At Pelion Middle School, we are dedicated to nurturing well-rounded students who embody the Lexington One Graduate Profile. We accomplish this by providing a learning environment that emphasizes research-based instructional best practices, a comprehensive support system and a rich array of experiences designed to prepare every student for success in school and beyond. We are incredibly proud to announce that Pelion Middle was recognized as a Silver High Performing School this year, a testament to the hard work of our students, faculty and community.
We are committed to fostering knowledgeable students who acquire and apply rigorous academic content in meaningful ways. Our continuum of support for Response to Intervention (RTI) and special education ensures qualifying students have their specific needs met. Within this framework, we are highly focused on a front-loading approach to learning. By pre-teaching key concepts and introducing foundational vocabulary ahead of schedule, we have drastically improved student mastery of grade-level content. This strategic intervention has helped students build confidence in their regular grade-level classes, empowering them to take risks, step out of their comfort zones and grow more academically than ever before. This year, these proactive measures yielded significant academic growth on i-Ready assessments. In i-Ready math, we observed a 5% increase in students on or above grade level and an 8% decrease in students two or more grade levels below. Similarly, i-Ready reading data showed a 4% increase in students on or above grade level and an 8% decrease in students two or more grade levels below. Additionally, three eighth-grade students were recognized as Junior Scholars based on their outstanding performance on the PSAT.
To further cultivate independent learners, creative thinkers, and problem solvers, we implemented a daily 30-minute structured learning time. On Wednesdays, we dedicate this period to directly addressing the Lexington One Graduate Profile competencies, ensuring students develop crucial skills for future success. The remaining four days a week center on academic growth and mastery, giving students the space to receive targeted interventions, make up missing work and complete retests to bridge learning gaps and advocate for their own academic needs. This collaborative environment directly benefits student learning, a focus mirrored in our professional learning communities (PLCs). Through PLCs, our teachers work together regularly to analyze student data, share effective teaching strategies and develop targeted interventions, ensuring a consistent and high-quality educational experience across all classrooms. To support resilient learners who persevere through challenges, we also offered a free targeted after-school program to proactively support students in danger of not advancing on time with their peers, mitigating the need for summer school. We further supported students by continuing to offer free math tutoring on Tuesdays and Thursdays, where students received personalized, small-group support from a certified math teacher.
Pelion Middle School provides students with a variety of experiences beyond the classroom to help them become effective communicators, collaborators, and future-eeady literate individuals. All grade levels participated in experiential field studies this school year. Sixth graders visited the Augusta Canal for a boat tour to investigate the history, heritage and environmental impacts of the Industrial Revolution. Seventh graders visited Camp Discovery to take on the role of stream ecologists as they gathered data to evaluate the health of a stream. Eighth graders visited Historic Camden and the Revolutionary War Visitor Center. Eighth graders also toured Pelion High School and the Lexington Technology Center to explore career and technology education courses, while select eighth graders attended the MEBA Showcase to learn about potential career paths. Our orchestra students also had the opportunity to travel to see the USC Symphony Orchestra. Building on this engagement, we continued to offer all students the opportunity to participate in staff-sponsored, interest-based clubs during the school day, strategically held on collaborative planning days to maximize instructional time and boost attendance. These clubs allowed students to explore interests, showcase kindness and form positive relationships with staff and peers.
Our students and faculty consistently demonstrated success, showing personal accountability and becoming personally and socially responsible leaders. In athletics, our student-athletes exemplified team collaboration and resilience. The Pelion Middle Archery team placed first in the state in both the Bullseye and IBO categories, with Delilah Williams winning individual first place in the state for both categories. Our fine arts departments garnered historic recognition this year. In the performing arts, 18 students were selected for District Honors Orchestra, four for Region Orchestra (with one alternate), one for All-State Orchestra, and one was accepted to Tri-DAC. The eighth-grade orchestra earned an Excellent rating at the SCMEA Concert Performance Assessment, with a Superior rating in sight reading. Five band students were selected for the Lexington One District Honor Band, five were selected for the SCBDA Region Band, and the Pelion Middle School Honor Band scored an Excellent rating at the state Concert Performance Assessment. In choral arts, seven students were accepted into the District Honor Choir, three were accepted into the SC ACDA All-State Honor Choir, and our honor choir, Vox Pantheris, received a Superior rating at the SCMEA Concert Performance Assessment — the first Superior rating in PMS Choir history! Our visual arts students were equally celebrated, with 24 students featured at the South Carolina State Fair Juried Student Art Exhibition, earning a grade-level first-place award and an Honorable Mention for the 2025–26 school year. Furthermore, eight Pelion Middle art students were selected as ArtFields Jr. 2026 Competition Artists, nearly tripling our previous acceptance rate. Our Visual Arts Department entered over 30 student artworks in the annual Peanut Party Art Exhibition, receiving six art award ribbons, and 10 students were selected for the District Honors Art Program, placing their artwork on display at the Lexington County Main Library.
Finally, we celebrate the enduring dedication of our faculty and staff, whose commitment to professional excellence ensures our students are consistently guided by knowledgeable, independent and resilient leaders. Their hard work, paired with the unwavering support of our families and community members, serves as the ultimate catalyst for the incredible successes we witnessed this year. Together, as a united Pelion community, we remain deeply invested in cultivating the complete Lexington One Graduate Profile in every child — fostering the creativity, collaboration and personal responsibility needed to shape a bright and successful future for all of our students.
Jessica Keisler, Principal
Amanda Bass, SIC Chair
