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 and 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. Teachers then assign leveled collaborative group work and form groups for scaffolded instruction designed to support students in mastering Tier 1 learning targets.
This school year, our professional development efforts were guided by feedback from our Visible Learning observations and focused on deepening the impact of teacher clarity, student ownership, feedback, and responsive instruction. Through collaborative Teaching and Learning Team meetings, peer observations, and ongoing professional learning, teachers refined their use of learning intentions and success criteria, strengthened feedback practices, and intentionally incorporated student voice into the learning process. A significant emphasis was placed on helping students become assessment-capable learners who can articulate what they are learning, evaluate their progress, identify evidence of success, and determine their next steps for growth. Teachers routinely analyzed real-time evidence of learning, engaged in data-informed instructional decision-making, and adjusted instruction to meet students’ needs. By fostering a shared commitment to knowing our impact and making learning visible, we continued to build classrooms where students are active partners in their learning and where both teachers and students use evidence to drive continuous improvement.
We have much to celebrate at CSF! We have received numerous awards over the last three years, including being named a National Distinguished ESEA School for Outstanding Academic Achievement, an i-Ready Super School for Outstanding Stretch Growth two years in a row, and Spartanburg’s Best of the Best in Public Schools three years in a row. We also earned an Excellent report card rating in the fall of 2025. 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 Roundtable meetings, various local professional conferences, and on-site learning opportunities for local schools. Most recently, we received national recognition as a Certified Visible Learning School. This is an exciting milestone that enhances our ability to help every student know what they are 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 suggest that our students have improved in reading and math toward meeting grade-level proficiency measures. In reading, on the i-Ready Diagnostic Assessment, 72% of our students achieved their annual typical growth or higher. We increased the percentage of students performing on grade level in reading from 27% to 74%. In math, on the i-Ready Diagnostic Assessment, 75% of our students achieved their annual typical growth or higher. We increased the percentage of students performing on grade level in math from 27% to 85%.
Our teachers engage in continuous data chats to help improve real-time instructional responses. In addition, our leadership team presented fall and mid-year data conferences with district-level instructional leaders. At these conferences, we analyze longitudinal academic achievement data for each grade level and reflect on strategies that contribute to students’ success. Collaboration is vital for our students in every aspect of their educational journey at CSF. Students enthusiastically participate in our positive behavior system to foster character growth. CSF offers numerous activities that promote student success and instill strong interpersonal skills, fostering the perseverance necessary for success 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, on-site 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 relevant learning experiences, 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 is an essential part of our students’ academic success. All students have a personal iPad to fully utilize vetted digital tools such as i-Ready, Reflex, Pear Assessment, MagicSchool, Google Classroom, and various other platforms to personalize their learning. Academic enrichment programs are offered throughout the school day. Every morning, students can participate in early learning labs as they arrive on campus to work on Tier 1 learning targets in reading and math. During the school day, every child receives additional instruction to support intensive intervention or enrichment. Our schedule provides the framework to ensure uninterrupted Tier 1 reading and math instruction. Reading and math interventionists provide individualized intervention to help students reach their learning goals. Other strategies to ensure our students’ success include tiered supports through high-quality, research-based instructional materials and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.
Communication among all stakeholders is vital to maintaining a positive, vibrant sense of community at CSF. Stakeholders are well informed through SeeSaw, School Messenger, Smore newsletters, social media, the school website, and the marquee.
At Cooley Springs-Fingerville Elementary School, 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
Megan Bishop - SIC Chair
