The County School District in Kershaw is in trouble.
The district, once ranked “good” by the Education Oversight (EOC) in terms of absolute performance, has dropped to “average.” A major factor in the sinking score has been an alarming 10 percent spike in high school dropouts since 2003.
SAT scores are down too, bad news for parents who want their children to attend college. In 2008 the average score dropped 11 points to 1003 – or 14 points under the US national average. The 1003 average score in Kershaw is a shocking 182 points below the average incoming freshman at USC. Just as alarming, the district reports that a mere 15 percent of students are eligible for LIFE scholarships to attend college in-state, which is less than half the rate of similar public school districts in South Carolina.
Student performance is not the only problem in Kershaw School District. There are alarming money issues too. Continue reading
