Richland One is helping all students develop the world-class skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing a rigorous curriculum, high-quality instruction, personalized learning experiences and unique enrichment opportunities designed to prepare our students for college and careers.
In Richland One, we have adopted the mantra “Richland One Strong!” which reflects not only the strength but also the pride we have as a district. We continue to see significant gains in many areas district-wide. Since 2010, our graduation rate has increased by 15.2 percent, and our Advanced Placement (AP) exam passage rate has increased by 8 percent. During the 2017-2018 school year, a record-high 472 Richland One students completed career and technology education (CATE) programs of study. Among our many “firsts” during the 2017-2018 school year was our first Choice Fair where we showcased the many academic options we offer our students in Richland One. We are also proud of the numerous honors and awards received by our students, staff and schools, including nine National Merit Scholarship semifinalists; a National Blue Ribbon School (Brockman Elementary); a South Carolina Teacher of the Year finalist (Robert Harris); 12 state sports championships; and $83.2 million in scholarships and other financial aid earned by the Class of 2018. The district also was awarded a $15 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to add magnet programs at four schools (Bradley Elementary, Carver-Lyon Elementary, W.G. Sanders Middle and W.J. Keenan High). We are also proud of the programs and initiatives that we launched during the 2017-2018 school year to help meet our students’ diverse needs and appeal to their career interests, including our tuition-free Virtual School Program for high school students and our firefighter training program at Lower Richland High School in partnership with the Columbia Fire Department. We also continued to provide additional support and interventions for students where needed, including through our new RESET Program, which assists students in grades 3-5 with behavior management strategies.
Also during 2017-2018, we unveiled our new district logo with a tagline that captures our mission in three words: Engage · Educate · Empower. This also illustrates our commitment to providing options and opportunities for our students in Richland One.
Craig Witherspoon, Ed.D.
Richland One Superintendent
