Public education in South Carolina

in  South Carolina

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K-12 education in South Carolina

Education facts
State superintendent:
Molly Mitchell Spearman
Number of students:
735,998
Number of teachers:
48,072
Teacher/pupil ratio:
1:15
Number of school districts:

Number of schools:
1,239
Graduation rate:
77.6%
Per-pupil spending:
$9,514
See also
South Carolina Department of Education • List of school districts in South Carolina • South Carolina • School boards portal

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Public education in the United States
Public education in South Carolina
Glossary of education terms
Note: The statistics on this page are mainly from government sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics. Figures given are the most recent as of June 2015, with school years noted in the text or footnotes.

## Contents

* 1 Common Core
* 2 General information
* 2.1 Schools by type
* 3 Demographics
* 3.1 Enrollments by region type
* 4 Academic performance
* 4.1 NAEP scores
* 4.2 Graduation, ACT and SAT scores
* 4.3 Dropout rate
* 5 Educational choice options
* 5.1 Developments
* 5.1.1 Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue (2020)
* 6 Education funding and expenditures
* 6.1 Revenue breakdowns
* 6.2 Expenditure breakdowns
* 6.3 Personnel salaries
* 7 Organizations
* 7.1 State agencies
* 7.2 Unions
* 8 Taxpayer-funded lobbying
* 9 Transparency
* 10 Studies and reports
* 10.1 Quality Counts 2014
* 10.2 State Budget Solutions education study
* 11 School districts
* 11.1 District types
* 11.2 School board composition
* 11.2.1 Term limits
* 11.3 Elections
* 11.3.1 Path to the ballot
* 11.3.2 Campaign finance
* 12 Recent legislation
* 13 Education ballot measures
* 14 In the news
* 15 See also
* 16 External links
* 17 Footnotes

The South Carolina public school system (prekindergarten through grade 12) operates within districts governed by locally elected school boards and superintendents. In 2013 South Carolina had 735,998 students enrolled in a total of 1,239 schools in 103 school districts. There were 48,072 teachers in the public schools, or roughly one teacher for every 15 students, compared to the national average of 1:16. There was roughly one administrator for every 274 students, compared to the national average of one administrator for every 295 students. On average South Carolina spent $9,514 per pupil in 2013, which ranked it 33rd highest in the nation. The state's graduation rate was 77.6 percent in 2013.[1][2][3]

HIGHLIGHTS

* Compared to its neighboring states, in the 2012-2013 school year, South Carolina had the lowest overall education expenditures but the highest spending per pupil. The state had graduation rates, ACT and SAT scores that were slightly below the national average during that year.

### Common Core[edit]

Common Core, or the Common Core State Standards Initiative, is an American education initiative that outlines quantifiable benchmarks in English and mathematics at each grade level from kindergarten through high school. The South Carolina Department of Education initially adopted the standards on July 14, 2010. Full implementation took place during the 2013-2014 academic year.[4][5]

On May 30, 2014, Governor Nikki Haley (R) signed legislation that removed South Carolina from Common Core. Common Core standards for mathematics and English remained in place for the 2014-2015 academic year, but new standards were to be written and implemented for the 2015-2016 academic year. Some argued, however, that the substance of the new state-drafted standards would differ little from the Common Core standards. State Senator Brad Hutto (D) said, "The spin is that we did away with, abolished, Common Core. We didn't do anything this year other than move up in time the cyclical review, probably to the detriment of the review."[6][7]

The South Carolina State Board of Education approved new state standards in March 2015. This action officially repealed the Common Core standards in the state.[8]

## General information[edit]

See also: General comparison table for education statistics in the 50 states and Education spending per pupil in all 50 states

The following chart shows how South Carolina compared to three neighboring states with respect to the number of students, schools, teachers per pupil and administrators per pupil for the 2012-2013 school year. The chart also displays that information at the national level. Compared to its neighboring states, South Carolina had the most administrators relative to students, with a ratio of 1:274.

Further comparisons between these states with respect to performance and financial information are given in other sections of this page.

