Passage rates for all subject areas experienced increases while the average scores for English and Algebra experienced slight declines this year on South Carolina’s End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP), according to data released this week by the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE).
“The credit for the gains in passage rates goes to our students, parents, and teachers,” said State Superintendent of Education Mick Zais. “The End-of-Course assessments provide schools with valuable information on how well students are learning the material in their courses.”
The passage rate and average score for South Carolina students increased in Biology and U.S. History and the Constitution. In Algebra, the passage increased 1.1 percent, but the average score decreased 0.4 points. U.S. History and the Constitution saw the greatest improvements in both percentage of students passing (7.8 percent) and average score (1.5 points).
State Superintendent Zais noted the decline in average score in English, even though the passage rate improved.
“Reading must continue to be the focus of our schools as we work to improve student outcomes,” said Zais. “If a student has difficulty reading, it will negatively affect his or her ability to learn any subject material.”
EOCEP test results count for 20 percent of each student’s final end of course score.
