Shortfalls In SC Education

South Carolina’s children face steep academic challenges. On the 2025 SC READY assessments, only 59.6% of students met or exceeded grade-level expectations in English Language Arts, while just 43.9% did so in mathematics (South Carolina Department of Education, 2025). These results place South Carolina near the bottom nationally, ranking 38th in overall public school performance (World Population Review, 2025) and 41st (Data Pandas, 2025). For children in Title I schools and underserved communities, the gaps are even wider, limiting access to the kinds of learning experiences that build confidence and spark curiosity. Salt Marsh Kids exists to change this story. We do so in close collaboration with the dedicated teachers and administrators who inspire us daily. Their commitment to student growth fuels our mission and ensures that our programs complement and strengthen classroom learning.

Partnerships

By transforming the Lowcountry’s marshes, forests, and beaches into living classrooms, we embed literacy and numeracy into hands-on ecological exploration. Students strengthen reading, writing, and problem-solving skills while discovering the interconnectedness of the natural world. Our impact is amplified through dynamic partnerships with leading institutions and community stakeholders. These include the Center for Birds of Prey- The Avian Conservation Center, SC Sea Grant Consortium, The South Carolina Aquarium, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), Charlestown Landing, and a growing network of local private businesses committed to educational access and environmental stewardship.

Together with Salt Marsh Kids, these partners offer immersive experiences, from flight demonstrations, salt marsh aquarium labs, and marsh restoration projects, that bring science, history, and conservation to life. Whether students are observing raptors in flight, exploring tide pools, or engaging with marine biologists and park interpreters, they are building academic skills alongside wonder, resilience, and a sense of belonging.

Impact

The impact is both immediate and long-term. Research shows that children who are not proficient readers by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school (Annie E. Casey Foundation). By embedding academic skill-building into joyful, place-based experiences, Salt Marsh Kids helps reverse this trajectory, ensuring that children not only succeed in school but also grow into engaged citizens and environmental stewards.

Investing in Salt Marsh Kids is more than enrichment. It is a lifeline for children who might otherwise be left behind, and a decisive step toward a stronger, more accessible South Carolina, one where every child has entry to the transformative power of nature, community, and learning.