Are South Carolina schools really the worst in the nation?

In U.S. News & World Report’s inaugural ranking of the 50 states, South Carolina holds the dubious distinction of last place for education. Cindy Landrum of Greenville Journal taps education experts to break down how the ranking is derived. She speaks with Jason McCreary, Greenville County Schools’ director of accountability and quality assurance; Melanie Burton, executive director of the S.C. Oversight Committee; and Furman University education professor Paul Thomas, who says the education ranking is far less about education than socioeconomics. “This ranking is a direct reflection of political negligence. Our schools don’t legislate. It’s not like our schools are without any fault, but how schools function is a reflection of political leadership. South Carolina is failing our children, not our children are failing school,” said Thomas.