U.S. News & World Report: District Five among the top in SC for college readiness

IRMO, SC – Lexington-Richland School District Five is a leader in South Carolina for preparing its students for college, and one of its schools is ranked among top high schools in the state and nation, a new U.S. News & World Report ranking shows.

All three of the district’s high schools have college readiness scores above the state average, according to the national publication’s ranking. Dutch Fork High School is ranked sixth best high school in the state and is listed in the top five percent of schools nationally.

“We are extremely proud to be ranked among the top 10 schools in South Carolina by U.S. News & World Report,” Dutch Fork High Principal Dr. Greg Owings said. “This achievement is made possible by our outstanding students, teachers and staff, dedicated parents, and supportive district office personnel. We will continue to set high standards for our students and focus on top quality teaching and learning.”

U.S. News collected and analyzed data on more than 21,000 public high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Schools were evaluated on state-mandated assessments, as well as the academic achievement levels of its minority and economically disadvantaged students. Performance on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams were also used.

District Five posted the third highest college readiness score out of 87 school districts in South Carolina. This year’s U.S. News report for the district echoes a recent Washington Post ranking which also listed two of the district’s schools among the nation’s most academically rigorous and challenging high schools in the state and nation. Several District Five students have been named top scholars by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, and the district earned a federal “A” rating and an “Excellent” rating on the state accountability system.

District Five Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hefner said, “Being ranked among the top districts in our state is a testament to the focus we have on preparing our students to succeed in college and career. We applaud the work of our students, parents and educators and remain committed to pursuing educational excellence for all our students.”