Regional comparison, 2012-2013

State | Schools | Districts | Students | Teachers | Teacher to pupil ratio | Admin. to pupil ratio | Per pupil spending*
South Carolina |  1,239  |  103  |  735,998  |  48,072  |  1:15.3  |  1:273.8 |  $9,514
Georgia |  2,387  |  218  |  1,703,332  |  109,365  |  1:15.6  |  1:280  |  $9,099
North Carolina |  2,557  |  244  |  1,518,465  |  98,590  |  1:15.4  |  1:282.8  |  $8,390
Tennessee |  1,817  |  141  |  993,496  |  66,406  |  1:15  |  1:284.3  |  $8,208
United States | 98,454 | 18,093 | 49,771,118 | 3,109,101 | 1:16 | 1:294.1 | $10,700
*Per pupil spending data reflects information reported for fiscal year 2013.
Sources: National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 2 - Number of operating public schools and districts, state enrollment, teacher, and pupil teacher ratio, by state: School year 2012–13"
United States Census Bureau, "Public Education Finances: 2013 (Table 20)"

Note: In comparing dollar amounts across the states, it is important to note that the cost of living can from state to state and within a state. The amounts given on this page have not been adjusted to reflect these differences. For more information on "regional price disparities" and the Consumer Price Index, see the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.

### Schools by type[edit]

Education policy on Ballotpedia

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Education policy in the U.S.

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Public education in the U.S.

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Higher education by state

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School choice in the U.S.

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Education statistics

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State information
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School board elections portal
Glossary of education terms
School choice on the ballot
Education on the ballot

See also: Number of schools by school type in the United States

Of the 98,454 schools in the United States, 89,031 were classified as regular schools. After regular schools, magnet schools and charter schools were the most prevalent non-traditional schools in the country, at 6,079 and 5,986, respectively.

The table below breaks down each of the different types of schools in South Carolina and nearby states. Also listed are the numbers of schools in each state that are classified as "Title I" schools. These are public schools that have been specially targeted to correct achievement gaps in public schools.[9]

In South Carolina, there were 1,166 regular schools as of 2013. Magnet schools were the second most prevalent type of school in the state, with 100 schools classified as such.

Number of schools by type, 2012-2013

State  |  Total schools  |  Regular  |  Special education  |  Vocational  |  Alternative  |  Charter  |  Magnet  |  Title I
South Carolina |  1,239  |  1,166 |  10  |  42  |  21  |  55  |  100 |  1,054
Georgia |  2,387  |  2,253  |  59  |  1  |  74  |  93  |  86  |  1,575
North Carolina |  2,557  |  2,444  |  25  |  7  |  81  |  108  |  106  |  2,120
Tennessee |  1,817  |  1,764  |  16  |  16  |  21  |  51  |  132  |  1,504
United States |  98,454 | 89,031 | 2,034 | 1,403 | 5,986 | 6,079 | 3,151 | 68,140
† Not applicable. Some states/jurisdictions do not have charter school authorization and some states/jurisdictions do not designate magnet schools.
‡ Reporting standards were not met due to data that were missing for more than 20 percent of schools in the state or jurisdiction.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD), "Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey," SY 2012–13 Provisional Version 1a

## Demographics[edit]

See also: Demographic information for all students in all 50 states

The following table displays the ethnic distribution of students in South Carolina as reported in the National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data for 2012-2013.[10]

During the 2012-2013 school year, just over half of all students in K-12 public schools nationwide were white. About a quarter of the students in the country were Hispanic, with black students making up about 16 percent of the student population.

In South Carolina, the majority of students were white. White students totaled 389,179, which was about 52.9 percent of the student population in the state. There were 260,336 black students in the state, accounting for about 35.4 percent of the population.

