We’re celebrating Mari McTamney, principal of Buford High School! Thank you for leading with purpose and supporting the students and staff who make BHS special.
Lancaster County School District is recognizing progress across its schools following the release of the 2025-26 state report cards by the South Carolina Department of Education on Monday.
Highlights from the 2025–2026 results include:
· Nine schools rated Excellent: Two more LCSD schools earned the state’s highest overall rating compared with the previous year.
· Strong high school ratings: Three of the District’s four high schools earned an Excellent rating.
· Strong middle school growth: All the District’s middle schools received a rating of Average or better.
· Fewer schools rated Below Average: The number of LCSD schools in this category decreased from four to two.
· Improved student achievement: On the SC READY assessments for grades three through eight, 67.3 percent of LCSD students met or exceeded expectations in English language arts, compared with 61.5 percent statewide. In mathematics, 60.6 percent met or exceeded expectations, compared with 47.8 percent statewide.
· Growth in college and career readiness: The percentage of graduates identified as college or career ready increased from 72.6 percent to 78.1 percent.
· Graduation rate above the state average: LCSD’s four-year graduation rate reached 88.1 percent, exceeding the state rate of 87.5 percent.
· No Unsatisfactory overall ratings: None of the district’s 22 schools received an overall rating of Unsatisfactory.
· Four-Point Gap: The District is exactly 4 points away from 100% of schools rated Average or above.
To view the 2025–2026 South Carolina School Report Cards, visit the SC School Report Cards website: https://www.screportcards.com/overview/?q=eT0yMDI2JnQ9RCZzaWQ9MjkwMTAwMA
Read the full story on our website: https://www.lancastercsd.com/article/3187759
Highlights from the 2025–2026 results include:
· Nine schools rated Excellent: Two more LCSD schools earned the state’s highest overall rating compared with the previous year.
· Strong high school ratings: Three of the District’s four high schools earned an Excellent rating.
· Strong middle school growth: All the District’s middle schools received a rating of Average or better.
· Fewer schools rated Below Average: The number of LCSD schools in this category decreased from four to two.
· Improved student achievement: On the SC READY assessments for grades three through eight, 67.3 percent of LCSD students met or exceeded expectations in English language arts, compared with 61.5 percent statewide. In mathematics, 60.6 percent met or exceeded expectations, compared with 47.8 percent statewide.
· Growth in college and career readiness: The percentage of graduates identified as college or career ready increased from 72.6 percent to 78.1 percent.
· Graduation rate above the state average: LCSD’s four-year graduation rate reached 88.1 percent, exceeding the state rate of 87.5 percent.
· No Unsatisfactory overall ratings: None of the district’s 22 schools received an overall rating of Unsatisfactory.
· Four-Point Gap: The District is exactly 4 points away from 100% of schools rated Average or above.
To view the 2025–2026 South Carolina School Report Cards, visit the SC School Report Cards website: https://www.screportcards.com/overview/?q=eT0yMDI2JnQ9RCZzaWQ9MjkwMTAwMA
Read the full story on our website: https://www.lancastercsd.com/article/3187759
Today’s Principal Appreciation Month spotlight shines on Sheritha Whitener of Erwin Elementary School! Thank you for the leadership, care, and encouragement you bring to your school community.
REMINDER:
Upcoming Lancaster County School Board of Trustees Meeting:
The LCSD Board of Trustees Regular Meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on October 13, 2026, at 300 S. Catawba Street, Lancaster, SC.
Upcoming Lancaster County School Board of Trustees Meeting:
The LCSD Board of Trustees Regular Meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on October 13, 2026, at 300 S. Catawba Street, Lancaster, SC.
Today, we’re shining the Principal Appreciation Month spotlight on Terry Vaughn Jr. of McDonald Green Elementary! Thank you for your dedication to leading, supporting, and encouraging your school community.
Principal Appreciation Month wouldn’t be complete without celebrating Ashley Bradley of Buford Middle School! Thank you for your leadership and for making a difference in the lives of students and staff every day.
We’re celebrating Chucky Rivers of Discovery School! Thank you for your leadership and commitment to creating opportunities for students to learn and succeed.
Today, we’re celebrating Arthur Bridges, principal of A. R. Rucker Middle School! Thank you for leading, encouraging, and showing up for your students and staff each day.
Today, the spotlight is on Keisha Witherspoon of Clinton Elementary! Thank you for leading, encouraging, and supporting your school community each day.
Happy National Coaches Day!
Today, October 6, we celebrate the mentors, trainers, and leaders who coach, encourage, and inspire our students — in the classroom, on the field, and everywhere in between.
Thank you to all of our instructional and athletic coaches for helping our students and staff grow, succeed, and reach their full potential!
👏 Help us celebrate! Tag a coach who has made a difference.
#NationalCoachesDay #OneLancaster #LCSDProud #PremierDistrict
Today, October 6, we celebrate the mentors, trainers, and leaders who coach, encourage, and inspire our students — in the classroom, on the field, and everywhere in between.
Thank you to all of our instructional and athletic coaches for helping our students and staff grow, succeed, and reach their full potential!
👏 Help us celebrate! Tag a coach who has made a difference.
