A new report by the Southern Regional Education Board ranks South Carolina near the bottom of the nation on graduation rates and says half the state’s high schools are “dropout factories”.

Crestview Elementary’s Odyssey of the Mind Team was recognized for their achievements by the State Board of Education at the Board meeting in Columbia Wednesday.

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.

Jim Rex says public education is critical to the state’s economic vitality.

South Carolina Education Superintendent Jim Rex said Thursday he won’t seek a second term. Rex says his decision won’t be impacted by whether he decides to run for governor in 2010.

The average SAT scores for South Carolina’s Class of 2009 in public schools fell six points from the previous year according to the state Department of Education. Ten Upstate districts had SAT composite scores that were above the national average.

A new first-in-the-nation partnership sends private donations directly to South Carolina public school classrooms.

The State Budget and Control Board meets Thursday at 10 a.m. in Columbia, and educators are bracing for news they are about to be hit with another budget cut of four to five percent.

Class of 2009 shatters record for college scholarships with $869 million in awards

Schools expect even bigger cuts.

Dwight Drake brings list of Governor candidates to

Rex would run as a Democrat and reportedly plans to make a decision on entering the governor’s race by early September.

Michelin North America announced a new program Tuesday morning the company says will provide help to Upstate schools for the upcoming academic year. Every major company facility in South Carolina will adopt a public school in need.

Michelin North America says it is creating a new program that the tire company says will help public schools across South Carolina.

Whitlock Junior High in Spartanburg District 7 is one of four schools in South Carolina, that have struggled to improve student achievement, volunteered for comprehensive makeovers that will begin this year.