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Historic gains across all students tested set the stage for October School Report Card results 

Charleston County School District (CCSD) students demonstrated strong academic growth on the 2025-26 End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP) assessments, according to results released today by the South Carolina Department of Education. CCSD improved in Biology, English 2, and U.S. History and remained above state averages in all tested subjects.

Students in these courses complete an EOCEP assessment at the end of the term. The results play a key role in federal accountability measures and the South Carolina school report card. The district views performance on these tests as a reflection of how well it equips students for graduation and life beyond high school.

“These results show meaningful academic momentum across our district,” said Anita Huggins, CCSD’s Superintendent of Schools. “We are seeing stronger outcomes across subjects and among many of our student groups, and that progress reflects the high expectations our educators hold for every child. We will continue building on what is working, investing in our schools, and staying focused on the work necessary for all students to reach their full potential.”

BIOLOGY

Based on results for all tested students, almost 56 percent (55.5) of the district’s students scored a “C” or better on the Biology exam, an increase of 1.6 percentage points from the previous school year, and 9.2 percentage points higher than the state (46.3).

In addition, CCSD outperformed the state for the following groups of students:

• Male - 54.6 (up from 53.1 last year) vs. 45.2 for the state
• Female - 56.6 (up from 55.9) vs. 47.5
• Hispanic - 31.7 (up from 29.3) vs. 38.6
• White - 79.5 (up from 77.9) vs. 60.2
• Two or more races - 62.8 (up from 55.3) vs. 47.1
• Disabled - 14.6 vs. 12.5
• Not Disabled - 60.5 (up from 58.3) vs. 51.0
• Non-Limited English Proficiency - 61.5 (up from 58.8) vs. 48.5
• Students in Poverty - 39.3 (up from 34.2) vs. 35.3
• Non-Students in Poverty - 73.7 (up from 72.6) vs. 65.5
• Gifted & Talented - 88.1 (up from 87.5) vs. 87.2

In addition to these student groups, 26.8 percent of Black students scored a “C” or Better, which represents a gain of 2.3 percentage points from last year (24.5).

“We are encouraged by the continued improvement in Biology, particularly the gains we are seeing across many of our student groups,” said Deputy Superintendent Luke Clamp. “These results reflect the work of our students, teachers, and school leaders, while also reminding us that there is more work ahead. Our focus remains on strengthening instruction and ensuring every student has the support and opportunities needed to succeed.”

ENGLISH 2

Based on results for all tested students, over 77 percent (77.1) of the district’s students scored a “C” or better on the English 2 exam, an increase of 2.1 percentage points from the previous school year, and 7.7 points higher than the state (69.4). 

In addition, CCSD outperformed the state for the following groups of students:

• Male - 74.9 (up from vs. 71.9 last year) vs. 65.5 for the state
• Female - 79.3 vs. 73.3
• Black - 57.6 (up from 53.0) vs. 54.2
• White - 94.0 (up from 93.4) vs. 81.5
• Two or more races - 83.5 (up from 81.6) vs. 72.4
• Disabled - 32.9 (up from 27.4) vs. 25.8
• Not Disabled - 81.7 (up from 79.7) vs. 75.2
• Limited English Proficiency - 25.7 (up from 20.5) vs. 22.6
• Non-Limited English Proficiency - 82.4 (up from 80.7) vs. 72.4
• Students in Poverty - 66.1 (up from 62.9) vs. 61.5
• Non-Students in Poverty - 89.4 (up from 86.5) vs. 83.9

These steady increases reflect the district’s ongoing commitment to providing targeted support and resources that help drive student success.

U.S. HISTORY AND THE CONSTITUTION

Based on results for all tested students, almost 59 percent (58.6) of the district’s students scored a “C” or better on the US History and the Constitution exam, an increase of 2.7 percentage points from the previous school year, and 9.5 points higher than the state (49.1). 

In addition, CCSD outperformed the state for the following groups of students:

• Male - 59.2 (up from vs. 58.5 last year) vs. 50.8 for the state
• Female - 58.1 (up from 55.5) vs. 47.6
• Asian - 86.4 (up from 72.0) vs. 74.4
• White - 78.6 vs. 62.0
• Two or more races - 62.1 vs. 50.3
• Disabled - 18.0 vs. 17.7
• Not Disabled - 62.0 (up from 58.6) vs. 52.2
• Non-Limited English Proficiency - 62.4 (up from 60.2) vs. 51.0
• Students in Poverty - 42.6 (up from 34.3) vs. 38.2
• Non-Students in Poverty - 75.7 vs. 66.6

Several other student groups also made notable progress. Black students improved by 4.7 points, Hispanic students gained 5.3 points, and Limited English Proficiency students gained 1.8 points, compared with 2024-25. 

ALGEBRA

Based on results for all students tested, 46.3 percent earned a grade of “C” or better on the Algebra I exam, 1.4 percentage points higher than the state rate of 44.9 percent.

These results should be interpreted with caution and should not be compared with prior years. South Carolina recently changed the sequence of high school mathematics courses so that students now take Geometry with Statistics before Algebra I. As a result, the Algebra I End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP) exam was not widely administered during the 2025-26 school year. Most students who took the exam had previously been unsuccessful in Algebra I and were retaking the course to earn high school credit. Because the group of students tested in 2025-26 differed substantially from those tested in previous years, year-to-year comparisons would not provide a meaningful measure of performance.

District leaders point to these results as evidence of the progress that can occur when resources and strategies are intentionally aligned with student needs. CCSD’s Weighted Student Funding formula directs additional resources to schools based on the students they serve, while the district’s continuous improvement process emphasizes using data to identify needs, target investments, and monitor results. Together, these efforts reflect CCSD’s focus on equity, accountability, and ensuring that investments translate into stronger outcomes and greater opportunities for students.

For more information, visit the state website or call CCSD’s Office of Communications at (843) 937-6303.