The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) and South Carolina Education Oversight Committee (EOC) have released the 2026 School Report Cards, based on academic achievement from the 2025-2026 school year. Anderson School District 3 is celebrating another year of high academic achievement, with all five schools earning either Good or Excellent overall ratings.
Anderson 3 is among a select group of districts across South Carolina to achieve this distinction, reflecting a commitment to high-quality instruction, continuous improvement, and student success at every level.
The results are especially meaningful for a district with a poverty index of 74.1%, where educators continue to demonstrate that high expectations, meaningful relationships, and intentional instruction can make a lasting difference.
Crescent High School Remains an Academic Powerhouse
Crescent High School continues to stand among Anderson County's highest-performing high schools, earning the second-highest overall report card rating in Anderson County, while serving a student population with the county's second-highest high school poverty index at 70%.
Crescent earned Excellent ratings in five of the six report card performance categories, demonstrating strong performance across multiple measures of academic success.
The school also celebrated its ninth consecutive year with a graduation rate exceeding 90%, an impressive record of sustained success that reflects the collective efforts of its students, educators, families, and community.
Crescent's achievements demonstrate that academic excellence is not determined by a school's socioeconomic circumstances, but supported through high expectations, quality instruction, and a school community committed to every student's success.
Starr-Iva Middle Makes Good Academic Gains
One of this year's most encouraging stories comes from Starr-Iva Middle School, where students and teachers are seeing the results of their continued focus on academic growth.
After earning an Average overall rating in 2025, Starr-Iva improved to a Good overall rating in 2026, with gains across multiple academic indicators.
On the SC READY assessment, the percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations in mathematics climbed from 44.4% in 2025 to 53.8% in 2026, a 9.4 percentage-point increase.
English Language Arts proficiency also improved from 63.7% to 65.9%, continuing a three-year upward trend.
Starr-Iva students outperformed the statewide average in both subjects, exceeding the state mathematics proficiency rate of 47.8% and the ELA rate of 61.5%.
The school also improved its Student Progress score from 10.84 to 13.13 points out of 35, reflecting gains in academic growth measures that consider students across a range of achievement levels, including those who need additional support.
These improvements reflect the intentional work of Starr-Iva's teachers, administrators, and students as they continue building a stronger foundation for academic success.
Excellence Across All Five Schools
While Crescent High School and Starr-Iva Middle School have standout stories to celebrate, the 2026 results reflect a districtwide commitment to maintaining high standards and improving student outcomes.
All five Anderson 3 schools earned Good or Excellent overall ratings, a distinction that speaks to the collective work taking place across elementary, middle, and high school classrooms.
South Carolina's annual school report cards measure performance through indicators including academic achievement, student growth, graduation rates, college and career readiness, and school climate.
For Anderson 3, these results represent more than report card ratings. They reflect the daily commitment of educators, staff, families, and students to building meaningful opportunities for every child.
“These results are a tremendous source of pride for our entire Anderson 3 community,” said Superintendent Kathy Hipp. “To have every school earn a Good or Excellent rating speaks volumes about the dedication of our teachers, staff, students, and families. We are especially proud of the sustained excellence at Crescent High School and the significant growth we're seeing at Starr-Iva Middle School. Our theme this year is ‘Built on Purpose,’ and these results are a reflection of that commitment. Academic excellence doesn't happen by accident. It's built through intentional instruction, high expectations, strong relationships, and a shared belief in what every student can achieve. We have so much to celebrate, but we also know our work is never finished. We're committed to continuing to build on this success for every student, in every school.”
As Anderson 3 celebrates this year's accomplishments, the district remains focused on building upon its success through effective instruction, strong community partnerships, and continued investment in student achievement.
Excellence doesn't happen by accident. In Anderson 3, it's Built on Purpose.
Full school and district report cards are available at www.screportcards.com.
