Republican incumbent Ellen Weaver faces Democrat Sylvia Wright for South Carolina Superintendent of Education.

REPUBLICAN — Ellen Weaver

• Experience: Has served as State Superintendent since 2023 and previously led the Palmetto Promise Institute. 
• School Choice: Strongly supports Education Scholarship Accounts and greater parental choice.
• Accountability: Emphasizes academic accountability, system reform and foundational skills.
• Teachers: Makes teacher recruitment and retention a major priority.
• Curriculum: Supports restrictions on sexually explicit material and a more conservative approach to curriculum.

DEMOCRAT — Sylvia Wright

• Experience: More than 20 years of experience in education.
• Public Schools: Emphasizes students, families and educators and strengthening the traditional public-school system.
• Teachers: Emphasizes support for educators and the public-school workforce.
• School-Choice Issues: The materials reviewed contain fewer specific public positions on vouchers, school choice and curriculum restrictions.

The Choice

Weaver emphasizes parental empowerment, school choice, accountability and curriculum reform. Wright presents a more traditional public-education approach centered on strengthening schools and educators.

This comparison is based on candidate campaign materials, public records and other publicly available information. Positions are summarized for voter information; readers are encouraged to review each candidate's own statements and campaign materials for additional detail.