Supply And Demand
SC Annual Educator Supply and Demand Reports
Overview of CERRA's Supply and Demand Reports
Each year, the SC Educator Supply and Demand Report provides a snapshot of teacher recruitment and retention efforts (and challenges) among SC school districts. Each district is asked to report data in full-time equivalents (FTEs) to account for full-time and part-time positions.
2024-2025 SC Educator Supply and Demand Report
2024-25 Supply and Demand Key Points
Data in this report were collected from 71 of 75 SC public school districts in September/October 2024. Districts were asked to report data in full-time equivalents to account for full-time and part-time positions. Additional data tables are available at cerra.org.
Teacher Vacancies
Vacancies refer to teaching and service positions that remain unfilled as the school year begins.
Districts reported a 35% decrease in teacher vacancies compared to last year.
Some of these vacancies may have been filled, and new ones may have emerged since districts submitted their Supply & Demand Survey.
Teacher Departures
Departures refer to certified educators from 2023-24 who did not return to a teaching or service position in the same school district for the 2024-25 school year.
Districts reported a 13% decrease in teacher departures compared to last year.
Of the departures, 19% retired from the profession and 27% transferred to another SC public school district.
Data for the 2023-24 report were collected from 76 public school districts, including three public charter districts, in the state. In this report, a "teacher" is a certified educator in a classroom-based teaching position or a school-based service position (school counselor, librarian, psychologist, and speech language pathologist).
Teacher Vacancies
Vacancies refer to teaching and service positions that remain unfilled as the school year begins.
Districts reported 1,613 vacant positions at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, compared to 1,474 the previous year. This is a 9% increase.
Some of the reported vacancies may have been filled since September/October when districts submitted their Supply & Demand Survey. During this time, additional teacher departures may have occurred resulting in additional vacancies.
Teacher Departures
Teacher departures refer to certified educators from 2022-23 who did not return to a teaching or service position in the same school district for the 2023-24 school year.
Departures include any teacher who retired, transferred to another SC district, moved into a non-teaching/administrative position, left the state or profession altogether, etc.
On average, more than 7,000 educators in SC public school districts leave their teaching/service positions each year.
Movers and Leavers
Districts reported 7,353 teacher departures for 2023-24, compared to 8,321 for 2022-23 and 6,927 for 2021-22.
Of the teacher departures reported for the 2023-24 school year:
15% retired from the profession
30% transferred to another SC public school district
3% were dismissed involuntarily
37% had five or fewer years of experience before moving or leaving
New Hires in SC Schools
Of the newly hired teachers reported for the 2023-24 school year:
17% were recent graduates of a SC teacher education program
11% were recent completers of an alternative certification program
28% transferred from another SC district and 13% from another state
7% were international teachers
2023-24 SC Annual Educator Supply & Demand data tables
2022-23 SC Annual Educator Supply & Demand Data Tables
CERRA's Supply & Demand Update February 2024
Key Data from CERRA's SC Annual Educator Supply & Demand Reports
Below are Supply and Demand Reports for the past 10 years. To view or download a report, select your choice from the list below.
Archived Supply and Demand Reports
For additional information related to the Supply and Demand Reports, contact Email Dr. Jennifer Garrett, Coordinator of Research and Program Evaluation at 800-476-2387.