There was a time when South Carolina's education system was in crisis. The state once struggled with a graduation rate hovering around 51% - meaning nearly half of students who started high school never finished. It was a statistic that made national headlines and put enormous pressure on state officials to reform the education system.

Fast forward to today, and the transformation is nothing short of remarkable. South Carolina's high school graduation rate now stands at 86.7% for the 2024-2025 school year - a 10-year high for the state. That's not just improvement; that's a complete reversal of fortune.

What Changed?

The turnaround didn't happen overnight. South Carolina invested heavily in early childhood education, implemented rigorous accountability standards, and focused on keeping at-risk students engaged. Teachers received better training and support, while schools identified struggling students earlier and provided targeted interventions.

The state also tackled the dropout crisis by creating alternative pathways to graduation. Career and technical education programs gave students practical skills alongside academic knowledge. Virtual schools and flexible scheduling helped students who couldn't succeed in traditional settings.

The College-Ready Gap

But here's where it gets interesting: while 86.7% of students are graduating, only 75.1% are considered college or career ready. That 11-point gap reveals an important truth - getting a diploma and being prepared for what comes next aren't always the same thing.

Still, even this metric shows progress. Four years ago, the gap between graduation rates and college readiness was twice as large. The percentage of schools earning "Good" or better ratings for college readiness jumped from 63% to 75% in just one year.

Where South Carolina Stands Nationally

So is South Carolina still the worst? Not even close. California currently has the nation's lowest graduation rate at 83.9%, followed by Texas at 84.4%. South Carolina now sits right around the national average of 86.4%.

The national landscape tells a complex story:

Virginia leads with the highest graduation rate for 2024
Rates range from about 76% to 93% across states
The U.S. average has held steady around 87% in recent years
Some states still struggle with rates below 85%

The Work Continues

While South Carolina's progress deserves celebration, education leaders know the job isn't finished. That 13% of students who don't graduate on time still represents thousands of young people facing uncertain futures. And the college-readiness gap means many graduates will need remedial courses or additional training.

The state continues to push reforms, focusing on both raising graduation rates further and ensuring those diplomas represent genuine preparation for college or careers. It's a reminder that education metrics aren't just numbers - they're young lives and futures hanging in the balance.

From worst to middle-of-the-pack might not sound inspiring, but for South Carolina, it represents decades of hard work, billions in investment, and most importantly, hundreds of thousands of students who got their diplomas when previous generations didn't.

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