(AP) -- COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - More of South Carolina's elementary and middle schools received high marks on their state report cards this year, despite state budget cuts and rising poverty levels.

This is the second round of report cards since legislators revamped South Carolina's statewide testing in grades three through eight.

The data released Friday by the state Education Department shows 21 percent of the state's 967 public elementary and middle schools rated "excellent" overall, 17 percent rated "good," and 44 percent received an "average." Meanwhile, 13 percent rated "below average" and 5 percent were deemed "at-risk."

On 2009 report cards, 17 percent received the top overall rating, and 6 percent earned the lowest. Most of the gains came in elementary schools.

You can see how your child's school fared, by clicking here. 

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