South Carolina, Illinois report cards show stark divide between funding, proficiency

The newest state report cards are highlighting the disconnect between education funding and academic achievement.

South Carolina and Illinois have just released their 2024-25 state report cards, and despite spending significantly less per pupil the red state is far outperforming the blue.

The Palmetto State reported 60% of its public students meeting or exceeding reading standards, as well as 45% in math, 50% in science and 46% in U.S. History and the Constitution. In comparison, reading scores were just 47% and math 39% in 2022.

South Carolina’s graduation rate also has hit a 10-year high of 87%.

State Superintendent Ellen Weaver credited the state’s success to setting high expectations.

“We’ve been really strategic here, as a state, in thinking about how we set high expectations but then how we align high support to help our students and teachers meet those expectations,” Weaver explained. 

“We have to make sure that our diplomas are worth more than the piece of paper that they’re written on.” 

In contrast, Illinois’ scores were lower than South Carolina’s – 52% in English Language Arts, 38% in math, and 45% in science, with a graduation rate of 85%. 

Additionally, some observers are concerned Illinois’ scores only increased from last year because the state modified its proficiency scoring system – also referred to as “cut scores.” 

Last year, only 39% of students were proficient in reading and 28% in math. 

Meanwhile, South Carolina spends less than the national average – just $14,900 per pupil and Illinois, on the other hand, is one of the Top 10 spenders, giving schools nearly $22,000 per pupil.  

Moreover, Illinois and other blue states have come under fire for lowering standards to artificially boost academic performance. One policy expert in Wisconsin even accused the state of “gaslighting families” by manipulating accountability metrics. 

Illinois State Superintendent Tony Sanders argues proficiency scores would have improved even if minimum passing scores had remained the same. 

“They would have increased if we had kept the same cut scores. However, we changed the cut scores, so we can’t tell you what they would have been, but we know they would have improved,” Sanders said. 

In contrast, South Carolina has championed education reforms such as the science of reading and school choice.