Public education enrollment by race/ethnicity, 2012-2013

State  |  Pop. category  |  Am. Indian
/Alaska Nat.  |  Asian  |  Black  |  Hawaiian
/Pac. Islander  |  Hispanic  |  White  |  Two or more races
South Carolina |  Number  |  2,268  |  10,170  |  260,336  |  864  |  51,859  |  389,179 |  21,322
Percentage  |  0.31%  |  1.38%  |  35.37%  |  0.12%  |  7.05%  |  52.88% |  2.9%
Georgia |  Number  |  3,576  |  59,067  |  628,849  |  1,869  |  217,122  |  740,789  |  52,060
Percentage  |  0.21%  |  3.47%  |  36.92%  |  0.11%  |  12.75%  |  43.49%  |  3.06%
North Carolina |  Number  |  21,219  |  39,929  |  397,779  |  1,382  |  215,472  |  787,559  |  55,125
Percentage  |  1.4%  |  2.63%  |  26.2%  |  0.09%  |  14.19%  |  51.87%  |  3.63%
Tennessee |  Number  |  1,890  |  17,024  |  228,812  |  992  |  72,204  |  658,568  |  14,006
Percentage  |  0.19%  |  1.71%  |  23.03%  |  0.1%  |  7.27%  |  66.29%  |  1.41%
United States |  Number  | 533,098 | 2,363,484 | 7,798,560 | 179,935 | 12,064,310 | 25,366,857 | 1,390,514
Percentage**  | 1.07% | 4.76% | 15.69% | 0.36% | 24.28% | 51.04% | 2.80%
**Note: This is the percentage of all students in the United States that are reported to be of this ethnicity.
Source: United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Common Core of Data (CCD), State Nonfiscal Public Elementary/Secondary Education Survey, 2012-2013"

### Enrollments by region type[edit]

See also: Student distribution by region type in the United States

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 30 percent of all public school students in the country attended city schools during the 2012-2013 school year. About 40 percent attended suburban schools. Approximately 11.5 percent of all students attended schools in towns while about 18.7 percent attended rural schools.[11]

A plurality of students in South Carolina attended suburban schools during the 2012-2013 school year. Approximately 54.5 percent of the state's students attended city or suburban schools, compared to the approximately 45.5 percent who attended rural or town schools.

Student distribution by region type, 2012-2013 (as percents)

State  |  City schools  |  Suburban schools  |  Town schools  |  Rural schools
South Carolina |  19.2%  |  35.3%  |  12.4%  |  33.1%
Georgia |  15.7%  |  45.9%  |  11.5%  |  26.9%
North Carolina |  27.9%  |  23.9%  |  10.8%  |  37.4%
Tennessee |  31.7%  |  20.9%  |  17.1%  |  30.3%
U.S. averages |  30% | 39.8% | 11.5% | 18.7%
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD), "Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey, SY 2012–13 Provisional Version 1a"

## Academic performance[edit]

Education terms

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For more information on education policy terms, see this article.

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School board elections portal
Glossary of education terms
School choice on the ballot
Education on the ballot

### NAEP scores[edit]

See also: NAEP scores by state

The National Center for Education Statistics provides state-by-state data on student achievement levels in mathematics and reading in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The table below presents the percentage of fourth and eighth grade students that scored at or above proficient in reading and math during school year 2012-2013. Compared to three neighboring states (Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee), South Carolina had the smallest share of fourth grade students who scored at or above proficient in both math and reading.[12]

Percent of students scoring at or above proficient, 2012-2013

| Math - Grade 4 | Math - Grade 8 | Reading - Grade 4 | Reading - Grade 8
South Carolina | 35% | 31% | 28% | 29%
Georgia | 39% | 29% | 34% | 32%
North Carolina | 45% | 36% | 35% | 33%
Tennessee | 40% | 28% | 34% | 33%
United States |  41% | 34% | 34% | 34%
Source: United States Department of Education, ED Data Express, "State Tables"

### Graduation, ACT and SAT scores[edit]

See also: Graduation rates by groups in state and ACT and SAT scores in the United States

The following table shows the graduation rates and average composite ACT and SAT scores for South Carolina and surrounding states during the 2012-2013 school year. All statements made in this section refer to that school year.[12][13][14]

In the United States, public schools reported graduation rates that averaged to about 81.4 percent. About 54 percent of all students in the country took the ACT while 50 percent reported taking the SAT. The average national composite scores for those tests were 20.9 out of a possible 36 for the ACT, and 1498 out of a possible 2400 for the SAT.[15]

South Carolina schools reported a graduation rate of 77.6 percent, second lowest among its neighboring states.

