South Carolina Students Show Highest Scores Yet on Standardized Tests, But Gaps Remain
South Carolina elementary and middle school students have achieved their highest scores to date on standardized tests in math and reading. However, less than half of these students are meeting grade-level expectations in math, while just over 61% are reading…
Greenville Spartanburg Asheville Anderson, SC, August 10, 2026 —
South Carolina students in elementary and middle schools have reached their highest performance levels to date on standardized reading and math assessments, according to recent data. The SC READY tests, introduced in 2015, show a record number of students meeting or exceeding grade-level expectations this year.
Despite the overall improvement, a significant portion of students are still not meeting grade-level benchmarks, particularly in mathematics. Data indicates that fewer than half of the students tested are currently performing at grade level in math. In reading, just over 61% of students are meeting expectations.
This year’s results represent a positive trend compared to previous years. The number of students achieving proficiency or higher has increased, marking the highest figures recorded since the inception of the SC READY testing program. This upward trajectory suggests progress in student achievement across the state.
Further details regarding the specific score increases, demographic breakdowns, or any contributing factors to these scores were not provided in the summary. The exact percentage of improvement from the previous year was also not specified.
Story summarized from the original created by Skylar Laird on scdailygazette.com, see more information here.
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