In the 2025–2026 school year, Hyatt Park Elementary continued its mission of fostering academic achievement and nurturing critical-thinking and problem-solving skills among its 225 enrolled students. As one of the five elementary schools within the Eau Claire Cluster, Hyatt Park faces the challenge of serving a student population with the highest poverty rate in Richland County School District One while operating as a Title I school.
Despite fluctuating attendance rates, the school witnessed a reduction in chronic absenteeism this year, with total enrollment reaching 225 students. In alignment with the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate, the school remains committed to implementing innovative teaching and learning methods to meet the diverse needs of its students.
While previously identified as an AVID school, Hyatt Park Elementary has transitioned to incorporating Visible Learning strategies into its curriculum across all grade levels. In the 2024–2025 school year, we were recognized as a Visible Learning+ Certified School. We are the second school in the state of South Carolina to earn this designation. We continue to support the implementation of Visible Learning practices by allowing district leaders and teachers to observe our classrooms. We also continue to actively explore restorative justice and trauma-informed care practices to create a supportive environment for all students. To address the need for movement breaks and kinesthetic learning, 100% of our teachers are trained in Orton-Gillingham to support struggling readers. This structured, multisensory approach is employed alongside our Visible Learning strategies.
Weekly Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) provide a platform for teachers to collaborate on curriculum alignment and data analysis, utilizing assessment results from various sources, including STAR, the Benchmark Assessment System, KRA, and district universal benchmarks. Vertical planning sessions further support teachers in preparing students for the next academic level.
Community partnerships remain integral to the school's success, with organizations such as Reading Matters, the Fort Jackson Mentoring Program, and Prisma Health contributing resources and support. These partnerships facilitate tutoring, mentoring, and parent support, reinforcing the school's commitment to student achievement.
Aligned with district priorities, literacy remains a primary focus at Hyatt Park Elementary, with initiatives designed to ensure that all students achieve reading proficiency by third grade. Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) celebrations, quarterly awards ceremonies, and end-of-year promotion events serve to recognize students for their academic accomplishments and positive behavior. This year, we began our journey with the Ron Clark House System.
We look forward to incorporating engaging strategies that motivate our learners and foster a sense of belonging within the Cougar community.
Hyatt Park Elementary continues to strive toward its goal of preparing students for college and career success, maintaining optimism for the future as it endeavors to elevate student achievement levels.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Danielle Reilly, Ed.D.
Michelle Ritchie, SIC Chair