In South Carolina, more students took the SAT than the ACT, earning an average SAT score of 1436.

Comparison table for graduation rates and test scores, 2012-2013

State  |  Graduation rate, 2013  |  Average ACT composite, 2013  |  Average SAT composite, 2013
Percent  |  Quintile ranking**  |  Score  |  Participation rate  |  Score  |  Participation rate
South Carolina |  77.6% |  Fourth  |  20.4  |  51%  |  1436 |  64%
Georgia |  71.7%  |  Fifth  |  20.7  |  51%  |  1452  |  75%
North Carolina |  82.5%  |  Third  |  18.7  |  100%  |  1479  |  62%
Tennessee |  86.3%  |  Second  |  19.5  |  100%  |  1709  |  8%
United States |  81.4% | 20.9 | 54% | 1498 | 50%
**Graduation rates for states in the first quintile ranked in the top 20 percent nationally. Similarly, graduation rates for states in the fifth quintile ranked in the bottom 20 percent nationally.
Sources: United States Department of Education, "ED Data Express"
ACT.org, "2013 ACT National and State Scores"
The Commonwealth Foundation, "SAT scores by state, 2013"

### Dropout rate[edit]

See also: Public high school dropout rates by state for a full comparison of dropout rates by group in all states

The high school event dropout rate indicates the proportion of students who were enrolled at some time during the school year and were expected to be enrolled in grades nine through 12 in the following school year but were not enrolled by October 1 of the following school year. Students who have graduated, transferred to another school, died, moved to another country, or who are out of school due to illness are not considered dropouts. The average public high school event dropout rate for the United States remained constant at 3.3 percent for both school year 2010–2011 and school year 2011–2012. The event dropout rate for South Carolina was lower than the national average at 2.8 percent in the 2010-2011 school year, and 2.5 percent in the 2011-2012 school year.[16]

## Educational choice options[edit]

See also: School choice in South Carolina

As of June 2015, school choice options in South Carolina included charter schools, a tax incentive program, inter-district open enrollment policies and online learning programs. In addition, about 7.46 percent of school-age children in the state attended private schools in the 2011-2012 academic year, and an estimated 2.67 percent were homeschooled in 2012-2013.

### Developments[edit]

#### Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue (2020)[edit]

Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue

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Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
Media coverage and commentary
U.S. Supreme Court 2019-2020 term

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Blaine Amendment (U.S. Constitution)
Blaine amendments in state constitutions

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School choice on the ballot
Education on the ballot

See also: Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue

On June 30, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, which concerned whether the government can exclude religious institutions from student-aid programs. The case related to Article X, Section 6 of the Montana Constitution, also known as Montana’s Blaine Amendment.[17]

In its 5-4 opinion, the court held that the application of Article X, Section 6 violated the free exercise clause of the U.S. Constitution. The majority held Article X, Section 6 barred religious schools and parents who wished to send their children to those schools from receiving public benefits because of the religious character of the school.[18]

The case addressed the tension between the free exercise and Establishment clauses of the U.S. Constitution--where one guarantees the right of individuals' free exercise of religion and the other guarantees that the state won't establish a religion--and the intersections of state constitutions with state law and with the U.S. Constitution.

South Carolina is one of the states with a Blaine Amendment.

## Education funding and expenditures[edit]

See also: South Carolina state budget and finances

Breakdown of expenditures by function in fiscal year 2013
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

According to the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO), states spent an average of 19.8 percent of their total budgets on elementary and secondary education during fiscal year 2013. In addition, the United States Census Bureau found that approximately 45.6 percent of the country's school system revenue came from state sources while about 45.3 percent came from local sources. The remaining portion of school system revenue came from federal sources.[19][20]

South Carolina spent approximately 17.6 percent of its budget on elementary and secondary education during fiscal year 2013. School system revenue came primarily from state funds. South Carolina spent a smaller percentage of its total budget on public education than any of its neighboring states.

