Carolina Park Elementary School (CPES) is a school where teachers choose to teach, families choose to send their children, and most importantly, students love coming to school each day.
CPES is a place where our professional learning community continues to thrive. We foster a culture grounded in mutual respect, high expectations paired with meaningful support, collaboration, and continuous professional growth. We value our teachers as professionals and trust them to use research-based instructional practices to meet the diverse needs of all learners. This year, teachers continued to strengthen their expertise in literacy and mathematics through ongoing LETRS and OGAP professional development. In addition, K–2 teachers began Orton-Gillingham training through the Lowcountry Literacy Project, further enhancing our commitment to strong foundational literacy instruction. We also introduced Kagan Cooperative Learning structures schoolwide to increase student engagement, accountability, collaboration, and academic discourse. Through ongoing professional learning and classroom implementation, teachers are creating more opportunities for every student to actively participate in the learning process.
CPES is also a school where families want to send their children because they know their students will receive a high-quality education in a nurturing environment. Our teachers combine authentic instructional practices with district-adopted curricula to provide engaging, rigorous learning experiences. Students are encouraged to demonstrate their learning creatively, participate in hands-on lessons, and make meaningful connections to real-world experiences. Frequent communication and strong partnerships with families are hallmarks of our school community. Throughout the year, we celebrated student accomplishments through events such as publishing parties, student performances, and opportunities to showcase the arts.
The warm, welcoming, and child-centered climate at CPES is evident from the moment visitors enter our school. Parents and community members play an active role in school improvement through our School Improvement Council (SIC) and Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), working collaboratively with school leaders to support student success. This year, we were excited to host beloved events including Fall Festival, Family Art Night, Special Olympics, Bingo Night, Glow Hop, Frozen Jr. the Musical, and the Park Palooza Arts Festival. Our SIC also coordinated the Coyote Crew, a group of volunteers with prior teaching experience who provided literacy and mathematics support to students in the primary grades.
Students love attending CPES because they learn in an environment that is engaging, supportive, and designed to help them succeed. Our classrooms encourage students to take academic risks, learn from mistakes, and develop confidence as learners. Teachers provide differentiated, arts-integrated, hands-on instruction that is relevant and connected to the world around them. We are committed to educating the whole child by emphasizing both academic achievement and character development. Student choice is evident throughout our classrooms, and one-to-one technology devices allow students to access personalized learning opportunities while exploring areas of individual interest.
Beyond the classroom, students have numerous opportunities to connect with peers and showcase their talents through events such as Field Day, the Talent Show, Park Palooza Arts Festival, and PACK (Pride, Accountability, Commitment, and Kindness) meetings. This year, we continued to strengthen our school culture through our House System, which includes every student and staff member. The House System has fostered stronger relationships, increased school pride, and further enhanced our sense of community. To deepen this work, an additional team of faculty members visited the Ron Clark Academy to experience the House System in action at its founding school.
At CPES, we are committed to developing the World Class Skills outlined in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. Creativity and innovation are woven throughout our instructional practices as teachers design engaging learning experiences that address the needs of all students. Families partner with school leadership through SIC and PTO to help provide programs and opportunities that enrich student learning. Students regularly engage in meaningful tasks that promote creativity, innovation, and the application of knowledge to real-world situations.
Critical thinking, problem solving, and literacy development remain central to our mission. Our shared goal of ensuring that every fifth-grade student reads on grade level by 2027 continues to drive instructional decisions and schoolwide initiatives. Through high-quality instruction that challenges students to think critically and solve complex problems, CPES has achieved strong academic outcomes. Student achievement and growth data demonstrate our commitment to maintaining high expectations while ensuring that every child makes meaningful progress. We recognize the importance of using achievement and growth data as reflective tools to inform future planning and continuous improvement.
As we celebrate another successful year, we are proud of the progress we have made through hard work, a shared vision, and collaborative teamwork. Carolina Park Elementary School truly is a place where teachers choose to teach, families choose to send their children, and students love to learn and grow each day.
Becky Accolla, Principal
Jennifer Bailey, SIC Chair
