LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. - Lancaster County School District (LCSD) is recognizing progress across its schools following the release of the 2025-26 state report cards by the South Carolina Department of Education on Monday.
The state report cards reflect progress in several areas, including academic achievement, student progress, graduation rates, and college and career readiness. Districtwide assessment results show LCSD students outperforming state averages across several major subject areas.
Nine of the District’s 22 schools earned an overall rating of “Excellent,” the state’s highest rating, up from seven schools the previous year.
“These results reflect the continued efforts of our educators and staff to support student achievement across the district,” LCSD Superintendent, Dr. Norris Williams said. “We are encouraged by the progress demonstrated by our students, across multiple areas. At the same time, we recognize that our schools have different needs and opportunities for continued growth. Our responsibility is to build on what is working, address the areas that need improvement, and continue working to ensure every student receives a high-quality education.”
Highlights from the 2025–2026 results include:
Nine schools rated Excellent: Two more LCSD schools earned the state’s highest overall rating compared with the previous year.
Strong high school ratings: Three of the District’s four high schools earned an Excellent rating.
Strong middle school growth: All the District’s middle schools received a rating of Average or better.
Fewer schools rated Below Average: The number of LCSD schools in this category decreased from four to two.
Improved student achievement: On the SC READY assessments for grades three through eight, 67.3 percent of LCSD students met or exceeded expectations in English language arts, compared with 61.5 percent statewide. In mathematics, 60.6 percent met or exceeded expectations, compared with 47.8 percent statewide.
Growth in college and career readiness: The percentage of graduates identified as college or career ready increased from 72.6 percent to 78.1 percent.
Graduation rate above the state average: LCSD’s four-year graduation rate reached 88.1 percent, exceeding the state rate of 87.5 percent.
No Unsatisfactory overall ratings: None of the district’s 22 schools received an overall rating of Unsatisfactory.
Four-Point Gap: The District is exactly 4 points away from 100% of schools rated Average or above.
The results also show progress among individual schools across the district. Andrew Jackson High School moved from Good to Excellent, while Buford Elementary School and Van Wyck Elementary School also advanced to an Excellent overall rating. Indian Land Middle School improved from Average to Good, and both A.R. Rucker Middle School and South Middle School moved from Below Average to Average.
LCSD Board Chair, Melvin Stroble, shared his thoughts, “Success is not the result of one initiative or one school year. It comes from the daily work of our teachers and staff, the leadership of our principals, the determination of our students, and the support of the families and community members who believe in and stand behind our schools. These results are something all of Lancaster County can take pride in. We are on a positive trajectory toward becoming the premier school district we know we can be, and we will continue to celebrate progress, learn from our results, and stay focused on the work ahead.”
The District’s continued priorities include strengthening instruction, supporting teachers and school leaders, improving student outcomes and preparing graduates for success beyond high school. LCSD says that it will use the data alongside other measures of student performance to guide these ongoing improvement efforts.
To view the 2025–2026 South Carolina School Report Cards, visit the SC School Report Cards website.