Comparison of financial figures for school systems, fiscal year 2013

State | Percentage of budget | Per pupil spending | Revenue sources
Percent federal funds |  Percent state funds |  Percent local funds
South Carolina |  17.6% |  $9,514  |  9.9%  |  46.3% |  43.8%
Georgia |  24.1%  |  $9,099  |  10.3%  |  43.4%  |  46.2%
North Carolina |  24.8%  |  $8,390  |  12.4%  |  62%  |  25.6%
Tennessee |  17.8%  |  $8,208  |  13.1%  |  46.1%  |  40.8%
United States |  19.8% | $10,700 | 9.1% | 45.6% | 45.3%
Sources: NASBO, "State Expenditure Report" (Table 8).
U.S. Census Bureau, "Public Education Finances: 2013, Economic Reimbursable Surveys Division Reports" (Table 5 and Table 8).

### Revenue breakdowns[edit]

See also: Public school system revenues in the United States

According to the United States Census Bureau, public school system revenues totaled approximately $598 billion in fiscal year 2013.[20]

In South Carolina, the primary source of school system revenue was state funding during fiscal year 2013, at $3.8 billion. South Carolina reported the lowest total public education revenue when compared to its neighboring states.

Revenues by source, fiscal year 2013 (amounts in thousands)

State | Federal revenue | State revenue | Local revenue | Total revenue
South Carolina |  $814,137  |  $3,819,285 |  $3,608,526  |  $8,241,948
Georgia |  $1,805,878  |  $7,577,585  |  $8,065,837  |  $17,449,300
North Carolina |  $1,579,889  |  $7,891,977  |  $3,257,536  |  $12,729,402
Tennessee |  $1,165,801  |  $4,097,627  |  $3,622,027  |  $8,885,455
United States |  $54,367,305 | $272,916,892 | $270,645,402 | $597,929,599
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "Public Education Finances: 2013, Economic Reimbursable Surveys Division Reports" (Table 1)

### Expenditure breakdowns[edit]

See also: Public school system expenditures in the United States

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, public school system expenditures totaled approximately $602 billion in fiscal year 2012.[21]

Public education expenditures in South Carolina totaled approximately $8 billion in fiscal year 2012. South Carolina reported the lowest total public education expenditures when compared to its neighboring states.

Expenditures by type, fiscal year 2012 (amounts in thousands)

State | General expenditures | Capital outlay | Other | Total expenditures
South Carolina |  $6,600,733  |  $889,985  |  $465,351  |  $7,956,070
Georgia |  $15,623,633  |  $1,566,186  |  $275,277  |  $17,465,095
North Carolina |  $12,303,426  |  $683,545  |  $73,186  |  $13,060,157
Tennessee |  $8,351,056  |  $664,129  |  $280,056  |  $9,295,241
United States | $527,096,473 | $48,773,386 | $25,897,123 | $601,766,981
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, "Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year 2011–12 (Fiscal Year 2012)" (Table 5)

### Personnel salaries[edit]

See also: Public school teacher salaries in the United States

Note: Salaries given are averages for the state. Salaries may vary between a state's urban, suburban, and rural districts and should be adjusted for cost of living. For example, a MacIver Institute study of average teacher salaries in 60 metropolitan areas found that salaries in New York City were the third-highest in absolute figures but 59th-highest when adjusted for the cost of living.[22]

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average national salary for classroom teachers in public elementary and secondary schools declined by 1.3 percent from the 1999-2000 school year to the 2012-2013 school year. During the same period in South Carolina, the average salary decreased by 2.8 percent.[23]

Estimated average salaries for teachers (in constant dollars**)

| 1999-2000 | 2009-2010 | 2011-2012 | 2012-2013 | Percent difference
South Carolina | $49,308  | $50,712  | $48,217  | $47,924  |  -2.8%
Georgia | $56,062  | $56,694  | $53,819  | $52,880  | -5.7%
North Carolina | $53,849  | $50,010  | $46,712  | $45,947  | -14.7%
Tennessee | $49,645  | $49,412  | $47,866  | $48,289  | -2.7%
United States | $57,133 | $58,925 | $56,340 | $56,383 | -1.3%
**"Constant dollars based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, adjusted to a school-year basis. The CPI does not account for differences in inflation rates from state to state."

