Our school is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing a rigorous, STEAM-infused educational experience that prioritizes critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity across all grade levels.
Felton Laboratory Charter School (FLCS), originally established in 1920 as Felton Training School, became an independent charter school in 2014. Located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, FLCS currently serves approximately 300 students in kindergarten through eighth grade from the rural communities of Orangeburg, Bamberg, and Calhoun Counties.
The mission of Felton Laboratory Charter School is to provide a rigorous, creative, and diverse learning environment through Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). Our interdisciplinary approach prepares students for life in a global society, success in post-secondary education, and a range of career opportunities. STEAM integration is embedded across all grade levels and is supported by a dedicated STEAM University instructor, allowing for hands-on, project-based learning that aligns with real-world applications. Students explore topics through inquiry, experimentation, and collaborative design, fostering innovation and problem-solving skills essential for 21st-century success.
FLCS promotes college and career readiness beginning in the earliest grades, ensuring that students develop a strong foundation in literacy, numeracy, and digital fluency. Instruction in grades K–2 emphasizes early literacy using research-based strategies and structured phonics through LETRS-informed instruction. In grades 3–5, students deepen their content knowledge and engage in cross-curricular problem-solving tasks, while middle school students (grades 6–8) are prepared for academic transitions and explore career pathways through enrichment blocks, digital tools, and partnerships with local high schools and universities.
Our Instructional Leadership Team (ILT), comprised of the Director, Assistant Principals, Reading Coach, Math Coach, and Instructional Coach, leads data-driven instructional improvement efforts. This includes structured coaching cycles, instructional rounds, and targeted support that build teacher capacity and align classroom instruction with state standards and schoolwide goals. The School Improvement Team (SIT), which includes ILT members and grade-level representatives, collaboratively plans initiatives to enhance school climate, curriculum, instructional delivery, and professional development.
Felton implements a comprehensive assessment system that includes i-Ready, Fountas & Pinnell (F&P), and the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA). Teachers use this data to guide instruction, personalize interventions, and hold regular student and family data conferences to ensure transparency and accountability. This assessment-informed instruction supports a growth mindset culture where students set goals and track their academic progress throughout the year.
To support continuous improvement, FLCS offers ongoing professional development aligned to the needs of students and staff. This includes NIET Best Practices, LETRS certification, technology integration, and content-specific training. Teachers participate in weekly Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), where they collaboratively analyze student work, identify instructional strategies, and reflect on outcomes. Instruction is monitored consistently to ensure alignment with standards, rigor, and high expectations across classrooms.
As a laboratory school, Felton maintains longstanding partnerships with South Carolina State University and Claflin University, providing unique opportunities for collaboration, mentoring, and innovation. Our relationship with the High School for Health Professions extends support beyond middle school, as many Felton graduates pursue specialized STEM-related pathways in high school. Additionally, community engagement remains a cornerstone of our approach, with events such as Family STEAM Nights, Literacy Nights, and Title I Parent Engagement Sessions fostering strong school-family connections.
Felton operates on a year-round academic calendar with intercession breaks every 45 days, which are used for academic enrichment, student interventions, and educator reflection. This model supports the academic and social-emotional well-being of both students and staff.
At FLCS, we are driven by the guiding question, “How are the children?”—a reflection of our commitment to the whole child. Through intentional STEAM integration, data-informed instruction, and family and community partnerships, Felton Laboratory Charter School ensures that every student is equipped with the World Class Knowledge, Skills, and Life and Career Characteristics defined in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. Our students are prepared to lead, succeed, and thrive in an ever-changing global society.
