Our school is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by transforming education through implementing college and career standards. Our primary focus at Arden Elementary School is providing and ensuring all students have opportunities to participate in learning experiences involving literacy, math, science, social studies, and the related arts. These coordinated activities help students grow academically and prepare them to be lifelong learners.
Arden Elementary School, located in the southern region of Columbia, is instrumental in the North Columbia Community. We proudly serve approximately 240 students in Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade. Our diverse student body, parents, staff, and supportive community work to embody the belief that "every child is a powerful learner" within our learning community.
We proudly maintain a positive learning environment as we work toward achieving academic excellence. Student growth and achievement continue to be the top priority. To help accelerate student growth and achievement, our school implements the tenets of visible learning. Visible learning is a research-based framework focusing on teachers and students working collaboratively to improve educational outcomes. Teachers work collaboratively to develop lessons that provide differentiated instruction. They also utilize data to inform instruction. Our teachers are committed to ongoing professional development in which they study effective strategies and best practices across the content areas.
In addition to providing a rigorous academic curriculum, Arden continues to focus on the development of the total child by implementing mentoring and educational tutoring programs such as the Midlands Reading Consortium, Arden E.L.I.T.E. Male Group, Girls of Excellence, Reading Matters, and other school-based partnerships. Over the past few years, students at Arden have continued to benefit from implementing our P.B.I.S. (Positive Behavior Interventions Supports) initiative, which strongly emphasizes positive social skills and reduced behavioral problems. Teachers and our school leadership team believe in teaching the whole child through community-building activities and accentuating the "positives." Our students participated in additional activities such as the Fitness and Disc Club Team and the Superintendent's Book Challenge. These experiences were instrumental in promoting positive behavioral skills such as responsibility, discipline, and self-motivation. We hope that the collective efforts of parents, teachers, and the community will enable students to reach their highest potential and continue making Arden "a great place to learn."
Dr. Timothy J. Blackwell, Principal
Barbara Tiller, SIC Chairperson
