Get to KnowGreenville County SchoolsOverview and Information

Greenville, South Carolina

Greenville County Schools Education Plan

Five Goal Areas

Goal 1: Raise the academic challenge and performance of each student.

Goal 2: Ensure quality personnel in all positions.

Goal 3: Provide a school environment supportive of learning.

Goal 4: Effectively manage and further develop necessary financial resources.

Goal 5: Improve public understanding and support of public schools.

INFOLine864.355.3100

The Schools ChannelCharter Cable 99

Websitewww.greenville.k12.sc.us

301 E. Camperdown WayGreenville, SC 29601

2009 School BoardMegan Hickerson, Chairman, Area 24

Dan Moravec, Vice-Chairman, Area 28

Lynda Leventis-Wells, Secretary, Area 22

Debi Bush, Area 19

Roger Meek, Area 26

Glenda Morrison-Fair, Area 23

Dr. Crystal Ball O’Connor, Area 27

Tommie Reece, Area 17

Leola Robinson-Simpson, Area 25

Danna Rohleder, Area 21

Chuck Saylors, Area 20

Pat Sudduth, Area 18

To Find Out More

You can find detailed information in Connected, our parent newslet-ter, and on the Parents page of our website at www.greenville.k12.sc.us. From there you can review information sheets on various pro-grams, School Report Cards and Profile Sheets, and get answers to questions about transportation, special education services, extra-curricular activities, and many other areas. If you would like to talk to a Customer Service Rep-resentative, please call our Service Center at 864-355-3100.

SuperintendentDr. Phinnize J. Fisher

Nationally Recognized District and Schools

One of our most impressive district-wide accomplishments is National

Accreditation from the AdvancED Accreditation Commission, recogniz-

ing the school system as a high quality school district with “some of the

finest schools the review team had ever seen.”

Greenville County, South Carolina

Greenville County, South Carolina is a vibrant, exciting place to call home! With suburban areas, dynamic downtown, small towns, and rural areas, Greenville County offers numerous opportunities for everyone. The quality of life in Greenville is second to none, with abundant choices in outdoor activities, cultural events, and sports.

Greenville County has been ranked near the top of Relocate America’s 100 Best Cities to Relocate.

October 2009

INFOLine864.355.3100

Websitewww.greenville.k12.sc.us

The Schools ChannelCharter Cable 99

301 E. Camperdown WayGreenville, SC 29601

Greenville County Schools is an exciting place to learn with high student achievement, outstanding teachers, and a wide variety of academic offerings. Our schools are widely recognized for excellence at the state and national levels, earning awards such as Palmetto’s Finest, Red Carpet School, and National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.

Outstanding Teachers

Outstanding teachers are at the center of student achieve-ment. Ninety-eight percent of our teachers are highly qualified, and we have more National Board Certified teachers – 500 – than 31 states. The curriculum is aligned to state standards, which are consistently ranked among the highest in the nation. GCS teachers have an average of 11.9 years of experience, and more than 60 percent have earned a Master’s degree or higher.

Quality teaching is supported and enhanced in modern school facilities equipped with cutting-edge technology, such as Promethean Boards with Internet access, laptop computers, and computer labs where students connect to resources both within the school system and around the world.

Teachers continue to expand their content knowledge and teaching practices. Teachers must earn a minimum of 120 renewal credits every five years through college credit hours, a combination of graduate level classes and renewal credits, or through professional development courses offered by the District.

Students Total (09-10) 69,477Students Attending School on Choice 13% or 8,700Daily Student Attendance 96%Graduates (08-09) 4,133Scholarship Total (08-09) $99.8 MillionNational Merit Finalists (08-09) 23Graduates Pursuing Higher Education (08-09) 88%

College Entrance ExamsACT – Students Outscore Nation 21.4 (Nation – 21.1)SAT – Students Outscore State 1479 (State - 1452)

Student Achievement

• OurstudentsoutperformtheirpeersacrosstheNationandStateontheACTcollege entrance exam.

• Themostrecentgraduatingclassreceivedalmost$100millionin college scholarships. • Almost90percentofourgraduatesattendcollege.• EightGreenvilleCountyhighschoolsarerankedinthetopsixpercentofhigh

schools in the nation by Newsweek magazine.

