School Readiness - SC First Steps

School Readiness

South Carolina’s long-term prosperity depends on the health and wellbeing of our state’s 350,000 babies, toddlers, and young children. Every one of them deserves an opportunity to thrive, but too few are getting the care and support they need from the start. By the time South Carolina’s young children arrive at school, more than half have already fallen behind.

In South Carolina, many young children face challenges that can be barriers to academic and career success.

42 percent of children ages 0-5 live in poverty or low-income households
57 percent of children ages 3-4 are not enrolled in preschool
10 percent of babies are born with low birthweight
 43 percent of children ages 0-5 are read to less than 4 days per week
59 percent of kindergartners not ready to start school

Unfortunately, those who start behind often stay behind, leading to an achievement gap that persists into adulthood. Closing the gap after a child begins school is costly and difficult. Our best chance to put children on the path to success is in the early years – before birth and through age five – when high-quality early interventions have the greatest long-term impact.

Explore More

  1. 5-Year Estimates: American Community Survey (2018-2022). Table B17024. US Census Bureau
  2. 5-Year Estimates: American Community Survey (2018-2022). Table B17024. US Census Bureau.
  3. Births (2022). Vital Statistics: South Carolina Department of Public Health.
  4. Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative. 2021-2022 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) data query (Indicator 6.7).
  5. SC Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (Fall 2023). South Carolina Department of Education.