Daniel Island School is committed to assisting all students to achieve optimum development of World Class Skills and Life and Career Characteristics as outlined in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. Our initial foundational effort is to provide a safe, caring, and academically challenging learning environment for all. Home to a total enrollment of over 1200 K-8 students, our school is enhanced by an extremely active parent organization. This parent group supplies the funding for Reading materials, technology and student supplies. In addition, Daniel Island School boasts a highly successful volunteer program and over 40 active business partners - all striking examples of the entire Daniel Island community’s firm commitment to quality education! The energy, enthusiasm, and expertise of the faculty and staff; coupled with our community support, are the backbone of our school’s success.
A tradition of excellence has become firmly established at Daniel Island School. DIS has been recognized as a Palmetto Gold Award recipient for academic excellence for each year since 2011. This year, thirty four eighth grade students were named National Junior Scholars. Eight seventh graders earned Duke TIP academic status through the SC Department of Education. The percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations on SC standardized assessments has consistently been significantly higher than state and district. In addition to these accomplishments in academic achievement, our students also excel in the Fine Arts. Student led drama presentations provide opportunities for student performance and public enjoyment. Student artwork is on display each year at Northwoods Mall, the Coastal Carolina Fair and the district board room. Our First Robotics Team earned several honors in our inaugural year winning awards in Robot Design, Core Values and Rising Stars as we qualified for regionals.
Teachers work collaboratively in Professional Learning Communities (PLC) to focus on curriculum alignment, best practices,and data analysis. In addition, teachers focused on personalized learning and technology integration to support all learners. Students throughout the school utilized computer based programs such as Mastery Connect, Google Classroom, Reading A to Z, Flocabulary, IXL , Moby Max, Reflex Math, and SmartyAnts. Teachers delivered digital online safety lessons to all students in kindergarten through eighth grade through Flip Grid, See Saw, screencastify and google meets. Common Sense Media recognized our school as a Certified Digital Citizenship School. We continued our training and implementation of our S.T.E.A.M initiative and added Makerspaces to implement pre-engineering skills and 21st Century learning. Teachers implemented collaboration, creativity, communication and critical thinking into lessons to prepare our learners. Professional development and implementation of Engaging Creative Minds also allowed students to
At Daniel Island School, developing and maintaining good character is extremely important. The guidance department worked together to increase awareness about bullying to make a positive difference in our school and community. Our character program emphasizes one character trait per month. Students were challenged to find that trait within themselves and communicated character education on the Daily News Program. "Buddy Benches" were added to the campus to encourage acceptance and empathy for all students. Students are challenged to make good decisions for their learning, their behavior and their relationships. Our vision is to create a future we date to imagine; these efforts are encouraged through innovative learning and engaging activities while learning to S.O.A.R. with personal Safety, Organization, Accountability and Respect.
The collaboration and teamwork of the Daniel Island School faculty and staff with our families and community ensure the continued success in the development of our future South Carolina graduates and world leaders!