HCS makes gains in the number of students meeting and exceeding standards; performance outpaces the state
September 6, 2007

More Horry County Schools’ students met and exceeded state academic standards in 2007, according to data released by the South Carolina Department of Education for the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test administered last May. District students showed improvements in 17 of 24 scoring categories among students meeting state standards and in 18 of 24 categories among students scoring at higher levels. Student performance is higher than the state average in all grades and all subject areas for students meeting and exceeding state-level standards.

Nearly 15,000 district students in grades 3-8 were tested last spring in English/language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. Scoring levels are Below Basic, Basic, Proficient and Advanced.

In 17 of 24 categories, greater percentages of students met state standards by scoring Basic or above. Gains were made in five out of six grade levels in math and in four out of six grade levels in English/language arts, science and social studies. Sixth grade students made gains in every subject area tested. At the state level, students made gains in 16 out of 24 categories.

The percentage of district students scoring Proficient and Advanced showed gains in 18 out of 24 categories. Gains were made in every grade among students scoring Proficient and Advanced in science and in five out of six grades in both English language arts and social studies. Two out of six grade levels made gains in math. At the State level, gains were made in 15 out of 24 categories.

Independent national research studies have shown that PACT's scoring requirements are higher than annual accountability tests in other states. Those studies indicated that a PACT score of Basic, for example, might be equivalent to a score of Proficient in other states.

Students must score Basic, Proficient or Advanced to meet South Carolina’s requirements. Students who score Below Basic did not meet the minimum expectations for mastering South Carolina's academic standards. Academic plans are developed for students who score Below Basic in one or more subjects.

Percentages of students scoring Proficient or above on PACT English language arts and math are used to determine Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) school results required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

PACT scores also are key components in South Carolina's annual School Report Cards that rate elementary and middle schools as Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average or Unsatisfactory. Under the Education Accountability Act of 1998, the state provides specialized assistance to schools and districts with Unsatisfactory or Below Average ratings. High schools are rated by a formula that uses high school exit exam scores, end-of-course tests scores and graduation rates.

Summary of Horry County Schools' 2007 PACT results:

Grade 3

• English Language Arts - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 92.8 to 93.5 percent; 7.7 points above the state percentage of 85.8; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 66.2 to 69 percent, 14.6 points above the state percentage of 54.4;
• Mathematics - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above decreased from 88.2 to 86.1 percent; 7.7 points above the state percentage of 78.4; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced decreased from 47.9 to 44 percent, 13.2 points above the state percentage of 30.8;
• Science - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 68 to 68.8 percent; 4.3 points above the state percentage of 64.5; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 27.6 to 34.1 percent, 5.2 points above the state percentage of 28.9;
• Social Studies- The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 85.6 to 86.6 percent; 1.9 points above the state percentage of 84.7; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 45.7 to 48.4 percent, 7.5 points above the state percentage of 40.9;

Grade 4

• English Language Arts - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 88.3 to 90.9 percent; 8.2 points above the state percentage of 82.7; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 53.9 to 54.7 percent, 12.4 points above the state percentage of 42.3;
• Mathematics - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 85.4 to 86.1 percent; 8 points above the state percentage of 78.1; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced decreased from 56.9 to 55.3 percent, 13.9 points above the state percentage of 41.4;
• Science - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above decreased from 68.1 to 67.8 percent; 4 points above the state percentage of 63.8; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 35.9 to 37.1 percent, 2.9 points above the state percentage of 34.2;
• Social Studies- The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above decreased from 76.9 to 75 percent; 1.3 points above the state percentage of 73.7; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 33.9 to 36.4 percent, 2.7 points above the state percentage of 33.7;

Grade 5

• English Language Arts - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above decreased from 88.8 to 86 percent; 8.8 points above the state percentage of 77.2; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced decreased from 48.5 to 42.8 percent,10.9 points above the state percentage of 31.9;
• Mathematics - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 86.7 to 87.1 percent; 9.4 points above the state percentage of 77.7; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced decreased from 52.2 to 49.5 percent, 16 points above the state percentage of 33.5;
• Science - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above decreased from 65.4 to 63.7 percent; 3.1 points above the state percentage of 60.6; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 30.3 to 30.4 percent, one-tenth of a point above the state percentage of 30.3;
• Social Studies- The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 68.6 to 68.9 percent; 5.1 points above the state percentage of 63.8; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 26.5 to 29.6 percent, 2.4 points above the state percentage of 27.2;

Grade 6

• English Language Arts - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 78.1 to 83.9 percent; 13 points above the state percentage of 70.9; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 41.8 to 45.1 percent, 14.1 points above the state percentage of 31;
• Mathematics - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 86.5 to 89.1 percent; 11.9 points above the state percentage of 77.2; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 49.4 to 54.7 percent, 16.8 points above the state percentage of 37.9;
• Science - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 54.1 to 66.7 percent; 7.2 points above the state percentage of 59.5; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 25.9 to 38.1 percent, 7.1 points above the state percentage of 31;
• Social Studies- The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 71.7 to 81 percent; 3.9 points above the state percentage of 77.1; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 37 to 39.4 percent, 3.8 points above the state percentage of 35.6;

Grade 7

• English Language Arts - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above decreased from 80.4 to 79.3 percent; 9.5 points above the state percentage of 69.8; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 36.7 to 38.7 percent, 10.3 points above the state percentage of 28.4;
• Mathematics - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 84 to 86.1 percent; 9.3 points above the state percentage of 76.8; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 42.4 to 43.2 percent, 10.5 points above the state percentage of 32.7;
• Science - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 61.6 to 69.7 percent; 4.9 points above the state percentage of 64.8; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 31.9 to 38.6 percent, 5.5 points above the state percentage of 33.1;
• Social Studies- The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 61.1 to 62.4 percent; 5.1 points above the state percentage of 57.3; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 24.1 to 27.3 percent, 3.3 points above the state percentage of 24;

Grade 8

• English Language Arts - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 80.4 to 81.5 percent; 10.2 points above the state percentage of 71.3; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 31.1to 32.7 percent, eight points above the state percentage of 24.7;
• Mathematics - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 74.2 to 78.1 percent; 10.2 points above the state percentage of 67.9; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced decreased from 29 to 27.1 percent, 7.4 points above the state percentage of 19.7;
• Science - The percentage of students scoring at the Basic Level or above increased from 65.3 to 69 percent; 5.3 points above the state percentage of 63.7; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased from 25.2 to 30.3 percent, 4.3 points above the state percentage of 26;
• Social Studies- The percentage of students decreased from 74.9 to 72.6 percent; 6.7 points above the state percentage of 65.9; the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Advanced decreased from 29.9 to 22.2 percent, 6.7 points above the state percentage of 15.5.