Florence County School District Three is helping all of our students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by focusing on critical thinking, collaboration and creativity skills. This focus helps Florence District 3 achieve our mission of ensuring our students are college and career ready for 21st century careers.

One important district initiative that increases our students’ readiness for 21st century skills is our Early College High School which starts the third cohort in August. The Early College High School is a program within the high school in which nearly 60 students are enrolled in rigorous college courses with Florence Darlington Technical College. These students will have the opportunity to earn a two-year associate degree along with their high school diploma upon high school graduation.

This year, FCSD3 initiated a plan to create school choice for students and parents. This plan will help our district /schools continue to help students develop World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. As part of the school choice initiative, schools will be branded with a specific focus. Name changes and/or brands, and grade offerings include:

• Olanta Creative Arts & Science Magnet School – 4K-5
• Lake City Early Childhood Center School of Arts – 4K-2
• Main Street Elementary School of Arts – 3-6
• J.C. Lynch Elementary School of STEM – 4K-6
• Scranton STEAM Academy – 4K-6
• J. Paul Truluck Creative Arts & Science Magnet School – 6-9
• Dr. Ronald E. McNair School of Technology, Leadership and Digital Communications – 7-8
• Lake City Early College High School – 9-12

As part of the school choice initiative, FCSD3 received a five-year, $9.1 million Magnet Schools Assistance Programs grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Innovation and Improvement for its Project C3 Explores: Colleges, Cultures, & Careers initiative.

This grant allowed the creation of two magnet schools that started the initial phase in October 2017 with a focus on science and the arts with full implementation in 2018.

Olanta Elementary Creative Arts and Science will serve 352 students (116 additional seats) through creative arts and science themed project based hands-on learning environments designed to foster a range of critical thinking and problem-solving skills through art and science infused learning while exposing students to a wide array of college and career choices.

J. Paul Truluck Intermediate Creative Arts and Science will serve 396 students (132 additional seats) through creative arts and science themed project based hands-on learning environments to develop competencies in both the arts and science while challenging students both intellectually and creatively in efforts to expose students to the wide array of career choices in the arts and science.

Other district accomplishments to celebrate include:

For the second consecutive year, Scranton Elementary School was named a finalist for Palmetto’s Finest by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators. Palmetto’s Finest recognizes schools which offer excellent instruction and outstanding leaders, augmented by strong family and community involvement and a supportive business community.

Florence County School District Three officially opened its new sensory-motor room for special needs students at Lake City Early Childhood Center. The sensory- motor room’s aim is to offer students’ with disabilities increased opportunities to enjoy and control a variety of sensory experiences. The goal of the sensory-motor room located at Lake City Early Childhood Center is to use sensory-motor strategies to help all students to change their alert levels to optimal promoting student engagement and academic achievement.

Several of our schools have engineering clubs designed to allow students to explore the fields of science and engineering beyond the classroom, and engage rigorous learning experiences that critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity skills using robotics and coding.

Teachers and students engaged in a variety of STEM based activities showcasing the interactive school curriculum and STEM projects during the district’s STEM fair where more than 100 projects were displayed and shared during our districtwide STEM fair.

With continued support from our students, parents, staff and the communities we serve, FCSD3 continues to work toward its goal of becoming a premier school of choice and graduating students with world-class skills.

Laura Hickson, Superintendent

Florence County School District Three