Lexington School District 1 Report Card: 'Excellent'

Lexington School District One was given an "Excellent" absolute rating and growth rating by the S.C. Department of Education on its 2012 report card.

“We are pleased that our district hasearned an "Excellent" achievement rating on the state report card for the third year in a row," Superintendent Karen Woodward said. "Of special significance is the ‘Excellent’ growth rating for growth in achievement."

Absolute ratings are based on a set of test scores and cover the most recently completed school year. For high schools, those tests include End-of-Course exams, the High School Assessment Program (HSAP) exams and graduation rates.

Growth ratings make a comparison of test scores from the recent school year to previous years. This rating shows a “trend” through the years and is a secondary measurement for schools and districts.

Five Lexington One schools improved their absolute rating, 18 maintained their absolute rating, three schools declined one level and one new school was rated for the first time.

“I am proud of our team of teachers, students, parents and administrators who worked together to achieve this success," Woodward said. "We are all working hard to prepare 21st century graduates as we focus on increasing our students’ critical thinking skills and our expectations.”

South Carolina had 629 schools with an absolute rating of Excellent or Good in 2012, up from 529 in 2011, for a 19 percent increase, according to a press release from the S.C. Department of Education. The state had 42 school districts with an absolute rating of Excellent or Good in 2012, up from 33 in 2011.

Neil C. Robinson, Jr., Chairman of the Education Oversight Committee, said “teachers, students, principals, school board members, parents, legislators and community leaders should be commended for the results on the 2012 state report cards.”  

Robinson said there are still challenges to be battled and improvements to be made. Among them:

1. Seven in 10 children attending public schools in SC are eligible for the free/reduced price lunch and/or Medicaid programs. Of the 61 school districts with a poverty index above 70 percent, 21 had an absolute rating of Excellent or Good. "This performance is evidence that high academic standards, quality teaching, parental involvement, and community support can mitigate  the negative impact of poverty on students and their successes."

2. There are eight school districts rated At Risk, down from nine in 2011. Thirty schools with an absolute rating of At Risk in 2009 are still rated At Risk in 2012. Nine percent of students in South Carolina attended a school with a rating of at-risk or below average. “We must put our energy into putting an end to persistent underperformance in these schools. The percentage has to come down," Robinson said.

3. Businesses need better-qualified and -educated students, Robinson said. One in four children still do not graduate from high school. And one in five children is not reading on grade level in 3rd grade.

See above or click here to see how Lexington School District 1 schools did in 2012.