Steeped in the tradition of pursuit of academic excellence, Florence School District One continues to forge ahead in its goal to produce college and career-ready graduates. Our district is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina graduate.
Florence One boasts 1049 graduates who received scholarships totaling more than $32.9 million. Among this class of students, three hundred eighty-four (334) were named single-cord graduates (having a grade point average of 3.0-3.99). One hundred sixty-seven (167) students were named double-cord graduates (having a grade point average of 4.0-4.99). Two-hundred ninety-three (293) were named Life Scholarship winners (by earning at least a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, a score of at least 1100 on the SAT, and/or a ranking in the top 30 percent of the graduating class). Forty-eight (48) graduates were named Palmetto Fellows (by earning a grade point average of 3.5, a score of at least 1200 on the SAT and/or a ranking in the top 5 percent of the graduating class). One hundred seventy-one graduates (167) were named Board of Trustees Scholars (by earning a grade point average of 4.5 or higher). In addition, Florence One had two national merit finalists.
A part of this graduating class were four Florence One students who received both the high school diploma and an Associate of Arts degree from Florence-Darlington Technical College. This is the third graduating class of Florence-Darlington Technical College’s early college program.
Other stellar accomplishments associated with the Class of 2018 include the awarding of the prestigious South Carolina Teaching Fellowship to ten (10) high school seniors from Florence One’s three high schools, South Florence, West Florence and Wilson. The students will join the freshman cohort on six university campuses in the state of South Carolina this fall. The Teaching Fellows will be offered numerous professional development opportunities and involved with communities and businesses through various service projects and partnerships with local schools.
Thirty-nine eighth grade students in Florence School District One have been named 2018 South Carolina Junior Scholars. The South Carolina Department of Education sponsors the South Carolina Junior Scholars program, which identifies students who demonstrated exceptionally high scholastic achievement and intellectual ability, based on the students’ performance on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT). Each of these students took the PSAT as an eighth-grader and scored a 550 or above in reading and writing or a 530 or above in mathematics.
Earlier this year Florence One recognized fifteen students who earned perfect scores on standardized tests during the 2016-17 school year. Six students earned the maximum score on a portion of the SC READY, and nine students earned a perfect score on a portion of the SC PASS.
A strong partnership with the local community is reflected in the support received through The School Foundation. In the spring of the year, The School Foundation announced the distribution of $161,252.60 in grant awards to schools in Florence School District One (FSD1) for the 2018-2019 school year. There continues to be a three-way partnership between Florence One, the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, and The School Foundation known as Fellows in Education. It is a program designed for business and community leaders to spend time getting a unique, behind-the-scenes look into the schools.
As reported previously, Florence One provides choices for parents. Beginning at the elementary level, school choices include an elementary STEM Magnet program (Carver Elementary) and a Montessori Program (McLaurin Elementary) (both year in their first year of operation). Other choices include the Spanish Language Immersion Program (Delmae Elementary) and the year-round education program at (Timrod Elementary) both in their third year of existence. Operating for the first time this past school year was the primary years IB program (North Vista Elementary). In its second year of existence is the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program at Lucy T. Davis Elementary. The program fosters a safe, open culture, high expectations for teachers and students, and collaboration in all classrooms.
Another new offering for parents this year is the recently launched partnership with Code to the Future, the nation’s leading Computer Science program where students learn how to code computer programs at the elementary level. This program is at Savannah Grove Elementary.
Florence One continues to offer programs of choice at the middle school level, which include the Middle Years International Baccalaureate Program at Williams middle; the AVID program at Sneed Middle; and the AdvancEd STEM, One to One Initiative, and the Arts in Education Program at Southside Middle. In addition, The Discovery Education Program continues to provide support and professional development for all elementary and middle teachers with emphasis on digital learning.
Florence One has six STEM certified schools (Carver Elementary, Delmae Elementary, Royall Elementary, John W. Moore Intermediate, Southside Middle and West Florence High School.)
At the secondary level, all three high schools provide the opportunity for students to take advantage of Dual Enrollment courses and Advanced Placement courses. Other specific school choices for high school students are the One-to-One initiative at South Florence; AdvancEd STEM and Project Lead the Way programs at West Florence and the Early College and International Baccalaureate Program at Wilson.
Florence One secondary educators are also making headway in preparing its students for jobs of the future. Research indicates that software application developers, computer-user support specialists, computer systems analysts and web developers are all jobs that show projected growth, and they all require a knowledge of coding. Florence School District One is one of two school districts in South Carolina offering coding courses at its three high schools this year. Coding is what makes it possible to create computer software, apps, and websites.
Through its third year affiliation with the Southern Region Education Board (SREB), Florence One is strengthening learning with professional development for teachers in all high school subject areas. A part of the affiliation is the use of High Schools That Work, the nation’s largest school improvement initiative that helps to raise student achievement and graduation rates. It continues to help guide Florence One in improving its curriculum and instructional goals. To receive specific information about each of these school programs and initiatives, call Florence One at 843.669.4141.
