Most schools hold line or improve

Oconee County public schools are receiving their latest report cards, as part of an era of increasing accountability. And Dr. Mike Lucas, county superintendent, predicts that his employers, the county school trustees, will like what they see from the state Department of Education and the state Education Oversight Committee. Most county schools maintained or improved on their rating in 2011. The following schools and the district were rated “excellent” for substantially exceeding progress toward state goals: Blue Ridge Elementary, Fair-Oak Elementary, Keowee Elementary, Walhalla Elementary, Tamassee-Salem High, Walhalla High, and Hamilton Career Center. The 2012 Report Card also provides such data as the Oconee district spends on average $9,966 per student; the average teacher earns $48,163. The four-year graduation rate for the district is up from 77.1% to 81.1%.