## Organizations[edit]

### State agencies[edit]

See also: South Carolina Department of Education

The mission statement of the South Carolina Department of Education reads:[24]

“  | Our mission is to ensure that every student in South Carolina receives an education that meets their individual needs while also preparing them to be contributing members of society. We work closely with students, parents, teachers, staff, school districts, government officials, and the media to facilitate the best possible education for South Carolina's students.[25] |  ”

|
|

The Superintendent of Education is responsible generally for the administration of the Department of Education.[26] The Superintendent of Education is elected to a four-year term. Molly Mitchell Spearman was first elected to the office in 2014.[27]

The South Carolina State Board of Education is the governing body for public elementary and secondary education in the state. The board is composed of 17 members: 16 are appointed from each of the state's judicial circuits by their respective legislative delegations and one is appointed directly by the governor. Members serve four-year terms.[28]

### Unions[edit]

In 2012 the Fordham Institute and Education Reform Now assessed the power and influence of state teacher unions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Their rankings were based on 37 different variables in five broad areas, including resources and membership, involvement in politics, scope of bargaining, state policies and perceived influence. South Carolina ranked 49th overall for union power and influence, or "weakest," which was in the fifth of five tiers.[29]

The main union related to the South Carolina school system is the South Carolina Education Association (SCEA), an affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA).[30]

List of local South Carolina school unions:[31]

* South Carolina Education Association
* Greenville County Education Association

## Taxpayer-funded lobbying[edit]

See also: South Carolina government sector lobbying

The main education government sector lobbying organization is the South Carolina School Boards Association.

The South Carolina House of Representatives rejected a proposal in March 2010 that would have prohibited school districts from using taxpayer money to fund government sector lobbying associations. Representative Boyd Brown introduced the budget amendment, which would have eliminated government sector lobbying and prohibited the use of tax dollars for dues at any "organization which employs a lobbyist." The bill failed on March 18, 2010, by one vote.[32]

According to reports, public universities in the state had spent more than $1.5 million on lobbying as of September 2010.[33][34]

## Transparency[edit]

"South Carolina Spending Transparency" is the transparency website sponsored by the state. It discloses information about South Carolina's spending and is managed by the Comptroller General. On August 30, 2007, then-Governor Mark Sanford signed South Carolina Executive Order 2007-14, which mandated the creation of the website.

## Studies and reports[edit]

### Quality Counts 2014[edit]

See also: Education Week survey

Education Week, a publication that reports on many education issues throughout the country, began using an evaluation system in 1997 to grade each state on various elements of education performance. This system, called Quality Counts, uses official data on performance from each state to generate report cards for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report card in 2014 uses six different categories:

1. Chance for success
2. K-12 achievement
3. Standards, assessments and accountability
4. The teaching profession
5. School finance
6. Transitions and alignment

Each of these six categories had a number of other elements that received individual scores. Those scores were then averaged and used to determine the final score in each category. Every state received two types of scores for each of the six major categories: A numerical score out of 100 and a letter grade based on that score. Education Week used the score for the first category, "chance for success," as the value for ranking each state and the District of Columbia. The average grade received in the entire country was 77.3, or a C+ average. The country's highest average score was in the category of "standards, assessments and accountability" at 85.3, or a B average, The lowest average score was in "K-12 achievement", at 70.2, or a C- average.

South Carolina received a score of 72.6, or a C average in the "chance for success" category. This was below the national average. The state's highest score was in "standards, assessments and accountability" at 94.4, or an A average. The lowest score was in "K-12 achievement" at 62.6, or a D average. South Carolina had the highest score in the "standards, assessments and accountability" category when compared to neighboring states. The chart below displays the scores of South Carolina and its surrounding states.[35]

Note: Click on a column heading to sort the data.

