More schools reach top ranking, but some fall too

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — More of South Carolina’s schools and school districts reached “excellent” status on their 2011 state report cards, as areas of high poverty smashed stereotypes to claim their spot among the state’s best.

On the flip side, however, several districts slid backward into the bottom tier, and dozens of schools seem stuck at the bottom.

The state Education Oversight Committee characterizes the results as a tale of two extremes.

Of the state’s 1,180 schools, 19 percent improved their overall rating from 2010 to 2011, while 6 percent posted worse overall ratings.

Officials say more schools and districts are proving the challenges of poverty can be overcome.

They point to Darlington County, where 82 percent of students live in poverty. The district not only received “excellent” marks, it ranks fifth among the state’s 86 districts.