
South Carolina Career Readiness Credentials Among SDPC Students:
Level 2: 18.0%
Level 3: 19.9%
Level 4: 40.2%
Level 5: 1.4%
Outstanding Progress: Significant Growth Since 2021
In addition to outperforming state averages in 2025, SDPC students have demonstrated remarkable recovery and growth since the COVID-19 pandemic. Several tested areas have shown double-digit gains of more than 15 percentage points from 2021 to 2025:
SC READY – English Language Arts
Grade 3 ELA: +20.1 points (43.3% → 63.4%)
Grade 4 ELA: +24.6 points (46.1% → 70.7%)
Grade 5 ELA: +28.5 points (38.9% → 67.4%)
Grade 7 ELA: +20.0 points (42.5% → 62.5%)
SC READY – Mathematics
Grade 4 Math: +21.7 points (42.0% → 63.7%)
Grade 5 Math: +15.0 points (38.1% → 53.1%)
End-of-Course Exams
Algebra 1: +21.9 points (31.6% in 2021 → 53.5% in 2025)
These results reflect the dedication of teachers, students, and families in overcoming challenges post-2020. The growth demonstrates how SDPC’s focus on strong instruction, targeted support, and community partnerships has led to a powerful rebound in student achievement.
A High Return on Investment
In addition to strong academic performance, SDPC operates with one of the lowest millage rates in the state of South Carolina (as of June 2025, we were the 2nd lowest among all districts). These results underscore the high return on investment the community receives through the district’s commitment to efficiency, excellence, and student success.
"We are incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication shown by our students, teachers, and staff across every school in the district. This year, every school demonstrated improvement in ELA, and we saw gains in math, science, and End-of-Course exams that reflect both the effectiveness of our instructional strategies and the perseverance of our students. What excites me most is that this growth is not limited to one school or grade level—it’s consistent across the district,” said Associate Superintendent for Academic Services, Dr. Shannon Sharkey.
“Our students’ performance on the SC READY, EOC, WIN, and Career Ready assessments speaks volumes about the quality of education happening every day in Pickens County. These results reflect not only the tireless effort of students and staff but also the strong support of families and the broader community,” said School District of Pickens County Superintendent Dr. Danny Merck. “The School District of Pickens County is delivering exceptional value and preparing students for higher education, careers, and beyond. Our commitment remains to build on this success, address challenges head-on, and ensure that every student benefits from the high-quality education our community expects and deserves.”
To view all the results, visit the state’s Department of Education website (SC Ready , EOC, Career Ready).