South Kilbourne Elementary School is helping all students develop the World-Class Skills outlined in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by addressing their academic, social, and emotional needs to ensure that all students experience success.
South Kilbourne Elementary is a neighborhood school located in a hub of businesses, universities, shops, and restaurants in the Rosewood area of Columbia. We are minutes away from the University of South Carolina and Midlands Technical College. Our area attracts a shifting, diverse mix of young professionals with growing families, students, short-term residents, and participants in subsidized and public housing. South Kilbourne's administration, faculty, and staff members are committed to ensuring that every child gets every chance, every day, to be successful. With years of consistent achievement and recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School (2012), we continue to thrive as a Richland One school.
Student success continues to be a top priority at South Kilbourne Elementary. During the 2025–2026 school year, South Kilbourne Elementary joined all schools in Richland County School District One in committing to implement Visible Learning strategies. Visible Learning is an evidence-based educational framework developed by researcher John Hattie. Its core philosophy is to make teaching and learning transparent. In a Visible Learning classroom, teachers act as evaluators of their own impact, and students are empowered to become their own teachers.
As a 21st-century school, our classroom environments include active seating, one-to-one technology access (K–5), instructional technology (Smart Boards, document cameras, and desktop computers), leveled classroom libraries, and furniture designed for designated learning spaces (whole-group carpets, small-group tables, and independent workstations).
The co-teaching model embeds schoolwide tiered levels of support. To support instruction, the school employs a Reading Coach, a Math Interventionist, a Reading Interventionist, a Curriculum Resource Teacher (CRT), and Title I tutors.
Community-based partnerships with the University of South Carolina, the Junior League of Columbia, and several faith-based organizations offer additional support. Through cyclical data analysis, we continuously personalize learning for students.
Our school continues to promote and celebrate positive habits among students. Through monthly celebrations, positive student behaviors and academic accomplishments are recognized with tangible and intangible rewards. Monthly parent and family engagement activities are designed to involve and educate parents in their children's growth and development. We are proud to be one of the few elementary schools in Richland County School District One recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School. South Kilbourne will continue working toward achieving this recognition once again.
Derrick M. Theirse, Principal
Vonda Scott-Van Dyke, SIC Chair
