SC School Districts are Losing $1.5 Billion a Year for School Operations
School districts in South Carolina are losing a large and growing amount of local revenue for school operations from the property tax exemption for primary residence homes and corporate tax abatements such as FILOTs. In combination, the net operations loss for all school districts in South Carolina is nearing $1.5 billion per year and growing.
Too Many Students are Missing Too Much School
More than one out of five students in South Carolina public schools are chronically absent (miss 18 or more school days in a school year). This rate is nearly twice as high as before the Covid pandemic. Large increases occurred across student demographic groups and all school levels.
The Teacher Shortage in South Carolina
The percentage of teaching positions not filled at the start of the 2024-25 school year dropped from the previous year but is still twice as high as ten years earlier. The teacher turnover rate continues to inch higher, and the percentage of teachers teaching out of field is twice as high at high poverty schools than at low poverty schools.
Steady Increase in the Hispanic or Latino Student Population
The percentage of Hispanic or Latino students in our public schools is steadily increasing. In the last five years the percentage in South Carolina rose from 10% to 14%. This presents both challenges and opportunities for our schools.
Continuing Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Students
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to negatively affect student achievement and well-being in three main areas: chronic absenteeism; mental health and social skills; and math achievement.