At Longleaf Middle School, we are committed to ensuring that 100% of our students are provided with opportunities to succeed. We help all students develop the World Class Skills outlined in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by maintaining high academic standards, fostering a supportive and challenging school culture, and offering multiple tiers of support to facilitate student success.
Longleaf Middle School is dedicated to building a learning community that ensures our students' success both academically and in life. We recognize that the knowledge, skills, and competencies gained now will serve as the foundation for their future learning. Our school supports all students in developing the world-class skills and life and career characteristics outlined in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. We achieve this by upholding high academic standards, fostering a supportive and challenging school culture, exposing students to rigorous and transformative learning experiences, and providing the essential skills necessary for optimal student learning outcomes.
World Class Knowledge– This year, Longleaf Middle School has made significant academic progress on MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) and district benchmark measures. However, we observed regression in some subgroups on our SC READY assessment. Addressing this regression will be a priority as we equip students with world-class skills through our dual and intertwined themed magnet programs: the Longleaf Engineering and Arts Program (school-wide) and the School of Zoological and Botanical Studies (school-within-a-school). These programs offer STEAM-focused opportunities for students to excel through inquiry, thematic, and project-based learning, culminating in engineering projects and case studies. In small peer groups, students conduct fieldwork and action research with local experts to solve real-world problems. Teachers facilitate inquiry-based learning aligned with the newly adopted South Carolina College and Career Ready Standards. Students then present their findings to authentic audiences to obtain feedback, engage in reflection, and make revisions, ensuring they produce high-quality finished products.
World Class Skills– Our focus is to develop students into creators, communicators, critical thinkers, and collaborators. By utilizing the latest technology tools and instructional strategies, students explore critical issues, work in grade-level teams, collaborate with peers and adults, and devise unique solutions. This process demonstrates their mastery of core knowledge and skills, culminating in the creation of high-quality products.
Life and Career Characteristics– Longleaf Middle School fosters a culture where students lead by example, exercise good judgment, achieve excellence, and act responsibly. Through these efforts, learners show their commitment to quality work and good citizenship. Our school structures and traditions—such as Conscious Discipline, Response to Intervention, LEAP Intervention, Club Days, community and town-hall meetings, mentoring, exhibitions of student work, and service learning—ensure that every student feels a sense of belonging and value. We nurture self-advocacy and student leadership, and we celebrate student growth.
The 2023-2024 school year marks seventeen years of Longleaf Middle School proudly serving the students and parents in the northeast area of Richland County. Our school data indicates that while we have progressed in some areas, we have experienced regression in others. To address these challenges, our teachers and administration team will be meticulously analyzing the data, identifying areas that require attention, and making the necessary adjustments to turn the current situation around. As we actualize our mission, "Student Success - Every Student Every Day," we remain laser-focused on growth and student achievement while supporting our students’ social and emotional needs. In partnership with our students, faculty, parents, community, and staff, we look forward to a bright and successful future, transforming Longleaf Middle into a learning community where each student is connected, supported, engaged and achieving.
Teresa Price Mingo, Ed.S., Principal
Calvin Rascoe, SIC Chairperson
