CLINTON, S.C. — Three Clinton-area schools earned overall ratings of Average and two elementary schools landed at Below Average on the 2026 state school report cards, according to results shared by Laurens County School District 56.
Clinton High School, Clinton Middle School and Eastside Elementary School received Average overall ratings. Clinton Elementary School and Joanna-Woodson Elementary School were rated Below Average.
Several schools scored higher in individual categories. Clinton High was rated Good in Academic Achievement, Good in College and Career Readiness and Good in School Climate. Clinton Middle was rated Excellent in School Climate, and Eastside Elementary earned a Good rating in Academic Achievement and Excellent in School Climate.
District leaders said the results point to a need to lift reading and math skills at the elementary level. The district is adding small-group help through instructional interventionists, and school leadership teams have formed committees to study subgroup performance data and adjust teaching.
The local results arrived the same day State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver released statewide figures at the State House. Across South Carolina, the number of schools rated Excellent overall rose from 270 to 320, and nearly a quarter of elementary schools improved their overall rating from 2025.
The statewide on-time graduation rate reached 87.5%, the highest in a decade education department.
