This Week
October 4, 2019
Florence 1 Schools more than doubles number of ‘Excellent’ schools on new SC Dept of Ed report cards
According to new school report card data released by the South Carolina Department of Education, four schools in Florence 1 Schools achieved the highest overall rating of Excellent, more than doubling the number from the previous school year.
“We are incredibly proud to have gone from having just one excellent school last year to four this year,” said Superintendent Dr. Richard O’Malley. “The growth within our district has been tremendous. If you look at Timrod Elementary School, for example, its rating went from Below Average to Excellent, a 26-point jump.”
The other schools that achieved Excellent were Carver Elementary School, up from Average; Delmae Elementary School, up from Good; and Royall Elementary School, which maintained its Excellent overall rating from last year, even increasing its numerical score by nine points.
Additionally, Florence 1 went from having just one school in the Good category to having five.
Ten schools moved from Unsatisfactory or Below Average to Average; an eleventh school was .27 points away from the Average benchmark.
“This is very impressive growth for one year,” O’Malley said. “We didn’t just move one school or two schools. Last year, eleven of our schools were in the lowest bottom two rating levels. Ten of those schools moved up 1 to 3 levels, with the eleventh school being very close, less than a half point from moving a level.”
One hundred percent of the schools either maintained or improved their overall rating; 95 percent of the schools improved one or more rating levels.
According to Hayley Cagle, Director of Testing and School Improvement for Florence 1, Student Progress and Academic Achievement account for 90 percent of the elementary and middle school report card rating. The other ten percent of the score comes from a student survey. In the Student Progress Indicator, a separate score from the overall school rating, there was also great growth. Four schools jumped two indicator levels. Five schools, Southside Middle, Greenwood Elementary, Henry Timrod, John Moore Intermediate and Wallace Gregg Elementary, all jumped three indicators.
Student Progress is measured in English Language Arts and Math. Scores are compared to other South Carolina students who initially scored at the same level of Exceeds, Meets, Approaches, Does Not Meet on the SC READY test. Once scores are compiled, a state average is found for each of those score scale values and a growth factor is calculated. The majority of schools in Florence 1 outgrew other schools in the state.
In the Academic Achievement category, seven schools grew one indicator level.
Report cards look slightly different at the high school level, with markers such as College & Career Readiness, and Graduation Rate. All three high schools achieved a rating of Average, with graduation rates at either Average or Good; Wilson High School had its highest graduation rate in five years at 85 percent.
“We have a district goal of a 95 percent graduation rate by 2021,” O’Malley said. “Our district average, between the three schools, is higher than the state average but that is not our goal. We are building a premier school district that competes with others nationally.”
Florence 1 Schools Report Card Data Progression from 2018 to 2019
Burlington Continues Partnership with McLaurin Elementary
Through the Adopt a Classroom organization McLaurin Elementary received a certificate and an award of $1,000 in a ceremony at the Burlington Store located at Magnolia Mall this week. Burlington initiated the program with a $10,000 donation to the school when the store opened in Florence in 2017.
AdoptAClassroom.org is a United States-based nonprofit organization created to help teachers purchase supplies for their classrooms by allowing people to donate directly to a teacher.
(Photo below: McLaurin Elementary Principal Deborah Cribb, (front row, third from right) is greeted by Burlington Store employees.)
John W. Moore Receives Action for Health Kids Grant
John W. Moore Intermediate is a proud recipient of a $1,000.00 Game On grant from Action for Healthy Kids® (AFHK) for the 2018-2019 school year. The grant is provided through funding by CSX Transportation to expand student access to physical activity and healthy foods in school, improve knowledge and behaviors around physical activity and healthy eating, and engage parents in activities that reinforce healthy habits at home.
The school will use the grant money to increase physical activity and nutrition. The funds will be used to purchase a volleyball net to increase physical activity at recess. A healthy food taste testing initiative will be implemented throughout the 2019-2020 school year.
The healthy food taste testing will increase student’s consumption, attitudes, and knowledge about healthy foods. (photo above)
“We recognize the importance of health and well-being to our students’ growth and learning and are excited to create a healthier school environment with the funding and resources from Action for Healthy Kids and CSX,” said Joanna McCumber, STEM Coach.
John W. Moore is one of 90 schools receiving a Game On grant along with programmatic support from AFHK and funded by CSX in the 2019-2020 school year.
(Photos above: Students at Moore participate in taste-testing activity in Ms. Woodard's classroom.)
Florence 1 Schools to Receive Additional School Resource Officers
All 81 traditional public school districts as well as the Erskine Charter Institute and SC Public Charter School District will be receiving funds to pay for one to four new officers depending on the district's need. The amount funded is based off the cost of the salary and benefits for a full time SRO provided by the district's local law enforcement agencies. The total funding awarded is $11,864.
(Photo right: SRO Lieutenant Brian Barley of Florence 1 Schools)
Mark your calendar to tune in October 30 at 7 p.m. on South Carolina Educational Television (SCETV) when the topic on Carolina Classrooms is College and Career Readiness.
Carolina Classrooms is ETV’s monthly educational series for teachers, parents and all citizens invested in the education students.
During this special edition, the program will explore the types of jobs that are in high demand across the state. It will also focus on the various pathways for entry into the workforce whether it be through a 2-year program, 4-year degree, or straight from high school.
Featured guests include representatives from the SC Department of Education, higher education, and local business and industry. In addition, questions from students preparing for college and/or future careers will be featured.
College Entrance Test Prep & Conversation Spanish Offered at Poynor
College Entrance Test Preparation
Where: Poynor Building, 301 South Dargan Stree
Contact: cchill@fsd1.org
Beginning Conversational Spanish
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Where: Poynor Building
Contact: cchill@fsd1.org
The College Fair: Coming to Your Campus
October 16 - Wilson High School
October 18 - South Florence High School
October 18 - West Florence High School