South-Carolina

What SC is doing to combat rising rates of students missing school

Published

2 years ago

July 31, 2024

What SC is doing to combat rising rates of students missing school

COLUMBIA, S.C. — More students across the country and in South Carolina are missing school now than in the years before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The latest data, from the 2022-2023 school year, shows one in four students in the Palmetto State were considered chronically absent from school, just below the national average of 26%.

That state figure is nearly double from the 2018-2019 school year, when South Carolina’s rate was 13.1%.

A student is considered chronically absent when they miss at least 10% of the school year, so 18 days in a standard 180-day calendar.

Some education researchers call chronic absenteeism the greatest challenge facing American public schools post-pandemic, and South Carolina will soon put more focus on combatting it.

“Chronic absenteeism can really impact student achievement and student success academically,” Tenell Felder, communications manager for the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee, said.

The Education Oversight Committee oversees the accountability system for the state’s public schools.

It will soon launch a study and focus groups with South Carolina students to try to get to the heart of this issue and then develop recommendations later this fall.

“That could assist schools, teachers, principals, and parents in making sure that students are indeed present in school and ready to learn,” Felder said.

Studies have shown the negative impacts of chronic absenteeism include students being more likely to read below their grade level as well as later dropping out of school.

South Carolina School Report Cards indicate all districts grapple with chronic absenteeism but in varying degrees, ranging from a statewide low two years ago of 7.3% in Fort Mill to a high of more than half of all students, 51.9%, in Lexington School District Four.

On the higher end was Laurens County School District 56, where nearly one in three students were considered chronically absent.

“It’s just old-fashioned hard work and consistency and persistency, and not giving up,” Assistant Superintendent David Pitts said.

Pitts said the district has taken a hands-on approach to addressing absenteeism that includes making phone calls, not robocalls, for every absence, home visits, and even court orders if it rises to the level of truancy.

In one year, Laurens 56 cut its chronic absentee rate from 31.2% percent to 20.7%, which Pitts attributes to the work of school staff and principals.

“They just would not give up on a kid,” he said. “They would not accept, ‘I’m just not coming to school.’”

You can see the chronic absentee rates for all school districts across South Carolina for the 2022-2023 school year below.

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South-Carolina

South Carolina Room at CCPL Main Library closes May 1 for 8-10 weeks

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

South Carolina Room at CCPL Main Library closes May 1 for 8-10 weeks

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Researchers and history buffs will soon have to plan around a temporary closure at the Charleston County Public Library’s Main Library as renovations approach.

The library’s South Carolina Room, located at the Main Library at 68 Calhoun St., will temporarily close to the public beginning May 1, as the building prepares for renovation later this year.

The South Carolina Room is expected to be unavailable for about eight to 10 weeks during the transition. During that time, services, collections and in-person research assistance will not be accessible.

READ MORE | “Charleston County Public Library introduces new Youth Library Card options.”

The department will reopen to the public in a temporary location at 1248 Camp Road, though an official reopening date has not yet been announced.

The South Carolina Room is CCPL’s primary local history and genealogy research department. It preserves and provides access to materials documenting the history and people of Charleston County and South Carolina, including historical documents, maps, photographs, manuscripts, newspapers and other archival resources used for scholarly research, family history and community exploration.

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CCPL said the temporary relocation will allow continued preservation of materials while renovations at the Main Library are underway. Updates on reopening timelines and services will be shared at ccpl.org and through the library’s official communication channels.

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South-Carolina

South Carolina Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Feb. 25, 2026

Published

2 days ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

South Carolina Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Feb. 25, 2026

The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Feb. 25, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Feb. 25 drawing

50-52-54-56-64, Powerball: 23, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Feb. 25 drawing

Midday: 1-3-3, FB: 3

Evening: 1-6-4, FB: 6

Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Feb. 25 drawing

Midday: 4-6-9-8, FB: 3

Evening: 2-6-1-8, FB: 6

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Feb. 25 drawing

Midday: 10

Evening: 08

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from Feb. 25 drawing

26-30-36-38-39

Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from Feb. 25 drawing

11-24-47-59-63, Powerball: 05

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:

For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.

Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.

SC Education Lottery

P.O. Box 11039

Columbia, SC 29211-1039

For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.

Columbia Claims Center

1303 Assembly Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.

For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.

When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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South-Carolina

Why South Carolina is having a Darius Rucker concert instead of spring football game

Published

3 days ago

February 25, 2026

Press Room

Why South Carolina is having a Darius Rucker concert instead of spring football game

COLUMBIA — South Carolina is hosting a Darius Rucker concert and block party in lieu of the 2026 spring football game.

The university announced on Feb. 25 that “Gamecock Athletics, in partnership with Rock Block, has announced that country music superstar and longtime Gamecock supporter Darius Rucker, along with country singer, songwriter and actress, Lauren Alaina, will headline the Garnet & Black Spring Fest.”

Williams-Brice Stadium has been under construction since the end of the 2025 football season and will not be operational in April, when coach Shane Beamer typically hosts the Garnet and Black spring game.

The event will take place on Saturday, April 11, at Colonial Life Arena with a free pre-conference block party at the corner of Lincoln and Greene Streets, outside of CLA.

Rucker is a Charleston native and a South Carolina graduate. His band Hootie and the Blowfish was formed at the university.

Tickets will first go to Gamecock Club members, Letterman Association members, University of South Carolina students and Colonial Life Arena Cyber Club members. It’s open to all ages.

The block party will begin at 1 p.m. ET and will feature a meet and greet with Gamecock football players, food and drinks, inflatables, live music and more. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m.

“Due to the ongoing stadium construction, our ability to host a spring game this year was going to be challenging as our top priority is ensuring Williams-Brice Stadium is ready for Sept. 5 home opener,” athletics director Jeremiah Donati said in the release. “As a result, the Garnet & Black Spring Fest was created to not only provide fans with the opportunity to meet and greet our football student-athletes but to come together as Gamecocks.”

Rucker is often involved in things on campus, ranging from attending games to supporting Beamer and women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley, or things more formal like events like these.

At a concert in Columbia in December 2024, Beamer joined Rucker on stage to sing “Wagon Wheel.”

Alaina is from Rossville, Georgia.

South Carolina has not announced dates for spring football practice.

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky‪@bylulukesin.bsky.social‬

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