School District of Newberry County Reports Five-Year Academic Growth, Closes Achievement Gaps with State
NEWBERRY, S.C. — September 2025 – The School District of Newberry County (SDNC) has released its five-year trend data for state testing, showing consistent academic growth across multiple grade levels and subjects. The results highlight the district’s progress in closing achievement gaps with statewide performance while celebrating several record-setting outcomes.
English Language Arts (ELA) Growth
The percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations grew from 32.6% in 2021 to 52.9% in 2025, a five-year high and gain of 20.3%.
Students scoring “Does Not Meet” dropped from 37.1% in 2021 to 20.5% in 2025, the lowest level in five years.
The achievement gap with the state narrowed from 10% in 2021 to 7.3% in 2025.
Mathematics Progress
Students meeting or exceeding expectations improved from 29.8% in 2021 to 38.9% in 2025.
Students scoring “Does Not Meet” fell from 40.7% in 2021 to 29.9% in 2025.
The achievement gap with the state decreased from 6% in 2021 to just 2.8% in 2025.
Science Achievement
In 2025, South Carolina introduced a new science assessment. SDNC’s 4th graders scored 0.9% above the state average, while 6th graders trailed the state by 10.2%—an area the district is targeting for future growth.
Gains in End-of-Course (EOCEP) Exams
Algebra 1: Passing rates rose from 59.2% in 2021 to 82.3% in 2025, surpassing the state average by 8.4%.
Biology 1: Passing rates improved from 44.2% in 2021 to 55.2% in 2025, reducing the state gap by more than half.
English 2: While scores declined from a 2022 peak, SDNC continues to identify strategies for improvement.
U.S. History: Scores have rebounded slightly to 51.68% passing in 2025.
Multilingual Learner Progress
SDNC’s percentage of multilingual learners meeting growth targets rose from 27.9% in 2024 to 35.4% in 2025, narrowing the gap with the state average from 10.6% below to just 2.6% below.
Superintendent’s Statement
“We are proud of the progress our students and teachers have made over the past five years,” said Dr. Chan Anderson, Interim Superintendent of the SDNC. “These results reflect the hard work of our educators, the dedication of our families, and the resilience of our students. While we celebrate areas of exceptional growth, we also remain focused on strengthening instruction where gaps persist to ensure every child reaches their fullest potential.”
District leaders also credited the consistent use of the i-Ready platform, districtwide common assessments, and the strength of the lead structure and Instructional Delivery Model. Initiatives such as LETRS training for teachers, Early Literacy Intervention, and the adoption of the Open Court curriculum have further equipped educators with the tools needed to drive gains across grade levels.
Next Steps
The district will continue to implement evidence-based instructional strategies, expand professional development opportunities, and enhance support for multilingual learners and secondary-level literacy. These initiatives align with SDNC’s commitment to equitable access, academic excellence, and closing achievement gaps.
About the School District of Newberry County
The School District of Newberry County serves approximately 5,600 students across 14 schools, with a mission to nurture an environment in which every child flourishes academically, socially, and emotionally so that they become positive, contributing citizens in our community and beyond.
