Greenville County Schools Welcomes Nearly 80,000 Students Back to Class
Excitement Builds as School Year Kicks Off
Greenville County, S.C. – Starting Thursday, August 8th, approximately 80,000 students in Greenville County will return to school, marking the beginning of a new academic year. With the Greenville County School District being the largest in South Carolina, district officials are eager and ready to welcome students back.
“We are ready to go,” stated Tim Waller, the district’s Director of Media Relations. “Teachers are fired up, and we hope that kids are ready too. Remember to put them to bed early tonight because tomorrow morning comes fast!”
Staffing and Resources Ready for Success
The district boasts that they have successfully filled all teaching positions, bringing about 6,000 certified teachers to the classrooms. Waller highlighted the enthusiasm of the educators as a strong contributing factor to the positive start. He noted, “We start the new school year with excellent certified teachers.”
In addition to teachers, the district currently has 400 bus drivers on staff, ensuring that all bus routes will be covered. However, they are on the lookout for around 50 more drivers. Waller encouraged those interested, saying, “If you enjoy being around kids and are looking for a second career, we’d be happy to discuss opportunities. The pay starts over $20 an hour.”
New Opportunities for Students
The district is proud of recent initiatives like the CTE Innovation Center, located on Roper Mountain Road. This center, which opened the previous year, focuses on preparing students for various careers post-high school. Notably, BMW has been actively seeking students from the center’s programs as part of their annual rising scholars program.
Waller emphasizes to parents that vocational training can improve their child’s employment chances after graduation, regardless of their intentions regarding college education.
Free Meals and Community Support for Families
Moreover, 82 schools across Greenville County will continue to provide free meals to students this school year through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). This program ensures that students in eligible low-income areas receive free meals, reflecting an increase from the 15 schools that participated last year. Waller stated, “The federal government recognized there are enough low-income families in these schools; thus, it’s beneficial to provide free meals for all students.” This initiative will continue through at least the 2026-27 school year.
As the first day approaches, district leaders are excited for the return of students and staff. However, they caution parents to plan for extra traffic in the morning as carlines and roads are expected to be busier than usual.
