S.C. Student’s Math Test Scores Show Little Change

Fourth and eighth grade students in South Carolina remained at or near the national average on standardized mathematics tests, according to the state Department of Education.

The tests - required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act - showed the state’s eighth-graders averaged 280 on the 500-point scale for the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

The U.S. Department of Education says that mark was not statistically different from the national average of 282.

The state’s fourth-graders missed the national NAEP average by three points - 236 compared to 239.

“NAEP continues to show South Carolina in the middle of the pack compared to other states,“ said State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex in a written statement.

“Whether you’re looking at overall scores or achievement gaps, we’re in the middle of the pack,“ said Rex. “If we want to be competitive as a state, we’ve got to do better.  We have to accelerate the pace of improvement.“