Anderson School District One - A Tradition of Excellence

Williamston, S.C. - The South Carolina State Department of Education recently released 2023-24 assessment results. At the end of each school year, SC Ready Assessments are administered to grades 3 through 8 statewide in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics.  All grade levels of Anderson School District One ranked among the top five performing in the state. Specifically, Anderson One Grades 4 and 7 SC Ready scores ranked second in the state for ELA and Grade 8 SC Ready scores ranked third in the state for ELA.  In addition, Anderson One’s Grade 4 SC Ready mathematics scores ranked first in the state with Grades 3, 5, and 7 ranking second in the state.  West Pelzer Elementary showed tremendous gains in Grades 3 and 5 for both ELA and mathematics. Cedar Grove Elementary experienced significant gains in Grade 4 ELA; Powdersville Elementary School experienced significant gains in Grade 5 ELA; Wren Middle School experienced significant gains in Grade 7 mathematics.  High school students across the state enrolled in Algebra 1, Biology, English 2, and United States History and Constitution are administered an End of Course Examination (EOCEP) at the end of each course. Anderson One students enrolled in Biology during the 2023-24 school year earned EOCEP scores ranking fourth in the state with Wren High demonstrating the highest growth. In addition, Anderson School District One’s Palmetto High School demonstrated significant gains in mathematics achievement on the Algebra 1 EOCEP.  

“We are tremendously proud of our students’ performance throughout the district,” said Anderson School District One Superintendent, Seth Young. “Our teachers and staff work tirelessly to ensure that all students are given the opportunity to learn at high levels, and the results of these assessments reflect those efforts. These scores are another example of the tradition of excellence for which Anderson School District One is known. It is through teacher collaboration, student effort, and parental support that Anderson One continuously fosters a school culture that focuses on student success and achievement in academics and beyond.”

Anderson District One State Ranking by:

*Individual student scores are reported in one of four categories: Does Not Meet Expectations, Approaches Expectations, Meets Expectations, or Exceeds Expectations. Rankings are based on the total percentage of students at each grade level who Meet or Exceed Expectations.

“Academic achievement begins with a school board that places students first. We could not ask for a better set of school board members. Anderson School District One is also blessed to have a talented and caring group of administrators, teachers, and staff members who work hard to ensure all students have an opportunity to learn,” added Assistant Superintendent for Administration, Dr. Jeff Wilson. “We are incredibly grateful for our extraordinary community members and parental support of which both are instrumental in Anderson One’s success. Despite being one of the lowest funded school districts in the state and having a poverty index of over 50%, our students continue to perform at extraordinary levels, and we could not be more proud.”

     During the 2023-24 school year, West Pelzer Elementary's commitment to fostering collaborative professional development and empowering student leadership yielded exceptional results with an impressive increase in test scores that reflects the effectiveness of their integrated approaches.  

West Pelzer Elementary Principal, Amy Bagwell shared, “We are incredibly proud of the progress our students have made and the work of our teachers. The synergy between our Professional Learning Communities and the 'Leader in Me' program has created a dynamic and supportive learning environment. These results affirm the value of our dedicated efforts and commitment to continuous improvement in education.” 

Anderson School District One remains committed to advancing educational strategies that enhance each student’s educational experience while ensuring student success and continues to look forward to building on this momentum providing our students with the tools and opportunities they need to thrive.