Laurens County School District 55 Reports Significant Growth in English Language Arts on 2024-25 State Assessments
September 2, 2025
Laurens County School District 55 (LCSD 55) is continuing to build a 5-star culture of excellence and is proud to announce strong gains in student achievement on the 2024-25 South Carolina state assessments. The district saw significant growth in English Language Arts (ELA) across most schools, outpacing statewide improvement.
Statewide, ELA average proficiency increased by 6.1%. Laurens 55 surpassed this growth with an impressive 8.9% average increase, reflecting the district’s commitment to literacy and instructional excellence.
“This success is the direct result of the dedication and hard work of our teachers and school leaders,” said Dr. Jody Penland, District Superintendent.
Superintendent Penland continued, “We are seeing the payoff from our intentional focus on foundational and structured literacy at the elementary level and the full implementation of the TAP Model district-wide last school year.”
The TAP Model, a research-based system of school improvement, emphasizes collaboration, ongoing professional learning, data-driven instruction, and performance-based pay. In Laurens 55, teachers and leaders embraced this model by:
- Analyzing student data to inform instruction,
• Adjusting teaching practices to meet student needs, and
• Engaging in weekly cluster professional learning sessions to continuously refine their craft.
The district has aligned its goal with the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) to have at least 75% of students at or above grade level by 2030. LCSD 55 trains its educators and supports them in the implementation of LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling), a science-based foundational literacy program.
District leaders note that these targeted strategies directly supported the district’s ELA growth and will continue to serve as a foundation for broader academic success. Additionally, LCSD 55 notes the districtwide average growth of 1.7% in math, which is the same statewide average growth in math.
Looking ahead and through the continued leadership of Director Wendy Burgess and the LCSD 55 Teaching & Learning Department, Laurens 55 will expand its focus to mathematics and science. With the adoption of the new South Carolina College and Career Ready Mathematics Standards and resources this school year (including a STEM -Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics Bus, and a STEM Educator), the district is committed to ensuring that all students have the skills and support they need to succeed in every subject.
“Our growth in literacy is a win for our students, our schools, and our community. We will continue to build on this momentum and apply the same level of focus and collaboration to math and science instruction in the year ahead,” said Dr. Penland.
