Cooley Springs Fingerville Elementary School helps all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by supporting our students as they build a solid foundation of knowledge and skills to foster success both in and beyond the classroom. We are committed to increasing student achievement by ensuring high levels of student engagement in rigorous learning experiences that align with South Carolina state standards in all core content areas. We meet the needs of our students in a safe and innovative learning environment, preparing them for the world in which they will live and work. At Cooley Springs-Fingerville Elementary School, our mission is to empower students in a nurturing environment to inspire lifelong learning.
At CSF, we maintain an intentional, focused instructional program by creating an environment of collaboration. Teachers receive ongoing professional development to ensure they have all the tools necessary to implement best practices proven through educational research to have the most significant influence on student learning. Teachers work collectively during collaborative meetings with our math and literacy coaches to plan scaffolded instruction that is relevant, rigorous, and engaging for all students. Working in unison to develop formative assessments that align with learning targets and success criteria allows for real-time data collection following lessons in reading and math. Following, teachers assign leveled collaborative group work and form groups for scaffolded instruction designed to support students with mastery of tier one learning targets.
This school year, our professional development meetings placed a strong emphasis on scaffolding as a key instructional practice to support student learning. Teachers engaged in collaborative discussions and hands-on activities to explore how to break down complex skills and concepts into manageable steps, providing the right level of support at the right time. We focused on strategies such as modeling, guided practice, and the gradual release of responsibility to help students build confidence and independence in their learning. By aligning our efforts around effective scaffolding, we aimed to ensure that all students, regardless of their starting point, had access to rigorous, high-quality instruction that met their individual needs. These efforts align with our Visible Learning work, where teachers embrace the importance of Visible Teaching and Learning and ensure students grow as Visible Learners—understanding what they are learning, why it is important, and how to improve.
We have much to celebrate at CSF! We have received numerous awards over the last 3 years, including being named a National Distinguished ESEA School for Outstanding Academic Achievement, i-Ready Super School for Outstanding Stretch Growth 2 years in a row, and Spartanburg’s Best of the Best in the Public Schools 2 years in a row. We also earned an excellent report card rating for the 2023-2024 school year. We have been able to share our successes with educators across the state through invitations to present at the state Title I conference, state Title I round table meetings, and other professional conferences. Our school is in the process of becoming a Visible Learning Certified School, with the goal of completing certification within the next two years. This is an exciting step that will enhance our ability to help every student know what they’re learning, why it matters, and how to improve. Through this process, our teachers are developing a deeper commitment to Knowing Thy Impact—using evidence of learning to evaluate the effectiveness of their instruction—and to providing Effective Feedback that moves learning forward for every student.
Our Spring i-Ready scores indicated that our students made significant gains over the course of the school year. Our longitudinal data suggests that our students have improved in reading and math toward meeting grade-level proficiency measures. In reading, on the i-Ready diagnostic assessment, 73% of our students achieved their annual typical growth or higher. We increased the on-grade level percentage in reading from 26% to 73%. In math, on the i-Ready diagnostic assessment, 82% of our students achieved their annual typical growth or higher. We increased the on-grade level percentage in math from 27% to 82%.
Our teachers engage in grade-level data chats weekly. In addition, our leadership team joined a fall and mid-year data chat conference with district-level instructional leaders. At these conferences, we analyze longitudinal academic achievement data from each grade level and reflect on strategies contributing to students' successes. Collaboration is vital for our students in every aspect of their educational journey while at CSF. Students enthusiastically participate in our positive behavior system to encourage growth with character. CSF offers numerous activities that promote student success and instill strong interpersonal skills to develop the perseverance necessary to be successful beyond elementary school. Some of these activities include academic and behavior intervention and recognition programs, before- and after-school enrichment opportunities, a variety of fine arts options, onsite and hands-on learning experiences, and various family involvement events.
The CSF staff continually emphasizes authentic learning opportunities to increase student readiness and develop world-class skills. Our students become critical thinkers and problem solvers through real-world activities, rich discussions, and small group instruction. Collaborative learning allows students to creatively demonstrate problem-solving while accessing, assimilating, and sharing information with authentic audiences. Technology plays a crucial role in our students’ academic success. All students have a personal iPad to fully utilize vetted digital tools, such as i-Ready, Reflex, iXL, Pear Assessment, and various other platforms to personalize their learning. Academic enrichment programs are offered throughout the child's school day. Every morning, students can participate in early learning labs as they arrive on campus to work on individualized learning targets in reading and math. During the school day, every child receives additional enhanced instruction to allow for intensive intervention or enrichment. Our schedule provides the framework to ensure a focus on uninterrupted reading and math instruction. Reading and math interventionists provide individualized intervention to help students reach their learning goals. After school, students receive academic instruction from certified teachers. Other strategies to ensure our students’ success include Leveled Literacy Intervention, Linda Mood-Bell, Orton Gillingham, Response to Intervention in reading and math, and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.
Communication among all stakeholders is vital to a positive, vibrant sense of community at CSF. Stakeholders are well-informed through SeeSaw, School Messenger, Smore newsletters, social media, the school's web page, and the marquee.
At Cooley Springs-Fingerville Elementary, we continuously strive to work together to provide a state-of-the-art learning environment for our students. We are thankful for the support we receive from our families and the surrounding community. Each day, we embrace our challenges and celebrate our successes. We believe that all students can learn at the highest level. Every student matters. Every moment counts.
Stephanie Blanton - Principal
Chelsea Trantham - SIC Chair
