Florence School District 3 students continue to make meaningful gains in student achievement, with strong growth reflected in the district’s SC READY assessment results released Monday, August 10.
The results show continued progress in English language arts, mathematics and science, with several schools and grade levels demonstrating particularly strong achievement.
SC READY (South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Assessment) is the state’s annual standardized assessment used to measure student achievement in English language arts and mathematics in grades 3-8, as well as science in selected grade levels. The assessment measures how well students are meeting South Carolina’s academic standards and helps schools and districts identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement.
“Our SC READY results are encouraging because they show that the work being done in our classrooms is making a difference for our students,” said FSD3 Superintendent Dr. Shawn Suber. “We are seeing sustained growth in multiple areas, and that growth is a reflection of the hard work of our teachers, administrators, students and families. At the same time, we know there is still work to do.”
Strong Growth in ELA
FSD3’s SC READY English language arts results reflect a strong and sustained trajectory of improvement. Over the past five years, district proficiency has increased from 29.5% to 49.5%, a 20 percentage-point gain.
The district has experienced growth each year, with the 2025-2026 results placing FSD3 just one-half percentage point away from reaching 50% proficiency.
Strong results were also seen at individual schools. Fourth-grade students at J. C. Lynch Elementary School achieved a 77% Meets and Exceeds rate in ELA.
Scranton Elementary STEAM Academy also posted impressive results, with 76.5% of sixth-grade students and 70% of fourth-grade students achieving Meets and Exceeds.
The results reflect the impact of focused instruction, strong teaching and learning practices and the continued commitment of FSD3 educators and students. The district will continue working to sustain this momentum while accelerating growth for students who remain below proficiency.
Middle School Math Achievement Continues to Improve
FSD3’s middle school mathematics results at Dr. Ronald E. McNair School of Digital Communication and Leadership and J. Paul Truluck Creative Arts and Science Magnet School also show steady and meaningful improvement from 2024 through 2026.
The percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations more than doubled, increasing from 10.2% in 2024 to 21.6% in 2026, an 11.4 percentage-point gain.
The strongest growth occurred in the Meets category, where the percentage of students meeting expectations increased from 6.6% in 2024 to 18.1% in 2026, an 11.5 percentage-point increase.
The results demonstrate a clear upward trajectory in middle school mathematics achievement and reflect the continued impact of focused instruction, intentional student support and a commitment to student success.
While there is still work to be done to increase the number of students reaching proficiency, the results provide strong evidence that students are moving in the right direction and that a foundation for continued growth is being established.
Science Achievement Reaches Highest Level in Historical Data
FSD3’s science results also demonstrate a strong overall trajectory of growth. District performance increased from 16.8% in 2020-2021 to 33.35% in 2025-2026, representing an increase of 16.55 percentage points.
Following a temporary decline in 2022-2023, science proficiency rebounded strongly, increasing by nearly six percentage points from 2024-2025 to 2025-2026. The current results represent the highest level of science achievement in the district’s historical data set.
Scranton Elementary STEAM Academy’s sixth-grade students demonstrated exceptional growth in science, increasing by 43.1 percentage points to reach 70.6% Meets and Exceeds.
The achievement highlights the impact of intentional instruction, strong student engagement and the school’s continued focus on STEM learning.
“These results give us a strong foundation to build upon,” Suber said. “We will continue to celebrate the progress our students are making while remaining focused on the students who need additional support. We have the right people, the right focus and a shared commitment to continue moving FSD3 forward.”
As the district begins the 2026-2027 school year, FSD3 will continue to use assessment data to guide instruction, identify student needs and support teachers and school leaders in accelerating student achievement.
“Our students are showing us what is possible when we remain focused and work together,” Suber said. “We will continue to raise expectations, provide the support our students need and build on this momentum because every student deserves the opportunity to succeed.”