Public education report cards, 2014

State | Chance for success | K-12 achievement | Standards, assessments and accountability | The teaching profession | School finance | Transitions and alignment
South Carolina | 72.6 (C) | 62.6 (D) | 94.4 (A) | 89.0 (B+) | 68.7 (D+) | 71.4 (C-)
Georgia | 73.9 (C) | 70.7 (C-) | 91.1 (A-) | 79.8 (B-) | 71.6 (C-) | 100.0 (A)
North Carolina | 75.7 (C) | 69.8 (C-) | 92.8 (A) | 77.8 (C+) | 67.0 (D+) | 85.7 (B)
Tennessee | 73.9 (C) | 68.8 (D+) | 90.0 (A-) | 80.3 (B-) | 64.5 (D) | 92.9 (A)
United States | 77.3 (C+) | 70.2 (C-) | 85.3 (B) | 72.5 (C) | 75.5 (C) | 81.1 (B-)
Source: Education Week, "Quality Counts 2014"

A full discussion of how these numbers were generated can be found here.

### State Budget Solutions education study[edit]

See also: State spending on education v. academic performance (2012)

State Budget Solutions examined national trends in education from 2009 to 2011, including state-by-state analysis of education spending, graduation rates and average ACT scores. The study showed that the states that spent the most did not have the highest average ACT test scores, nor did they have the highest average graduation rates. A summary of the study is available here. The full report can be accessed here.

## School districts[edit]

See also: School board elections portal

### District types[edit]

School districts in South Carolina are organized by county. Each county has at least one public school district offering K-12 courses.[36]

### School board composition[edit]

South Carolina school board members are generally elected by residents of the school district, although some school board members are appointed to fill vacancies until the next election for the seat is held. South Carolina school board elections typically follow one of these two methods:[37]

* At-large: All voters residing in the school district may vote for any candidates running, regardless of geographic location.
* Trustee area at-large: All voters residing in the school district may vote for any candidates running, but candidates must reside in specific geographic areas within the school district.

School boards can consists of five, seven or nine members. Board members serve terms of two, three or four years.[37]

#### Term limits[edit]

South Carolina does not impose statewide term limits on school board members. However, terms limits on school board members can still be imposed on the local level.[37]

### Elections[edit]

See also: South Carolina school board elections, 2021

No South Carolina school districts within Ballotpedia's coverage scope are holding school board elections in 2021.

#### Path to the ballot[edit]

To qualify for the ballot as a school board candidate in South Carolina, a person must be:[37]

* 18 years of age or older
* A resident of the school district at the time of the election

Candidates file nominating petitions with county elections officials at least 75 days prior to the election. A valid petition features signatures from district residents totaling at least 5 percent of registered voters in the school district.[37]

#### Campaign finance[edit]

State law requires local candidates to file campaign finance reports with the South Carolina State Ethics Commission. The first report for a school board candidate is due within 10 days of receiving or spending $500 in campaign funds. Candidates who do not receive or spend $500 are required to file pre-election reports within 15 days of the election. The maximum contribution amount in an election cycle for local candidates is $1,000 per person.[38]

## Recent legislation[edit]

The following is a list of recent education bills that have been introduced in or passed by the South Carolina state legislature. To learn more about each of these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.

Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.

## Education ballot measures[edit]

See also: Education on the ballot and List of South Carolina ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked the following statewide ballot measures relating to education.

1. South Carolina Amendment 1, Appointed Superintendent of Education Measure (2018)
2. South Carolina Establishment of a State Board of Education, Amendment 6 (1972)

## In the news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms South Carolina education policy. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Public education in South Carolina - Google News

## See also[edit]

* Historical public education information in South Carolina
* South Carolina state budget and finances
* South Carolina Department of Education
* List of school districts in South Carolina
* School choice in South Carolina
* Charter schools in South Carolina
* South Carolina
* Education Policy in the U.S.

