FAQs and Statistics

Whether you’re a parent, a business owner or both, the impact of Personal Pathways to Success is certain to leave you with a few questions. For answers, click on the audience category that describes you.

Business Community
Ambassadors
Parents
Regional Education Centers

 

Statistics

Education

The current situation of South Carolina’s public school students is troubling.

• Only 53% of high school students graduate in four years—the nation’s lowest “on time” graduation rate in 2003.¹
  
  
• More than 30% of 8th graders scored below the basic reading level in 2005.²
  
  
• 17% of South Carolina households were headed by high school dropouts in 2005.²

The good news is the education system is improving. South Carolina is:

• 1st in the nation in improvement on federal math tests since 1997.³
  
  
• 1st in the nation in SAT improvement since 2002.⁴
  
  
• 2nd in the nation in improving teacher quality in 2005 and 2006.⁵
  
  
• 3rd in the nation in raising academic standards and improving accountability in 2006.⁵

How will Personal Pathways to Success encourage even more improvement? By giving students a reason to stay and be actively engaged in school and prepare themselves for their career and employment goals.

 

Economy

With the rise of globalization and the low number of higher wage jobs, two gaps have developed in South Carolina.

First, there is a gap between South Carolina’s per capita income and the national average.⁶

The second gap exists between the knowledge and skills South Carolina’s workforce possesses and the requirements of available jobs in the future.

How will Personal Pathways to Success begin to close the gap? By creating a better-prepared workforce that will raise the per capita income, increase productivity and position South Carolina as a global competitor.

 

¹Education Week publisher research.
²Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2005 KIDS COUNT report.
³The Monitor Group.
⁴The College Board.
⁵Education Week.
⁶2005 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau.
*1998–1999 State Department of Education Special Survey.
**Judy, R.W., D'Amico, C., and Geipel, G.L. Workforce 2020: Work and Workers in the 21st Century.