Florence School District 3 welcomed State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver on Tuesday as she announced the release of the 2025 South Carolina Ready statewide assessment results at J.C. Lynch Elementary School. The school was chosen to host the announcement after posting strong performance, particularly in third grade English Language Arts (ELA) and math.
J.C. Lynch Elementary’s third graders outperformed the state average in both subjects. In ELA, 76.6% of students scored “meets” or “exceeds” expectations, a 36% increase over 2024. The statewide average in ELA is 61.7%.
In math, J.C. Lynch Elementary saw a 22% increase from 2024 with 80.9% of third graders meeting or exceeding expectations, well above the state average of 56.3%.
“Our teachers and staff have gone above and beyond to support our students, and these results are a clear reflection of their dedication and hard work,” said T.J. DeVine, principal of J.C. Lynch Elementary School. “I am equally proud of our students, whose determination and perseverance made this success possible. Together, they have shown what can be accomplished when a school community believes in one another and strives for excellence.”
Scranton Elementary STEAM Academy also exceeded state averages. In third grade ELA, 64.2% of students met or exceeded expectations, compared to 62.7% statewide. In sixth grade ELA, 73.1% of Scranton students achieved at or above grade level, outperforming the state average of 62.5%.
District-wide, Florence School District 3 showed notable gains across multiple grade levels, with the most significant progress in third and fifth grades:
- Third Grade: 11.5% increase in students meeting or exceeding grade-level expectations
- Fifth Grade: 10.6% increase in students meeting or exceeding grade-level expectations
“These results reflect the dedication of our teachers, the hard work of our students, and the support of our families,” said Kasey Feagin, FSD3 Interim Superintendent. “We are proud of the progress being made and remain committed to ensuring every child builds strong literacy and math skills that will carry them through school and beyond.”
The district plans to continue building on this momentum by strengthening instructional practices, providing teachers with ongoing professional development, and engaging families as active partners in literacy growth.
