At a glance
South Carolina gives each school an overall rating using descriptive levels (not letter grades or stars) on the SC School Report Card.
How this state rates schools
The overall rating is one of five: Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, or Unsatisfactory. It’s based on ESSA indicators — academic achievement, student progress (growth), graduation rate, English-learner progress, college/career readiness, and school climate. Read the indicator ratings alongside the overall label.
What gets measured
Under the federal ESSA law, every state rates schools using several indicators. They typically include:
- Academic achievementHow students score on state tests (proficiency in reading/ELA and math)
- Academic growth / progressHow much students improve year to year — not just where they land
- Graduation rateFor high schools (the 4-year cohort rate)
- English-learner progressHow English learners are progressing toward proficiency
- School quality / student successAn extra indicator — often attendance/chronic absenteeism, college/career readiness, or similar
Finding & reading the report card
Look up any school on the SC School Report Card (screportcards.com). Review the indicator ratings (especially student progress) and the trend, not just the overall label.
How families should use ratings
A rating is a helpful starting point, not a verdict. Use it wisely:
- Read it in contextA school’s score reflects its students’ circumstances too, not only its quality
- Look at growth, not just scoresGrowth shows how much a school moves students — often more telling than raw proficiency
- Check the trendIs the school improving over time?
- Look past the summaryDig into the underlying data (subgroups, attendance, readiness)
- Then visitData raises questions; a visit answers them (see our guide on evaluating a school)
Tips for families
- Start on the official portalLook up your specific school, not just district averages
- Weigh growth heavilyHow much a school moves students matters as much as test scores
- Mind the contextRatings partly reflect student demographics and circumstances
- Compare a few schoolsRatings are most useful for comparison, in context
- Pair data with a visitNumbers plus a tour give the real picture
Frequently asked questions
- How does South Carolina rate schools?South Carolina uses five descriptive overall ratings (Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, Unsatisfactory).
- What do the ratings measure?Test scores, growth, graduation rate, English-learner progress, and a school-quality indicator.
- Where do I look up my school?On the state’s official report-card portal (see below).
- Should I choose a school by its rating alone?No — use it as a starting point, weigh growth and context, and visit.
- What are CSI and TSI?Federal labels for schools flagged for Comprehensive or Targeted Support and Improvement.
At a glance
- FormatDescriptive ratings (5 levels)
- RatingsExcellent, Good, Average, Below Average, Unsatisfactory
- ToolSC School Report Card
- Look up atscreportcards.com
Where to look it up
Look up a specific school on the official portal: