Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests increased

While the Horry County schools system rates above the State schools average in many achievements the rest of the States schools are not so lucky.

The state Education Department says 80 percent of South Carolina's elementary and middle schools did not meet federal education goals.

The agency announced Wednesday that 160 of the state's 875 public primary schools, or 18 percent, made "adequate yearly progress" under No Child Left Behind.

That's down from 39 percent last year.

The drop comes despite students' improvements on tests taken in the spring. The percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations on the state's Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests increased across every grade and subject compared to 2007.

Federal goals for South Carolina also jumped. Nearly 60 percent of students had to score "proficient" or "advanced" to make adequate progress, up from about 40 percent.