  Using soft-x-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Co-$L_{2,3}$ and O-$K$ edges,
we demonstrate that the Co$^{3+}$ ions with the CoO$_{5}$ pyramidal
coordination in the layered Sr$_2$CoO$_3$Cl compound are unambiguously in the
high spin state. Our result questions the reliability of the spin state
assignments made so far for the recently synthesized layered cobalt
perovskites, and calls for a re-examination of the modeling for the complex and
fascinating properties of these new materials.
