Richland Two schools earn Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards

October 9, 2019

Eleven Richland Two schools have earned Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards for their performance during the 2018-2019 school year.

 

Gold
Forest Lake Elementary NASA Explorer School Lake Carolina Elementary School – Upper Campus
Blythewood Middle School
Silver
Bethel-Hanberry Elementary School Catawba Trail Elementary School
Polo Road Elementary School Round Top Elementary School
E.L. Wright Middle School Muller Road Middle School
Summit Parkway Middle School Blythewood High School

 

The Palmetto Gold and Silver awards program was established by the Education Accountability Act (EAA) of 1998 “to recognize and reward schools for academic achievement and for closing the achievement gap.” The State Board of Education, working with the S.C. Department of Education and S.C. Education Oversight Committee (EOC) set the revised criteria for the awards program on May 14, 2019. The criteria, which identify the general performance of schools, were based upon an analysis of the 2018 annual school report cards and upon feedback from a task force of principals, coordinated by the EOC in 2019. Additional criteria will be added in the future to recognize schools that have closed the achievement gap.

For elementary and middle schools, the criteria focus on two report card indicators: Academic Achievement and Student Progress. To be eligible to receive a Palmetto Gold or Silver designation, an elementary or middle school must receive a rating for the indicators of Academic Achievement and Student Progress as defined below:

Palmetto Gold

1) Excellent Academic Achievement and Excellent Student Progress, or

2) Excellent Academic Achievement and Good Student Progress, or

3) Good Academic Achievement and Excellent Student Progress.

Palmetto Silver

1) Average Academic Achievement and Excellent Student Progress, or

2) Good Academic Achievement and Good Student Progress, or

3) Excellent Academic Achievement and Average Student Progress.

For high schools, the Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards Program focuses on the following four report card indicators: Academic Achievement, Preparing for Success, Graduation Rate, and College/Career Readiness.

Palmetto Gold

High schools that have an Excellent rating on 3 out of the 4 indicators and a minimum of Good on the fourth indicator are eligible for the Palmetto Gold Award. A high school must also have an overall report card rating of Excellent or Good to earn a Palmetto Gold.

Palmetto Silver

High schools that have a minimum rating of Good on 3 out of the 4 indicators and no rating lower than Average on the fourth indicator are eligible for a Palmetto Silver Award. A high school must also have an overall report card rating of Average or above to meet the criteria.

 

In addition to the above grade level criteria, to be eligible to receive a Palmetto Gold or Silver designation, a school must not be designated as a Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) school or an Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI) school.