SC education officials unveil school report cards in Greenwood Co.

GREENWOOD, S.C. (WSPA) – Report cards are out for South Carolina schools and while the data showed fewer schools getting an “excellent” rating, officials focused on one Upstate elementary’s improvement.

Greenwood School District 50 is now ranked the 22nd highest performing district in the state.

The South Carolina Department of Education and the Education Oversight Committee released the 2024 school report cards which showed Pinecrest Elementary School was the most improved elementary school in the state.

Superintendent Ellen Weaver said the county and the state of South Carolina can learn from the improvement at Pinecrest.

“We’re going to be coming to Pinecrest to learn about the secret sauce about what you all are doing in your classroom to move your students along so beautifully,” said Weaver.

Barry Jacks, principal of Pinecrest Elementary, said students and teachers were missing a very important ingredient.

“In the past, these teachers and students did not have the confidence they needed,” said Jacks. “They are very smart group of kids, but they didn’t have the confidence that can accomplish the things that they have accomplished.”

Weaver noted that it wasn’t smooth sailing at Pinecrest because 87% of students are in poverty.

“I think what we understand from this is we acknowledge poverty as a challenge but it is not an excuse,” Weaver said.

Both Weaver and Jacks said there always needs to be improvement, but they are proud of the strides Pinecrest Elementary has taken.

Of the 1,261 South Carolina public schools which received a rating, 232 were scored as excellent, 317 were rated good, 477 as average, 186 were below average and 49 were unsatisfactory.

Visit the SC School Report Cards website to see how your school scored.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.