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. 

2023-2024 SC Educator Supply and Demand Report


​2023-24 Supply and Demand Key Points

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
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 Dr. Jennifer Garrett, Coordinator of Research and Program ​Evaluation at 800-476-2387.