DCSD more than doubles “Good” and “Excellent” schools on 2026 State Report Cards

Darlington County School District (DCSD) schools showed broad improvement on the 2026 South Carolina School Report Cards, with more schools earning higher ratings and students showing stronger academic growth.

Ten of the district’s 15 schools that receive report cards are now rated “Good” or “Excellent,” up from four schools last year. Fourteen schools maintained or improved their overall ratings, reflecting positive movement across elementary, middle and high schools. Equally encouraging, DCSD students demonstrated academic growth above the state average, both overall and among students who began the year furthest behind.

“These results are encouraging because they show that more of our schools are getting better and more students are making progress,” said Dr. Matthew Ferguson, DCSD superintendent. “We’ve worked hard to bring greater focus to what matters most: strong teaching, high expectations and making sure students get the support they need to succeed. Our teachers, principals and staff deserve tremendous credit for the work they’re doing every day. We’re seeing that hard work pay off, and we’re committed to building on this progress.”

Mayo High School for Math, Science & Technology continued its tradition of excellence, earning an “Excellent” rating for the ninth consecutive year and ranking No. 9 in South Carolina, placing it among the top 3% of high schools statewide.

The district’s middle schools showed some of the strongest improvement. Darlington Middle, Hartsville Middle and Spaulding Middle all improved their overall performance and earned “Good” ratings this year. Student growth also strengthened across all three schools, with Darlington Middle earning an “Excellent” rating for student progress.

Improvement was also evident across the district’s elementary schools. North Hartsville Elementary moved from “Average” to “Excellent” and was recognized by the South Carolina Department of Education as one of the state’s highest-growth schools. Black Creek Elementary, Lamar-Spaulding Elementary and Thornwell School for the Arts earned “Good” ratings. Carolina Elementary continued its strong performance, earning an “Excellent” rating for the fourth consecutive year and ranking among the top 10% of elementary schools in South Carolina.

Academic results point to continued progress as well. In English Language Arts, every tested grade level improved from the previous year, and more than half of students in every grade now meet or exceed grade-level expectations. The district’s academic growth results are particularly encouraging in a year when schools across South Carolina also demonstrated improvement.

Attendance continued to improve, with chronic absenteeism declining for the second consecutive year. The district also expanded opportunities beyond the classroom, with every student enrolled in the district’s internship course receiving a work-based learning experience.

Ferguson said the district will continue building on practices that are showing results, including high-quality instruction, collaborative planning, strong school leadership and consistent attention to student needs, while placing additional focus on mathematics achievement and college and career readiness.

“We should celebrate progress, but we should never confuse progress with arrival,” Ferguson said. “School report cards help us recognize what is working, identify where we need to improve and hold ourselves accountable for results. The data show us that we are moving in the right direction, but also where we need to push harder. Our commitment remains the same: excellence in teaching and learning for each child, every day.”