## External links[edit]

* South Carolina Department of Education
* School directory
* South Carolina Superintendent of Education
* South Carolina State Board of Education
* South Carolina Virtual School

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Common Core of Data (CCD); Table 2.—Number of operating public schools and districts, state enrollment, teacher and pupil/teacher ratio by state: School year 2012-13," accessed May 29, 2015
2. ↑ National Association of State Budget Officers, "State expenditure report, Fiscal years 2012-2014," accessed July 14, 2015
3. ↑ United States Department of Education, "ED Data Express," accessed May 29, 2015
4. ↑ Common Core State Standards Initiative, "Core Standards in your State," accessed June 12, 2014
5. ↑ South Carolina State Department of Education, "Common Core State Standards," accessed June 17, 2014
6. ↑ Education Week, "Common Core standards could change little," June 16, 2014
7. ↑ The Washington Post, "Two more states pull out of Common Core," June 5, 2014
8. ↑ WLTX 19, "Common Core Standards Dead in South Carolina," March 11, 2015
9. ↑ U.S. Department of Education, "Title I - Improving the academic achievement of the disadvantaged," accessed May 29, 2015
10. ↑ United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Common Core of Data (CCD), State Nonfiscal Public Elementary/Secondary Education Survey, 2011-2012," accessed May 7, 2014
11. ↑ U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD), "Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey, SY 2012–13 Provisional Version 1a," accessed March 2, 2016
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 United States Department of Education, ED Data Express, "State Tables," accessed May 13, 2014
13. ↑ ACT, "2012 ACT National and State Scores," accessed May 13, 2014
14. ↑ Commonwealth Foundation, "SAT Scores by State 2013," October 10, 2013
15. ↑ StudyPoints, "What's a good SAT score or ACT score?" accessed June 7, 2015
16. ↑ United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Common Core of Data (CCD), State Dropout and Graduation Rate Data File, School Year 2010-11, Provision Version 1a and School Year 2011-12, Preliminary Version 1a," accessed May 13, 2014
17. ↑ Supreme Court of the United States, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue: "Petition for a writ of certiorari," accessed July 3, 2019
18. ↑ Supreme Court of the United States, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, decided June 30, 2020
19. ↑ NASBO, "State Expenditure Report," accessed July 2, 2015
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 U.S. Census Bureau, "Public Education Finances: 2013, Economic Reimbursable Surveys Division Reports," accessed July 2, 2015
21. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year 2011–12 (Fiscal Year 2012)," accessed July 2, 2015
22. ↑ Maciver Institute, "REPORT: How much are teachers really paid?" accessed October 29, 2014
23. ↑ United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 211.60. Estimated average annual salary of teachers in public elementary and secondary schools, by state: Selected years, 1969-70 through 2012-13," accessed May 13, 2014
24. ↑ South Carolina State Department of Education, "About Us," accessed June 4, 2014
25. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
26. ↑ South Carolina State Department of Education, "State Superintendent of Education Duties," accessed June 4, 2014
27. ↑ South Carolina Constitution, "Article VI, Section 7," accessed June 4, 2014
28. ↑ South Carolina State Department of Education, "State Board of Education," accessed June 4, 2014
29. ↑ Thomas E Fordham Institute, " How Strong Are U.S. Teacher Unions? A State-By-State Comparison," October 29, 2012
30. ↑ South Carolina Education Association, "Main Page," accessed April 22, 2010
31. ↑ Center for Union Facts, "South Carolina teachers unions," accessed April 22, 2010
32. ↑ Fits News, "Effort To Ban Taxpayer-Funded Educrat Lobbying Fails," March 22, 2010
33. ↑ Watchdog, "SC Schools Spent More Than $1.5 Million on Lobbying," September 14, 2010
34. ↑ The Nerve, "SC Schools Spent More Than $1.5 Million on Lobbying," September 14, 2010
35. ↑ Education Week "Quality Counts 2014," accessed February 19, 2015
36. ↑ South Carolina State Department of Education, "School Directory," accessed July 10, 2014
37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 South Carolina State Election Commission, "So You Want To Be A Candidate," accessed July 9, 2014
38. ↑ South Carolina State Ethics Commission, "Campaign Practices," July 9, 2014

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