Chicora Elementary School is proud to be part of the Charleston County School District’s Acceleration Schools Initiative, which is dedicated to meeting the academic, social, and cultural needs of all students. This initiative works collaboratively with staff, families, and the broader community to support the development of the whole child.
The initiative is grounded in four Guiding Principles:
- Exceptional People: Every student is supported by outstanding teachers and strong school leaders.
- Rigorous Content and Instruction: All students are capable of reaching their college and career goals.
- Community Partnership: Families and students take pride in their school.
- School Transformation: Every division is focused on equitable and transformative change through leadership, talent management, instructional infrastructure, and a positive school climate and culture.
Chicora Elementary uses this turnaround framework to equip all students with the world-class skills and life and career characteristics outlined in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate, emphasizing critical thinking, communication, and collaboration.
For the 2024–2025 school year, Chicora continued implementing Bridges for Mathematics and the Expeditionary Learning (EL) and CKLA curriculum for reading, delivering rigorous, standards-based instruction at all grade levels. Additionally, we used iReady for both reading and math, a digital platform that meets students at their current level and provides teachers with actionable data to help drive student growth.
To ensure instructional success, our staff engages in ongoing professional development and adopts a bold, comprehensive approach to close achievement gaps and promote equity. Through these efforts, Chicora was proud to receive an “Average” rating on the 2024 school report card, reflecting our dedication to continuous improvement and academic excellence.
Throughout the year, our students continued to develop perseverance and self-direction, using curricular and data binders to set and achieve personal goals. Teachers collaborated regularly through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), planning thematic units across and within grade levels to support instructional alignment and student achievement.
We also prioritized family engagement, hosting events such as Coffee with the Principal, Family Reading and Math Nights, our Christmas Concert, Black History Program, and Parenting Programs to meet the diverse needs of our school community.
At Chicora, students are taught to collaborate effectively and respectfully as team members. By fostering a culture of shared responsibility, they develop essential interpersonal skills that enhance both academic and social success.
As a PBIS and Second Step school, we support students’ social-emotional learning through a structured discipline plan and regular guidance lessons. This year, we introduced the Ron Clark House System to further enhance school climate and boost morale among students and staff.
We are also deeply committed to the health and wellness of our school community. Our Wellness Team promotes healthy habits through challenges and nutrition education, and our newly established Wellness/Calming Room provides a restorative space for staff throughout the year.
Our valued partnerships with Charleston Promise Neighborhood (CPN) and Metanoia have helped us connect families with community resources, employment initiatives, and STEM-based family events. These efforts help keep families engaged in their children’s education.
We maintain strong communication with families through platforms such as Class Dojo, Parent Portal, monthly newsletters, our school website, Facebook page, the school marquee, student agendas, and more.
At Chicora Elementary, we are excited to continue building partnerships with families and our community as we support our students in becoming lifelong learners and soaring to SUCCESS!
Monica Smalls, Principal
Alexandra Balcom, SIC Chair
