Hampton Co. schools see ‘pockets of success’ and areas for growth in state assessment scores

HAMPTON COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - The first batch of state assessment scores has been released to South Carolina school districts, revealing a mix of academic progress and areas needing targeted support in Hampton County.

Hampton County School District officials say the scores from the S.C. Ready, Career Readiness, and End-Of-Course tests showed pockets of improvement, but critical gaps remain as the district works toward the state’s 2030 academic standards.

By 2030, South Carolina’s statewide goal is for 75% of K-12 students to test at or above grade level. State officials utilize the S.C. Ready tests to track this progress for students in third through eighth grade.

Pockets of success in reading

The district’s primary bright spot came in elementary reading. During last spring’s S.C. Ready tests, Hampton County saw 60% of its third through fifth graders meet or exceed expectations on the English Language Arts (ELA) portion of the test.

“We have pockets of success, but plenty of growth opportunities,” Hampton County School District Director of Curriculum Instruction, Kristy Wood, said

With the 60% meet/exceed expectations rate in elementary ELA, the district is within reach of the 2030 state benchmark.

“We have about 15 more points to go, and it would be about 4 to 5 percentage points each year,” Wood said. “That’s doable.”

Math and science challenges persist

While reading scores showed promise, mathematics presents a much steeper climb.

“Math, we have probably twice that [distance to go],” Wood noted.

The district did see some middle school growth, including a 6-point increase in math for grades 6-8 and a 9-point increase in science for grade 6. However, overall difficulty in math and science continues to challenge educators.

To address these gaps, the district is focusing on reforming its teaching strategies and classroom materials.

“We really have to focus in on what kind of supports we can provide in math, what shifts do we need to make, how can we really target our support in that tier-one high-quality instructional materials, and then intervening when our kids are struggling,” Wood said.

Implementing Academic Reforms

The district began implementing several changes last school year that officials hope will yield stronger results in future testing cycles.

These initiatives include:

• Adding more Advanced Placement (AP) and academic enrichment classes for gifted students.
• Ensuring teachers have high-quality, updated instructional materials.
• Offering specialized reading training to educators.

“It creates pathways for where our next steps are to intervene, close the missing skills and gaps for the kids,” Wood said. “Our teachers learned a lot about that last year, but we are excited this year because now they can really put it in action.”

Hampton County Superintendent Dr. Glenda Sheffield emphasized the district’s comprehensive approach to improving student outcomes.

“We are just committed to making certain that we are utilizing everything that we possibly can do in maximizing those opportunities for student learning,” Dr. Sheffield said.

Preparing for the Future

Currently, students across Hampton County, including those at Fennell Elementary School, are in the middle of benchmark testing to assess their current academic standing.

These benchmark evaluations will help teachers adjust their classroom techniques throughout the fall and winter as they prepare students for the next round of S.C. Ready, Career Readiness, and End-Of-Course tests in the spring.