Students in Lexington County School District Three continue to make significant academic gains, with results from the 2026 South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Assessments (SC READY) showing substantial growth in both English language arts (ELA) and mathematics over the past five years.
SC READY is a statewide standardized assessment administered by the South Carolina Department of Education in the spring of each year to measure student achievement in English language arts and mathematics as required by the Education Accountability Act. The assessments are given to students in grades 3rd through 8th and provide a measure of how well students are meeting South Carolina’s academic standards for their grade level.
Lexington Three’s Five-Year Summary:
In English language arts, the percentage of Lexington Three students in grades 3rd through 8th meeting or exceeding state standards increased from 27.3% in 2021 to 54.7% in 2026 — a gain of more than 27 percentage points over five years.
Mathematics has also shown significant long-term growth. The percentage of students in grades 3rd through 8th meeting or exceeding standards increased from approximately 23% in 2021 to nearly 40% in 2026, representing a gain of nearly 17 percentage points.
Lexington Three’s 2026 Summary:
In addition to the significant five-year growth, Lexington County School District Three also saw continued improvement from 2025 to 2026. Across grades 3rd through 8th, the percentage of students meeting or exceeding standards increased by approximately 5.5 percentage points in ELA and 4.3 percentage points in mathematics. Lexington Three continued its upward trajectory in ELA growth in 2026, ranking second highest in the state after ranking third highest in 2025. Furthermore, Lexington Three has the highest combined ELA growth in South Carolina for the previous two years.
What the Numbers Mean:
The 2026 SC READY results demonstrate the continued academic progress taking place across Lexington County School District Three and highlight the district’s commitment to preparing students for success in the classroom and beyond.