#NationalCoachesDay #OneLancaster #LCSDProud #PremierDistrict
Principal Appreciation Month continues with Dr. Gary Heyward of Barr Street Learning Center! Thank you for your leadership, dedication, and commitment to helping students succeed.
💻 Technology Quiet Hours are back for the 2026–2027 school year!
To support student well-being, LCSD devices will automatically enter Quiet Hours overnight, helping promote healthy sleep habits, cyber safety, and responsible technology use.
🕙 Elementary: 10 p.m. – 5 a.m.
🕛 Middle & High: 12 a.m. – 5 a.m.
Together, we're creating healthy habits that help students succeed in and out of the classroom.
#OneLancaster #LCSDProud #CyberSafety
To support student well-being, LCSD devices will automatically enter Quiet Hours overnight, helping promote healthy sleep habits, cyber safety, and responsible technology use.
🕙 Elementary: 10 p.m. – 5 a.m.
🕛 Middle & High: 12 a.m. – 5 a.m.
Together, we're creating healthy habits that help students succeed in and out of the classroom.
#OneLancaster #LCSDProud #CyberSafety
Today’s Principal Appreciation Month spotlight is on Heather Jackson of Van Wyck Elementary! Thank you for your leadership, encouragement, and dedication to the students and staff you serve.
Upcoming Lancaster County School Board of Trustees Meeting:
The LCSD Board of Trustees Regular Meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on October 13, 2026, at 300 S. Catawba Street, Lancaster, SC.
The LCSD Board of Trustees Regular Meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on October 13, 2026, at 300 S. Catawba Street, Lancaster, SC.
Start your engines! The Lancaster County Career Center is hosting Cruise-In 4 Careers!
Come out for a day of cool cars, good music, food, and career-focused fun while supporting career and technical education opportunities for our students.
📅 Saturday, October 17
⏰ 10 AM–2 PM
📍 Lancaster County Career Center | 625 Normandy Road
🚘 Car Entry: $10
Check out classic and new-gen cars, drag cars, motorcycles, side-by-sides, Jeeps, trucks, and 4x4s — and stop by the open greenhouse while you’re there!
Bring the family and join us for Cruise-In 4 Careers!
#OneLancaster #LCSDProud #CruiseIn4Careers #CareerReady #CTE
Come out for a day of cool cars, good music, food, and career-focused fun while supporting career and technical education opportunities for our students.
📅 Saturday, October 17
⏰ 10 AM–2 PM
📍 Lancaster County Career Center | 625 Normandy Road
🚘 Car Entry: $10
Check out classic and new-gen cars, drag cars, motorcycles, side-by-sides, Jeeps, trucks, and 4x4s — and stop by the open greenhouse while you’re there!
Bring the family and join us for Cruise-In 4 Careers!
#OneLancaster #LCSDProud #CruiseIn4Careers #CareerReady #CTE
The people behind the shine!
Today, we celebrate the incredible custodians who keep our schools clean, safe, and ready for learning every day.
👏 Know a custodian who deserves a shoutout? Drop their name, school, and a 💚 in the comments so we can celebrate them!
#OneLancaster #LCSDProud #CustodianAppreciationDay
Today, we celebrate the incredible custodians who keep our schools clean, safe, and ready for learning every day.
👏 Know a custodian who deserves a shoutout? Drop their name, school, and a 💚 in the comments so we can celebrate them!
#OneLancaster #LCSDProud #CustodianAppreciationDay
🍂 Fall Break is almost here!
Here’s a quick reminder as we head into the break:
Fall Break: October 5–9
Teacher Workday: October 12 — No school for students
Students Return: October 13
We hope our students, families, and staff enjoy a safe, relaxing, and well-deserved break. See you soon!
#OneLancaster #LCSDProud #FallBreak #PremierDistrict
Here’s a quick reminder as we head into the break:
Fall Break: October 5–9
Teacher Workday: October 12 — No school for students
Students Return: October 13
We hope our students, families, and staff enjoy a safe, relaxing, and well-deserved break. See you soon!
#OneLancaster #LCSDProud #FallBreak #PremierDistrict
October is Principal Appreciation Month!
Great schools need great leaders — and across Lancaster County, our principals lead with purpose, support their teams, and put students first every day.
Throughout October, we’re putting the spotlight on the incredible leaders behind our schools. Stay tuned as we celebrate each of our principals with special videos all month long!
Help us kick off the celebration!
💬 Give your principal a shoutout in the comments!
#PrincipalAppreciationMonth #OneLancaster #LCSDProud #PremierDistrict
Great schools need great leaders — and across Lancaster County, our principals lead with purpose, support their teams, and put students first every day.
Throughout October, we’re putting the spotlight on the incredible leaders behind our schools. Stay tuned as we celebrate each of our principals with special videos all month long!
Help us kick off the celebration!
💬 Give your principal a shoutout in the comments!
#PrincipalAppreciationMonth #OneLancaster #LCSDProud #PremierDistrict
Helping students starts with knowing who’s here and who’s missing. Thank you, Shimika Hunt, attendance clerk at Indian Land High School, for helping provide the information our school team needs to support students.
A big LCSD thank-you to Tiffany Wallace at Indian Land Middle School! We appreciate your work as the attendance clerk and the daily support you provide to families and colleagues. Help us celebrate with a thank-you in the comments!
