Orangeburg County School District (OCSD) announced results from the 2025 SCREADY, SCPASS, and EOCEP assessments, showcasing academic growth across the district. A detailed analysis of the data reveals substantial positive gains in key subject areas, with several schools achieving exceptional year-over-year improvements.

However, these results reflect not only year-over-year improvement but also the district’s steady progress since the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the years following the pandemic, OCSD has remained focused on academic recovery and acceleration, implementing targeted supports and innovative strategies to ensure students not only regain lost ground but continue to make consistent and sustainable gains. Overall, the district made notable progress when comparing 2025 results to the previous year.

On the SCREADY/SCPASS assessments, the district's overall percentage of students in grades 3- 5 scoring meets or exceeds standards in English Language Arts (ELA) increased by 7.6 points (from 34.1% to 41.7%), while Math in grades 3-5 saw a 4.6 point gain (from 30.3% to 34.9%). Also, in ELA, the district saw gains in 5 out of 6 tested areas—83.3% of tested areas. In Math, the district earned gains in 4 out of 6 tested areas—66.7% of tested areas. Overall, the district did earn slight gains in ELA and Math in the middle school grades. For EOCEP, the district’s Algebra 1 scores saw a remarkable 12.1 point increase (from 51.9% to 64.0%).

OCSD Elementary School Highlights

• In third grade ELA, 93% of schools saw increases over the previous year.
• In fourth grade ELA, 57% of schools saw increases over the previous year.
• In fifth grade, 64% of schools saw increases over the previous year.
• In ELA, 86% of schools saw increases in their overall performance.
• Vance-Providence Elementary School achieved an extraordinary 49.3 point gain in Grade 3 ELA and a 35.5 point gain in Grade 3 Math.
• Sheridan Elementary School saw a significant 21.9 point increase in Grade 3 Math, with proficiency rising from 11.9% to 33.9%.
• Lockett Elementary School showed strong overall performance with an 18.1 point gain in Grade 3 ELA, with proficiency increasing from 43.2% to 61.3%. In ELA, Lockett Elementary School surpassed the state in fourth and fifth grades. In Math, Lockett Elementary School surpassed the state in every grade level.
• Elloree Elementary School saw a 21.1 point gain in Grade 5 ELA, moving from 28.9% to 50.0%.
• Marshall Elementary School saw a 17.4 point gain in Grade 5 ELA.
• Hunter-Kinard-Tyler Elementary School improved by 17.5 points in overall ELA, with proficiency rising from 21.5% to 39.0%. The school had a tremendous increase in Grade 5 ELA with proficiency increasing by 40 points, from 10% to 50%.
• Bethune-Bowman Elementary School, Holly Hill Elementary School, Lockett Elementary School, Marshall Elementary School, and Vance-Providence Elementary School saw increases in every grade level in ELA.

OCSD Middle School Highlights

• In seventh grade ELA, 100% of schools had increases over the previous year.
• Overall, 88% of middle schools had increases over the previous year in ELA.
• Overall, 63% of middle schools had increases over the previous year in Math.
• In Math, grades 6 and 8 saw 63% of schools with increases over the previous year.
• Branchville High School surpassed the state in every grade level in ELA. In sixth grade, Branchville achieved 65.9% proficiency compared to 56% for the state. In seventh grade, Branchville achieved 73.5% proficiency compared to 58.2% for the state. In eighth grade, Branchville achieved 64.6% proficiency compared to 55.7% for the state.
• Bethune-Bowman Middle/High School achieved a 14.4 point gain in SCREADY ELA for Grade 8.
• Hunter-Kinard-Tyler had a substantial 34.1 point increase in SCREADY ELA for Grade 7.
• North Middle/High saw increases in every grade level in ELA and Math. The school had a 25.9-point increase on the eighth-grade ELA assessment, with proficiency increasing from 25.8% to 51.7%.
• Branchville High surpassed the state in every grade level in Math. In sixth grade, Branchville achieved 75.0% proficiency compared to 39.4% for the state. In seventh grade, Branchville achieved 57.1% proficiency compared to 34.0% for the state. In eighth grade, Branchville achieved 39.6% proficiency compared to 32.4% for the state.

OCSD High School Highlights

• Bethune-Bowman Middle/High School earned a stunning 25.4 point gain in EOCEP Algebra 1, moving from a 54.2% to 79.6% passage rate. The school also saw a 13.9 point increase in EOCEP English 2.
• Edisto High School earned a 25.8 point increase in EOCEP Algebra 1, with passage rates rising from 45.8% to 71.5%.
• Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School showed strong growth with a 25.2 point increase in EOCEP Algebra 1, with proficiency rising from 32.3% to 57.5%.
• Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High School saw a huge 29.5 point gain in EOCEP US History.
• North Middle/High School had an impressive 13.2 point gain in EOCEP Biology. The school also surpassed the state in Algebra 1, English 2, and Biology.
• Branchville High School outperformed the state in every EOCEP assessment. In Algebra 1, Branchville achieved a passage rate of 81.6% compared to 74.0% for the state. On the English 2 assessment, Branchville achieved a 91.8% passage rate compared to 86.4% for the state. In Biology, Branchville achieved a 71.0% passage rate compared to 61.7% for the state. In US History, the school earned a 71.8% passage rate compared to 61.5% for the state.

“These results are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire school community,” said Dr. Shawn D. Foster, OCSD Superintendent. “The data shows that our targeted strategies and the tireless efforts of our educators are having a direct and measurable impact on student achievement. Coming out of the challenges of COVID, our district has seen consistent growth each year, proving that our commitment to recovery and sustained success is working. We are incredibly proud of our students and will continue to build on this momentum to ensure every student reaches their full potential, Dr. Foster continued.”

Orangeburg County School District recognizes that academic recovery is a long-term journey. Still, the latest results show that OCSD is making significant gains across multiple subject areas, schools, and grade levels. The district is not only recapturing ground lost during the pandemic but also establishing a pattern of steady, sustainable progress. Moving forward, and as always, OCSD will continue to analyze the data, expand strategies that work, and focus on areas where further growth is needed throughout the 2025–2026 school year.

Also, to learn more about OCSD, please contact Dr. Erica S. Taylor, Assistant Superintendent for Communications and Business and Community Partnerships, at erica.taylor@ocsdsc.org or 839- 356-4040.