Annie Burnside Elementary School is an innovative learning community committed to transforming students into college-ready, career-ready, and lifelong learners. Through research-based practices, creativity, and innovation, we strive to develop the World-Class Skills outlined in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate.
Burnside experienced an extraordinary transformation during the 2025–2026 school year, improving its South Carolina School Report Card rating from Average to Excellent while simultaneously eliminating previous school designations. In just one year, the school achieved a remarkable 19-point increase, driven by high expectations, strong student growth, and a relentless commitment to excellence. As a result, Burnside was recognized as a top "Beating the Odds" school despite serving a high-poverty population. In recognition of these accomplishments, State Superintendent Ellen Weaver presented Burnside with the Silver High Performing School Award Banner for achieving an Excellent rating.
Located in Columbia, South Carolina, Burnside Elementary serves students from Pre-Kindergarten 3 through Grade 5 on a beautiful campus spanning more than ten acres. Our administration, faculty, and staff are dedicated to promoting the academic, social, emotional, and physical well-being of every child. Through ongoing analysis of student achievement data, teacher effectiveness, and school climate, we continuously refine our practices to ensure student success. At Burnside, we maintain a positive, family-friendly, and school-spirited environment that empowers students to think critically, solve problems, collaborate effectively, and become confident learners. We intentionally expose students to a variety of college and career opportunities, helping them envision a successful future and understand the possibilities that lie ahead.
Our instructional program is grounded in research-based best practices and a balanced literacy and mathematics framework that supports a multi-tiered approach to instruction. Three learner dispositions—resilience, perseverance, and a growth mindset—serve as the foundation of our culture and influence how students engage with learning. Visitors to our school can see, hear, and feel these dispositions embedded throughout classrooms, lessons, and daily interactions. Burnside is also proud to be a Visible Learning School, utilizing high-impact instructional strategies proven to accelerate student achievement. Additionally, we are committed to culturally responsive teaching and equity-centered practices that ensure all students feel seen, valued, and supported. Our educators actively engage in professional learning focused on serving multilingual learners and broadening curriculum experiences to reflect diverse cultural, racial, and linguistic perspectives.
Family engagement is a cornerstone of our success. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to participate through organizations and initiatives such as the School Improvement Council (SIC), Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), National Network of Partnership Schools, and family-focused literacy, mathematics, and technology events. These opportunities strengthen home-school partnerships and foster a shared commitment to student achievement.
Several grant-funded initiatives further enrich the student experience. Programs such as the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grant and the Vegetable Garden Grant provide students with hands-on learning opportunities that promote healthy living, environmental awareness, and experiential learning. Students cultivate and harvest produce in our school garden while learning valuable lessons about nutrition and sustainability. Leadership and citizenship development are nurtured through a variety of student organizations and clubs, including Burnside Ambassadors, Student Council, Safety Patrol, Science Club, Fourth Grade Recorders Club, Chorus, Kings Gentlemen Club, and the GEMS Girls Club, among others.
Burnside's success is strengthened through meaningful partnerships with local businesses, churches, and community organizations. Partners such as Chick-fil-A, Slim Chickens, McDonald's, Walmart, MOD Pizza, Greenlawn Baptist Church, Church of the Cross, Bible Way Church, and Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union provide valuable support and resources that enhance educational opportunities for our students. Our outdoor classroom, maintained through one of these partnerships, serves as an additional learning environment where students can engage with nature and extend their classroom experiences.
At Burnside Elementary, we remain steadfast in our vision of being "Intentional with Every Child, Every Day." Working collaboratively with families, staff, and community stakeholders, we are committed to providing a culturally responsive environment that supports the academic achievement, safety, and emotional growth of every student. Our motto, "Burnside Bees Are Destined to Achieve—Watch Me!", reflects our unwavering belief in the potential of every child. This year's theme, "At Burnside, Bee a Hero," encourages students, staff, parents, and community members to embody the qualities of a hero by making a positive impact on those around them.
Together, we will continue building upon Burnside's legacy of excellence by providing rigorous, relevant learning experiences that foster achievement, strengthen relationships, and prepare students to soar toward a bright future.
Courtney Shanahan, SIC Chair
Dr. Cicely Maxwell, Principal