About Greenville County (SC) Schools

StaffTeachers 4,864 Average Teacher Salary $44,197Teachers’ Average Years of Experience 11.9Teachers with Master’s Degree or Higher 60.1%

51st Largest School System in Nation Schools and Centers - 98Elementary 49Middle 18High 14Career Centers 4Child Development 6Special Centers 7Average Age of Schools 8 YearsSquare Miles 800

SchoolsNational Blue Ribbon Schools 13 (Outstanding Academic Achievement) Newsweek’s Best High Schools 8Carolina First Palmetto’s Finest Schools 18(State’s Top Schools)Red Carpet Schools 40(Family-friendly Environments)National PTA Schools of Excellence 29

DistrictGeneral Fund Budget $444 MillionFinancial Reporting Award of Excellence 22 Years (Consecutive)School Construction Program Nationally Recognized

CommunityPTA Membership (Largest in SC) 42,500 Local PTA Units 83

Child Development Centers Four-year-old students with the greatest educational need may enroll in 4K programs at six child development centers and some elementary schools.

Elementary Schools Forty-nine elementary schools serve

students in five-year-old kindergar-ten through fifth grade. In addition to core subject areas, elementary school students receive instruc-tion in health, art, music, physical education, and computer use. The Challenge Program serves academi-cally gifted and talented third, fourth and fifth grade students.

Middle Schools Sixth through eighth grade students are served in 18 middle schools of-

fering a variety of academic and athletic programs. The middle school curricu-lum includes core offerings of language arts, social studies, science, and math. Students may also explore special interests like drama, foreign language, music, and art. Middle schools students have the opportunity to take high school courses toward graduation requirements.

High Schools Fourteen high schools serve students in grades 9 through 12. Students must earn 24 units of credit in approved courses and pass the High School Exit Exam to qualify for a high school diploma. Greenville County high schools offer choices such as Advanced Placement cours-es to earn college credit, Honors courses, foreign languages, arts and humanities, technology, and extracurricular activities. High school students and their parents develop Individual Graduation Plans that specify a student’s cluster, major, post-secondary goals, high school activities, and out-of-class activities.

Extracurricular Activities Our extra-curricular offerings feature athletics at both the high and middle school levels, academic clubs and competi-tions, fine arts such as strings, band and chorus, speech and debate, and various student organizations such as Beta Club and National Honor Society. Elementary students can participate in activities such as Student Council, robotics, and book, fitness and writing clubs.

Career Technology Centers Four career technology centers offer a variety of courses that prepare stu-dents for postsecondary training or the workforce. Students take these courses as electives and attend for half-days. County-wide International Baccalaureate Program A comprehensive K-12 International Baccalaureate (IB) education is offered to students in four geographic areas of the county. The IB curriculum focuses on high academic standards, international understanding, citizenship, and learning a second language.

Fine Arts Center The FAC, South Carolina’s first specialized arts school, provides advanced arts instruction to students who wish to engage in a pre-professional program of study. Areas of focused study are theatre, dance, visual arts, music, creative writing, and digital filmmaking. Students attend the Fine Arts Center five days a week in the morning or afternoon.

Magnet Academies Magnet academies offer specialized studies in communications arts, global studies, health professions, languages, science and mathematics, engineering, law, and other areas.

Non-Traditional A variety of non-traditional offerings are available including credit recovery, Twilight High School and Virtual School.

Roper Mountain Science Center Roper Mountain Science Center offers programs for students in all areas of science and reinforces concepts studied in the classroom.

Special Education A variety of teaching, learning, and programming options are provided for students with disabilities ranging in age from 3 to 21. Each student who is evaluated and identified as disabled follows an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Students with disabilities are mainstreamed into the classroom to the greatest possible extent.

Sterling School (K-8) Sterling School is the first school in the county attended by all students on choice. Sterling School is also the home of the Charles Townes Gifted Center, named in honor of Greenville native Dr. Charles Townes who invented the laser. The Charles Townes Center serves gifted students in grades three through eight.

Washington Center Washington Center serves moderate to severe mentally or physically disabled students ages 5 to 21.

Innovative School Construction ProgramThe BEST (Building Equity Sooner for Tomorrow) School Construction Program provides students across Greenville County with quality school facilities built in a timely manner and at less cost. Future school needs will be addressed through a Long Range Facil-ities Plan and Capital Improvement Program.

Academic Offerings