FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 12, 2026

The SC Report Cards Are In: Anderson Five Makes History

Every rated school meets or exceeds state expectations for the first time since 2016

ANDERSON, SC — The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) and the Education Oversight Committee (EOC) have released the 2026 SC School Report Cards, revealing significant districtwide progress for Anderson School District Five. For the first time since SC READY was introduced in 2016, every Anderson Five school serving students in grades 3-12 earned an overall rating of Average, Good, or Excellent.

Across the district, Anderson Five schools gained a combined 87 report card points compared with the previous year - an average net gain of just over five points per school. Thirteen of the district’s 17 rated schools (76%) increased their overall points, and the number of schools earning an Excellent rating climbed from three to eight, representing a 167% increase. Four earned Good ratings, and five earned Average. Together, those ratings mean 100% of Anderson Five’s rated schools met or exceeded the state’s expectations for preparing students to meet the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate.

“This is a big moment for Anderson Five,” said Superintendent Dr. Brenda Kelley. “These results give us clear evidence that the work is working. The progress is visible, measurable, and happening across our district.”

The data and ratings are important, but Dr. Kelley also sees the people and the work behind the numbers.

“When I look at these results, I see teachers who know their students, principals who are focused on instruction, and students who are responding to that support and rising to the expectations set for them,” Dr. Kelley said. “Our people have worked incredibly hard to get us here.”

2026 Report Card Highlights

• All 17 rated schools earned Average or higher.
• The number of schools rated Excellent increased from three to eight (167% increase)
• Thirteen of 17 schools, or 76%, increased their overall report card point totals.
• Eight schools advanced to a higher overall performance category.
• Thirteen of 14 elementary and middle schools improved in Student Progress.
• Anderson Five’s four-year graduation rate increased from 85.4% to a district-record 90.6%.
• College and Career Readiness increased from 71.6% to 86.8%, with all three district high schools earning Excellent in that area.
• Fifteen of 17 schools earned Good or Excellent in School Climate.

Centerville Elementary made the district’s largest leap, gaining 21 points and remarkably moving from Below Average to Excellent. For two years, the school operated on an improvement plan. This year, Centerville Elementary participated in the SCDE statewide press conference as one of the state’s highest-growth schools.  

The work is working.

“Our teachers, students, families and community decided that a difficult chapter would not define us,” said Principal Jenifer Seymour. “Our students rose to the challenge, and our teachers rose with them. Centerville is proof of what can happen when people believe in children, believe in one another and refuse to give up.”

Centerville’s success led a broader pattern of growth across Anderson Five. Calhoun Academy of the Arts moved from Average to Good with a 14-point gain, and both North Pointe Elementary and McCants Middle moved from Good to Excellent with gains of 10 and 11 points, respectively. 

McLees, Midway, Whitehall and Glenview also moved into a higher overall rating category. Across the district, every rated school met or exceeded state expectations. Growth will always be the goal, but there is power in the pursuit as we work to move every school forward.

Perhaps one of the most encouraging numbers is the growth seen in Student Progress. Thirteen of Anderson Five’s 14 elementary and middle schools improved in this area, which helps show whether students are gaining ground from one year to the next. The results reflect movement across schools with different needs, different challenges, and different starting points. In other words, we are seeing growth in every corner - in our schools experiencing significant strides, and even in our historically high-performing schools. 

The district’s high school results may be the clearest sign of what this work is building toward. More Anderson Five students are graduating, and more are finishing high school college and career ready. 

Anderson Five’s combined four-year graduation rate increased from 85.4% to 90.6%, the highest graduation rate achieved by the district. College and Career Readiness jumped from 71.6% to 86.8%, with all three district high schools earning an Excellent rating in that area. More students are leaving Anderson Five with a diploma in hand and the preparation needed to take their next step - whatever it may be - with confidence and knowledge.

T.L. Hanna High increased its overall score to 76, the highest report card score in the district. The school earned Excellent ratings in five categories: Academic Achievement, College and Career Readiness, Graduation Rate, High School Student Success and School Climate. Anderson Five Charter School maintained its overall Excellent rating with a score of 75, also earning Excellent ratings in College and Career Readiness and School Climate. 

Westside High School maintained an Average overall rating, but that rating is only one part of a broader success story the school is diligently writing. Westside increased its overall score by eight points. Its graduation rate rose from 79.5% to a remarkable 87.3%, while its College and Career Readiness rate climbed from 62.5% to an incredible 83.3%. The school earned every bit of its Excellent rating in College and Career Readiness and its Good rating in Graduation Rate.

When Anderson Five’s results are placed beside statewide results, the district also came out ahead in several key areas. Anderson Five outperformed the state average in 7 reported measures: 

 

These report cards further support the narrative that Anderson Five is moving in the right direction. Assessment data released earlier this year showed the district ranked first in South Carolina for overall English Language Arts growth across grades 3-8. Anderson Five students also exceeded the state average in ELA at every tested grade level.

“We are proud of this moment, and we absolutely should be,” Dr. Kelley said. “Our students, teachers, school leaders and families have worked hard for these results, and they deserve to celebrate them.”

 As a school district, we know the work of serving students is never finished, and this data also points us directly to the places where our students still need more from us. But that does not take away from what has been accomplished. 

“Anderson School District Five has earned this moment,” Dr. Kelley said. “We are going to celebrate it, and then we are going to keep going.”

Individual school report cards and additional district results: HERE.

Official Press Release from the South Carolina Department of Education: HERE.

###