Berkeley County School District (BCSD) is creating an excellent school system to serve students now and in the future. Our schools, in partnership with the community, are committed to providing personalized and innovative learning opportunities to help students achieve the Knowledge, World Class Skills, and Life and Career characteristics identified in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. Berkeley County School District is the fourth largest school district in the state, with over 5,200 employees serving approximately 36,000 PreK-12 students in 47 schools. The growth in the area is rapid, and the district is working to address the needs. It’s estimated that enrollment will increase by 1,000 students annually and that 20 to 23 new schools will be necessary to manage growth by 2035.
An increased number of elementary and middle schools are incorporating STEAM instructional approaches that focus on solving real-world, relevant, and local problems across all areas of the curriculum. Schools implementing STEAM have been involved in specialized training taking place over a three-year period. Arts-infused programs are available for students to participate in drama, creative writing, dance, music, visual arts, etc. Comprehensive career and technical education programs also continue to expand in BCSD. More businesses are partnering with school programs to provide authentic, problem-based learning, career exploration, and workplace experiences that prepare students to be college and career ready. Project-based activities expand student learning experiences across multiple disciplines and reflect the future college and career aspirations of students while aligning to the areas of high demand in the job market. New program development includes financial literacy courses and computer science courses in middle and high schools that allow students to explore coding, algorithms, web and app development, etc. Additional emphasis will be placed on work-based learning experiences for all students in all 9 high schools. For students requiring alternative pathways or intervention, increased systems have been established to support the diverse social, emotional, and academic needs of our students.
BCSD continues its OneBerkeley Connects technology initiative in which all students in grades 3-12 are equipped with an electronic device. As a part of this initiative, instructional technologists collaborate with teachers to further develop skill sets and strategies to enhance instructional experiences both in and out of the classroom. As evidenced by the variety of innovative and personalized opportunities, BCSD emphasizes the importance of creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking from PreK through 12th grade. BCSD is proud to provide Berkeley County students with a premium school experience on their journey to meeting the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate characteristics.
