Aiken County Public School District (ACPSD) students demonstrated year-over-year progress on the recently released SC READY and End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP) assessments. Elementary and middle school performance improved across all three tested subject areas: English language arts, mathematics and science. The District’s Algebra 1 passing rate also significantly outpaced the state.
At the elementary and middle school levels, gains were recorded across nearly every grade. English language arts performance improved in grades three, four, five, seven and eight, while mathematics gains were recorded in grades three, five, six, seven and eight.
Fourth-grade mathematics was the only area in which ACPSD experienced a decline in the percentage of students meeting or exceeding state standards, reflecting a similar statewide trend. In science, which is assessed in grades four and six, students at both grade levels posted year-over-year gains.
Mathematics results also showed a reduction at every grade level in the percentage of students who did not meet state standards. Amy Edwards, ACPSD Chief Officer of Instruction, attributes this progress in part to an increased focus on setting goals for individual students and providing targeted support to address specific skill gaps.
“Particularly in mathematics, our students made significant gains in grades six, seven and eight,” Edwards said. “We are not yet where we want to be, but consistent year-over-year progress moves us closer to our goal.”
At the high school level, students take end-of-course assessments upon completing Algebra 1, Biology, English 2 and U.S. History. Algebra 1 showed the greatest improvement, with the ACPSD passing rate increasing to 79.4% while the statewide passing rate declined to 64.6%.
The percentage of ACPSD students passing U.S. History increased by 2.7 percentage points, while Biology performance remained steady. The District’s English 2 passing rate declined by 1.8 percentage points, from 85.2% in 2025 to 83.4%.
“These results reflect the focused work of our students, teachers, school leaders and instructional support teams,” Superintendent Dr. Corey Murphy said. “We recognize that important work remains, but sustained progress begins with consistent growth. We will build on these gains, address the areas where improvement is still needed and continue working toward high levels of achievement for every student.”