Greenville County Schools Tackle Challenges of Underperforming Schools

Greenville County Schools Address Underperforming Schools

Greenville, South Carolina – Five schools within the Greenville County School District have been officially designated as underperforming by the state of South Carolina. This classification was discussed during the Committee of the Whole meeting held on the morning of Tuesday, where school board members addressed the challenges these schools face.

Who is Involved?

The schools affected include Alexander Elementary School, Armstrong Elementary School, Duncan Chapel Elementary School, Hollis Academy, and Tanglewood Middle School. The discussions during the meeting involved board member Lynda Leventis-Wells, who highlighted the significant communication barriers that exist between students and teachers. Additionally, Tim Waller from the Greenville County Schools (GCS) outlined the current situation of the schools.

What is Happening?

These schools are now part of a growing list of 10 underperforming schools in Greenville County, representing less than 5% of the total 214 schools designated as such across South Carolina. It was noted that a factors such as students who arrive with little to no academic background and those who do not speak English at all create a frustrating environment for everyone involved. “Some of them have never been in school,” stated Leventis-Wells. “How would you feel if you couldn’t communicate?”

Why are the Schools Underperforming?

Several reasons contribute to the underperformance of these schools, including:

• Student Progress: Many students are not making expected improvements compared to their peers in other parts of the state.
• Climate Surveys: The annual surveys assessing school environments generate varying feedback, which complicates consistent evaluations.
• Socio-Economic Factors: High poverty rates, significant student mobility, and the increasing number of multi-lingual learners pose academic challenges.

What is Being Done?

To address these issues, GCS employs various strategies aimed at improving academic performance. Actions outlined by Tim Waller include providing extra support for students, running before and after-school programs, offering targeted remediation, and ensuring high-quality instructional materials are accessible. Moreover, efforts will be made to recruit and retain talented educators while involving stakeholders in collaborative planning.

Evaluating Progress and Future Plans

School board members also acknowledged flaws in the current system of testing. Teacher Royster pointed out that covering all required topics is challenging within limited time frames, which can lead to discrepancies between teaching and testing material. He indicated that accurate progress tracking could take three to five years.

As a result of these evaluations, underperforming schools in South Carolina are obliged to create a Turnaround Plan, or Continuous Improvement Plan, to improve student achievement. This plan includes specific goals, evidence-based interventions, evaluation measures, collaboration with stakeholders, and ongoing monitoring.

Current Status of Schools

Schools like Alexander Elementary and Lakeview Middle School are currently participating in GCS’s Elevate Plan, aimed at raising achievement levels. This four-year pilot program is still too new to evaluate effectively, but GCS hopes it will help maintain high-quality teachers and foster a learning-focused culture.

The state’s education system, along with Greenville County Schools, continue to work tirelessly to reverse the trend of underperformance and empower students for success.