As we proudly celebrate our 23rd year of serving students and families, Round Top Elementary remains committed to preparing every student with the World Class Skills outlined in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate through rigorous instruction, meaningful relationships, and engaging learning experiences. Guided by our vision that “All Who Enter Learn to SOAR,” we continue to cultivate a school culture rooted in high expectations, belonging, continuous improvement, and student success.
During the 2025–2026 school year, Round Top Elementary served approximately 565 students in PreK through fifth grade within a richly diverse and evolving community. We proudly continued our work as an AVID Elementary Showcase School, Arts in the Basic Curriculum (ABC) site, Purple Star School, and 7 Mindsets campus. These frameworks support our commitment to developing the whole child by fostering academic excellence, leadership, creativity, resilience, collaboration, and social-emotional growth.
At Round Top Elementary, we believe student success begins with exceptional teaching and strong systems of support. Throughout the school year, faculty engaged in purposeful professional learning to strengthen Tier I instruction, deepen collaboration, and ensure students received the academic and behavioral support necessary to thrive. Weekly Professional Learning Communities focused on student data, instructional planning, targeted interventions, and strategies to accelerate learning. Teachers also participated in coaching cycles, collaborative planning, and classroom learning walks to strengthen instructional practice.
Literacy remained a central focus as teachers continued professional learning through Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) and UFLI Foundations (University of Florida Literacy Institute), strengthening evidence-based literacy instruction grounded in the science of reading. Faculty also expanded implementation of AVID strategies, arts integration, and student discourse practices to promote engagement, critical thinking, and student ownership of learning.
Round Top Elementary maintained a strong tradition of academic excellence while expanding opportunities for targeted student support through our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). Staff remained committed to monitoring student growth, responding to student needs, and making timely instructional adjustments to maximize outcomes.
We also remained focused on creating a positive, safe, and inclusive school climate where students feel connected and empowered to succeed. Schoolwide implementation of our SOAR expectations—Show Respect, Own Your Actions, Act Safely, and Rise to the Challenge—provided a consistent framework for teaching responsibility and positive behavior. Through 7 Mindsets, attendance initiatives, counseling supports, mentoring, student recognition programs, leadership opportunities, clubs, arts experiences, and wellness activities, students developed confidence, belonging, and the social-emotional skills needed to succeed.
Round Top Elementary continued to prioritize meaningful family and community partnerships throughout the year. Our School Improvement Council strengthened communication and family engagement through improved parent-teacher conference structures, family feedback opportunities, and accessible resources to support learning at home. Our Parent Teacher Organization provided generous support through teacher grants, campus enhancements, family events, and school improvement initiatives.
We are grateful for the many community partnerships that enrich learning for our students. Partners from Fort Jackson’s U.S. Army Institute for Religious Leadership continued to provide mentorship, literacy experiences, celebrations, and volunteer service to our school community. Through our partnership with the Williams Education Foundation, Round Top celebrated staff excellence and innovation through recognition programs, teacher grants, and opportunities that enhanced school culture and student learning.
This year also brought moments of celebration and professional accomplishment among our faculty and staff. Teachers continued advanced professional learning, leadership development, and collaborative coaching to strengthen their practice and support colleagues. Round Top proudly continued its legacy of developing teacher leaders, instructional innovators, and future administrators who positively impact students both within our school and beyond.
The 2025–2026 school year brought many moments of celebration and achievement for the Round Top Elementary community. Students, faculty, and staff continued to demonstrate excellence through academic growth, leadership, creativity, and service to others. Highlights of the year included recognition of student achievement in academics and the arts, faculty professional accomplishments, schoolwide celebrations of learning, and continued expansion of opportunities designed to support student success and belonging.
Notable Accomplishments During the 2025–2026 School Year Included:
• Earned an Excellent School Report Card Rating based on the South Carolina State Department of Education accountability system.
• Ranked among the top 12% of South Carolina elementary schools for Academic Achievement, based on third through fifth grade SC READY English Language Arts and Mathematics performance.
• Eight students earned perfect scores on SC READY assessments, including four in English Language Arts, four in Mathematics, and one in Science. One student earned perfect scores in both English Language Arts and Science.
• Twenty-two faculty members earned LETRS Certificates of Completion, successfully meeting the requirements of the two-year science of reading training, including two administrators, three specialists, and seventeen teachers.
• Six students earned acceptance into the Tri-District Arts Consortium, with one student qualifying in two artistic categories.
• Five students were selected to participate in the Richland Two Elementary Honors Choir.
• Secured renewal of the Arts in the Basic Curriculum (ABC) Grant, continuing arts integration efforts that have enriched student learning since 2004.
• Continued designation as an AVID Elementary Showcase School for the ninth consecutive year.
• The Parent Teacher Organization raised more than $30,000 to support campus enhancements, teacher grants, and special projects.
• The School Improvement Council hosted a community resource fair, connecting families with educational, wellness, and community supports.
• Three employees earned promotions into district instructional coach, school social work and school counseling roles, extending their positive impact to other school communities.
• The principal participated in the South Carolina Department of Education’s School Leadership Executive Institute (SLEI) and the Truist Leadership Institute, strengthening leadership capacity to support continuous school improvement.
These accomplishments reflect the dedication, perseverance, and collective commitment of our students, staff, families, and community partners. As we reflect on another successful year, we celebrate the culture of excellence, belonging, and continuous improvement that defines Round Top Elementary. We remain committed to ensuring every Aviator leaves Round Top equipped with the knowledge, confidence, character, and world-class skills needed to soar in middle school and beyond.
Clarissa V. Bennett, Principal
Dr. LaCresha Mitchum, SIC Chairperson
