Some Beaufort County schools rank worse than before the pandemic. How does yours compare?
Before the pandemic, Beaufort County schools were ahead of the state in school report card rankings, but after two years of COVID-related challenges, they’re back on par.
This is the first time since 2019 the report cards have been released. The ratings are based on school test scores, student progress, school culture and, for high schools, graduation rates.
The ratings are:
- Excellent: School performance substantially exceeds the criteria.
- Good: School performance exceeds the criteria.
- Average: School performance meets the criteria.
- Below Average: School performance is in jeopardy of not meeting the criteria.
- Unsatisfactory: School performance fails to meet the criteria.
The district has a total of 79.4% average, good or excellent school reports in 2022 compared with 88.2% in 2019.
The state has a total of 78% average, good or excellent school reports in 2022 compared with 80.6% in 2019.
“Though many of the results we see are perhaps expected following the pandemic, we are no less concerned about drops in assessment results and the widening gaps for many of our students,” State Superintendent Molly Spearman said at in a press conference Monday.
In 2022, a total of 30 reports were logged about Beaufort County schools scoring below average or unsatisfactory compared with 27 in 2019.
Declining schools
Thirteen Beaufort County school report cards declined in ratings between 2019 and 2022.
Of those report cards, four declined from average, good, or excellent to below average or unsatisfactory:
Hilton Head Island Elementary School For The Creative Arts dropped from average to below average.
St. Helena Elementary dropped from average to below average.
Beaufort Middle dropped from good to below average.
Lady’s Island Middle dropped from good to below average.
Two declined from below average to unsatisfactory:
Robert Smalls International Academy dropped from below average to unsatisfactory.
Whale Branch Elementary dropped from below average to unsatisfactory.
Seven declined within average, good or excellent:
May River High dropped from excellent to good.
Whale Branch Early College High dropped from good to average.
Riverview Charter (middle) dropped from excellent to good.
Riverview Charter (elementary) dropped from excellent to average.
Robert Smalls International Academy dropped from good to average.
Pritchardville Elementary dropped from excellent to good.
Lady’s Island Elementary dropped from good to average.
Improving schools
Eight school report cards showed improvement between 2019 and 2022.
Of those report cards, only one moved out of below average or unsatisfactory:
Broad River Elementary improved from below average to average.
Seven improved within average, good or excellent:
H.E. McCracken Middle improved from average to excellent.
River Ridge Academy Middle improved from good to excellent.
Beaufort Elementary improved from good to excellent.
Coosa Elementary improved from average to excellent.
Okatie Elementary improved from good to excellent.
Red Cedar Elementary improved from good to excellent.
Port Royal Elementary improved from average to good.
What impacted scores between schools?
When asked about the difference between schools that scored poorly and those that scored well, District Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said schools with more developed professional learning communities fared better.
Professional learning communities are groups where teachers are able to share resources and strategies among each other.
“They’re all in different stages on the way. That’s one piece that’s really important,” Rodriguez said.
The communities have been in some schools longer than others.
Regardless of the report card release, the district would have continued fostering these communities, according to Rodriquez. But, he said, schools that scored lower will receive special attention to learn teaching strategies from schools that scored well.
“[Administrators and staff] get a chance to see and observe instruction at a particular school,” Rodriguez said. “We share best practices by by bringing people to other schools to see those best practices.”
This story was originally published October 21, 2022 at 12:54 PM.
