Horrell Hill Elementary School, located in the close-knit rural community of Hopkins, South Carolina, proudly serves over 550 students in PreK through 5th grade. As one of the larger elementary schools in Richland County School District One, we continue to experience growth driven by ongoing residential development and economic expansion within our attendance zone.
Our school embraces a richly diverse student population with approximately 65% African American, 16% Hispanic or Latino, 12% Caucasian, and 6% identifying as two or more races. We offer a full continuum of services to meet the needs of all learners, including specialized support for students in special education, advanced academics, English language development, and Tier 3 social-emotional interventions. We believe in the power of equity and inclusion, guided by our school’s motto: “We Believe… Success for All!” Our mascot, the Soaring Eagle, embodies our collective spirit and resilience, and is prominently featured in our school’s unifying hashtag, #WatchUsSoar.
Our highly qualified and dedicated teachers share a collective commitment to fostering the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. Literacy and numeracy achievement are seen as shared responsibilities, with students engaged in inquiry-based learning aligned to the South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Standards. Research-based strategies, tiered interventions, and extended-day and extracurricular opportunities enrich student learning both in and beyond the classroom.
Collaborative professional learning is at the heart of our instructional approach. Our Reading Coach and Curriculum Resource Teacher facilitate regular Professional Learning Communities and staff development sessions to support continuous instructional improvement. As a proud Professional Development School in partnership with the University of South Carolina (Columbia), we host student interns and preservice classes, contributing to the growth of future educators while infusing our classrooms with new ideas and energy. We also value the power of expanding our professional network as educators by attending state and national conferences, some of which include sessions presented by our staff.
Family and community engagement remain essential to our mission. Through our Title I Plan and support from our Parent and Family Engagement Specialist, we offer a variety of events including curriculum nights, multilingual family nights, community reading initiatives, extracurricular clubs, and active partnerships with our Parent-Teacher Organization and School Improvement Council. In addition, we are proud to maintain ongoing partnerships with various faith-based groups in the community, McEntire Joint National Guard, Hickory Top Farms, and the Lower Richland branch of the Richland County Library.
Horrell Hill Elementary is also committed to digital learning and innovation. All classrooms are equipped with wireless internet and 1:1 laptops to support student access to 21st-century tools. Opportunities in coding, robotics, and STEM education are embedded throughout the school year culminating in Camp Discovery which is our signature summer program that merges literacy, science, and technology to spark curiosity and creativity.
Soaring to higher heights,
Mrs. Shannon Adams, Principal
Mrs. Leticha Burkes, School Improvement Council Chairperson
