Greenville, SC Recognizes Five Schools as Underperforming Amid Language Barrier Challenges

Greenville, SC Identifies Five Schools as Underperforming

In a significant development, five schools in Greenville County have been added to South Carolina’s list of underperforming schools, as announced during the Committee of the Whole meeting held Tuesday morning. This decision has raised concerns about the academic challenges these institutions face, particularly regarding the language barrier between students and teachers.

The Underperforming Schools

The schools now on the underperforming list include:

• Alexander Elementary School
• Armstrong Elementary School
• Duncan Chapel Elementary School
• Hollis Academy
• Tanglewood Middle School

In Greenville County, the designation as “underperforming” is based on a school’s performance across various categories on state report cards. Currently, Greenville County has a total of 10 schools classified under this criterion, which constitutes less than 5% of the state’s 214 underperforming schools. These schools’ challenges include a diverse student population, including many multi-lingual (ML) learners and students who have not had prior school experience.

Challenges Faced by the Schools

During the Board of Trustees meeting, school board member Lynda Leventis-Wells highlighted the difficulties faced by students, stating, “Some of them have never been in school. Some of them don’t speak any English whatsoever, and they get frustrated. How would you feel if you couldn’t communicate?” This sentiment underlines the critical need for strategies to bridge communication gaps and improve student engagement.

Reasons for Underperformance

The underperforming designation stems from a variety of factors:

• Student Progress: Schools may fall short if individual students do not meet expected progress levels compared to their peers statewide.
• Climate Surveys: Annual climate surveys provide feedback on the schools’ environment, making it challenging to compare results reliably from year to year.
• Socio-economic Factors: Issues such as poverty and a transient population pose additional academic challenges in the community.

Plans for Improvement

Addressing these challenges, the district has proposed a series of strategies. These include:

• Providing extra academic support for students.
• Offering before and after-school programs.
• Identifying specific academic weaknesses and providing remediation.
• Ensuring access to high-quality instructional materials.
• Recruiting and retaining excellent teachers.
• Engaging in collaborative planning.

According to Tim Waller from Greenville County Schools (GCS), “To help these schools improve, various strategies are employed.” He stressed the importance of reinforcing the educational environment to drive student success.

Concerns Over Testing

During the meeting, Royster voiced concerns about the current testing system. He pointed out that teachers often lack the time to cover all necessary topics, leading to tests that may assess material not covered in class. He elaborated, “It takes three to five years to track a school’s progress accurately.” This raises questions about the fairness and effectiveness of evaluating student performance with existing assessments.

Future Monitoring

Schools identified as underperforming are now required to develop a Turnaround Plan to boost student achievement. This plan will include measurable goals, evidence-based strategies, collaborative planning, and quarterly monitoring by the school district.

As part of the GCS Elevate Plan, both Alexander Elementary School and Lakeview Middle will receive targeted support designed to enhance the students’ academic experience. While full results of this four-year pilot program are still pending, GCS’s focus on retaining quality teachers is expected to promote a culture that values learning and effective instruction.

As the community watches closely, the district’s efforts to improve student outcomes at these underperforming schools will be closely monitored in the coming years.