Lexington County School District Four’s Early Childhood Center highlighted students' academic growth at a board meeting, showing gains in reading and math.

While there isn’t much data available yet for the 2025–26 school year, Principal Sonya Harrison-Young reviewed assessment results from the 2024–25 school year.

MyIGDIs is an assessment given to 4-year-old kindergarten students three times per year, measuring skills such as picture naming, rhyming, sound identification, “which one doesn’t belong” and alliteration.

During the fall of the 2024–25 school year, 21% of students demonstrated strong progress in picture naming, 14% in rhyming, 26% in sound identification, 21% in “which one doesn’t belong” and 51% in alliteration.

In the spring, there was an uptick in all categories. Forty-nine percent of students demonstrated strong progress in picture naming, 37% in rhyming, 55% in sound identification, 54% in “which one doesn’t belong” and 65% in alliteration.

Data provided for the 2025–26 school year show that 25% of students are demonstrating strong progress in picture naming, 12% in rhyming, 25% in sound identification and 23% in “which one doesn’t belong.”

I-Ready is an assessment given to 5-year-old kindergarten students, also administered three times each year.

For reading, tested elements include phonological awareness, phonics, high-frequency words, vocabulary and comprehension.

Data showed strengths in phonological awareness and comprehension, while high-frequency words remained an area for improvement.

In the fall of the 2024–25 school year, 86% of students were below grade level, 10% were early on grade level and 4% were mid or above grade level. When the test was administered again in the spring, 22% were below grade level, 34% of students were on grade level and 44% were mid or above grade level.

For the math portion of the assessment, tested elements include number and operations, algebra and algebraic thinking, measurement and data and geometry.

The highest-performing section was geometry, while the lowest-performing was measurement and data.

In the fall, 94% of students were below grade level, 4% were early on grade level and 2% were mid or above grade level. In the spring, 41% were below grade level, 21% were early on grade level and 38% were mid or above grade level.

In addition to academics, the school implemented the Student Risk Screening Scale last school year, which focuses on identifying students’ behavioral needs.

The assessment, administered three times each year, identifies students who may be at risk for challenging and antisocial behavior.

Beginning data from the 2025–26 school year show that 79% of students are considered low risk, 13% are considered moderate risk and 8% are considered high risk. During the 2024–25 school year, 14% of students were ranked high risk.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Nov. 10, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Lexington Four District Office located at 607 E. 5th St. in Swansea.