At Tanglewood Middle School, our mission is to empower every student to become the best version of themselves by developing the World Class Skills outlined in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. Through engaging instruction, meaningful relationships, and intentional opportunities, we cultivate self-awareness, creativity, innovation, and industriousness in our students.
Founded in 1965, Tanglewood has a long-standing tradition of supporting students and families holistically. Nestled on 60 acres in the heart of Greenville County’s Westside, our campus sits between growing industrial zones and vibrant residential communities. One of our defining strengths is our cultural and linguistic diversity—our student body proudly represents a rich blend of Latin American cultures and languages, contributing to a truly global school experience.
As a designated Title I school, we utilize federal funding to expand opportunities for all learners. This includes reducing class sizes, offering comprehensive academic supports, and strengthening family engagement programs. In response to the challenges posed by a high poverty rate in our surrounding community, we remain committed to addressing the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally.
A cornerstone of this commitment is our ongoing partnership with the United Way of Greenville County, which began in 2015 and transformed Tanglewood into a wraparound services school. This collaboration has brought together agencies such as OnTrack Greenville, Communities In Schools, Prisma Health, and Greenville Mental Health, allowing us to meet the complex needs of our students and families.
Our motto, “We’re Going Places,” reflects both a renewed vision under current leadership and the unwavering dedication of our faculty and staff. While our students take greater ownership of their learning, our educators ensure instruction is relevant, rigorous, and aligned with both state standards and high school readiness expectations.
Tanglewood Middle School offers a robust selection of academic programs and extracurricular opportunities, including:
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AVID
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Student Council & Ambassadors
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National Beta Club
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Band & Chorus
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Honors Courses in Core Subjects
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Afterschool Tutorial & Saturday School
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Career Education & Gateway to Technology
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STAR Academy
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Reading Intervention
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Google Apps & Business Applications
These offerings support critical thinking and problem-solving in both classroom and real-world settings. Through daily advisory sessions and collaborative learning environments, we intentionally embed skills such as communication, collaboration, adaptability, agency, and global awareness—extending the goals of the Profile of the SC Graduate into everyday practice.
Our diverse and internationally experienced staff contributes to strong Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) that prioritize student-centered, hands-on instruction. Technology integration is central to our teaching model, bolstered by a one-to-one Chromebook initiative and Google Classroom, ensuring that students engage with digital tools in ways that promote collaboration, creativity, and preparation for future careers. Many students also have the opportunity to earn high school credit before completing middle school, advancing our alignment with Greenville County Schools’ Graduation Plus initiative.
As an OnTrack Greenville school, supported by the United Way, the Greenville Partnership for Philanthropy, and other community funders, we continue to drive innovation in education and student support. Our strategic partnerships and inclusive school culture offer our students a truly global perspective, preparing them to thrive in high school, college, the workforce, and beyond.
At Tanglewood, we exist to inspire, motivate, and guide middle school students as they grow socially, intellectually, physically, and emotionally. Our vision is to equip every student with the confidence, awareness, and resilience to navigate life’s challenges—and to emerge as the strongest version of themselves.
Leroy Platt - Principal
Keyisha Smith - SIC Chair
