Laurens Elementary School Student Makes a Perfect Score on South Carolina Math Assessment
October 30, 2023
Laurens County School District 55 (LCSD 55) Superintendent Dr. Ameca C. Thomas was proud to recognize Wyatt Elijah Gambill at the October 2023 LCSD 55 School Board Meeting.
Dr. Thomas called Laurens Elementary School (LES) Principal Dr. Carlos Littlejohn, LES third-grade teacher Claire Pratt, Wyatt Gambill, and his family to walk the stage of E.B. Morse Elementary. Dr. Thomas handed Wyatt a special plaque to honor him for his perfect test score in the 2023 Third-Grade Math South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Assessments (SC READY).
The Math SC READY Assessments are aligned with the 2015 South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Standards for Mathematics. Per the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE), all students are required to participate in SC READY. The test is not timed, but SCDE approximates students to finish Math SC READY in 1 hour and 30 minutes. The Third-Grade Math SC READY is administered in English and contains selected response items. Wyatt Elijah Gambill took the test in Spring of 2023, and the results were just recently released.
Wyatt is surprised but proud of his accomplishment and shares this tip with other students on taking SC READY or other math assessments. “Always try your best, take your time, and work out all the problems on paper instead of doing them in your head,” said Wyatt.
Wyatt is currently a 4th-grade student at LES. His former teacher, Claire Pratt, and his current teacher, Kerry Gambrell, only have praise for Wyatt.
Claire Pratt stated, “Wyatt has always had an internal desire to learn. When he was in first grade, I was amazed at his ability to work abstractly with negative numbers. I knew then that I had a challenge for the next couple of years. By third grade, I had him working on 5th-grade math. I enjoyed pushing him just to see what he could do. I cannot wait to see his future and what successes he will have! He will be a great leader!”
Kerry Gambrell said, “Wyatt is an all-around great student. He works very hard and loves to take his learning to the next level. He is a wonderful example to all of his classmates. We are very lucky to have him a part of this classroom.”
Wyatt’s parents, Brandy Nicole Gambill and Gary Ray Gambill, Jr., are equally proud of Wyatt’s achievement.
Brandy Gambill said, “Wyatt is a true blessing to have as a son. He is so kind, and helpful, and loves to make people laugh. He loves to learn new things and enjoys explaining what he learned to anyone who will listen. You can see his whole face light up when you listen to what he has to say.”
Brandy Gambill also acknowledges LES, Claire Pratt, and Heather Morris for their impact on his son’s success with the Third-Grade Math SC READY. “Claire Pratt sat through many of Wyatt’s stories. She recognized his love of math and searched for ways to challenge him. She encouraged him to keep going instead of letting him get bored and uninterested. We were blessed to have her as his teacher for three years in Lower Montessori. Mrs. Pratt takes the time to learn about each student to figure out what they need to learn to succeed.”
“I am grateful to Claire Pratt, her assistant Heather Morris, and all the Laurens Elementary School Family for everything they do,” continued Gambill.
Dr. Thomas echoed the sense of pride for Wyatt’s accomplishment and also acknowledged those who supported him. She said, “I am incredibly proud of Wyatt’s exceptional achievement in obtaining a perfect score on the SC READY 3rd grade math standardized assessment. This remarkable accomplishment is a testament to his dedication and hard work, as well as the outstanding support provided by his parents, our educators, and staff. It serves as a reminder of the limitless potential within each and every one of our students, and we applaud his commitment to academic excellence. I am immensely proud of Wyatt’s academic achievement, and we look forward to witnessing his continued success throughout his academic journey.”
