Pleasant Hill Middle School remains dedicated to offering outstanding, real-world experiences that help all students in cultivating the attributes defined by the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. Educators at PHMS prioritize establishing learning environments rooted in robust teaching methods, the Lexington One Graduate Profile Competencies, and the development of genuine connections with students and their families to promote a true sense of community.
World-Class Knowledge
The foundation of every instructional practice at PHMS is rooted in student success and growth. By implementing Empower activities aligned with the Lexington One Graduate Profile Competencies, our faculty remained committed to fostering students’ academic progress and the development of essential executive functions.
Teachers continued to grow their own instructional practice this year through building out their Understanding by Design (UbDs) Curriculum Frameworks, intentionally working backwards to create rich and meaningful learning opportunities grounded in the South Carolina standards. Additionally, teachers delved into district instructional frameworks, student data, and best practices to create units that included meaningful experiences and allowed students to transfer their learning into real-world settings.
Teachers utilized the Schoology learning management system to share Week-at-a-Glance (WAAG) slides, providing a vital resource for students and parents to track daily agendas, assignments, and integrated materials. Beyond digital tools, students engaged in collaborative small-group work, critical text analysis and comprehensive classroom dialogues. To ensure every learner succeeded, math and reading interventionists customized instruction for those requiring additional assistance, while district coaches partnered with faculty to implement co-teaching strategies that fostered personalized academic support.
World-Class Skills
Pleasant Hill Middle School maintains its commitment to "Empower," a student-directed learning period that pairs each child with an adult advocate for daily check-ins and consistent support. This intentional block of time empowers students to advocate for their own academic needs by choosing to attend teacher help sessions, retake assessments, seek extra assistance or refine their skills in the fine arts and performing arts.
At PHMS, students choose world language and exploratory courses that align with their personal interests and individual talents. The school offers instruction in Spanish, French and German, including specialized immersion tracks in Spanish and German. These immersion programs allow students to continue their language experience from elementary school and earn three high school credits while in middle school. Beyond languages, the diverse selection of performing arts and exploratory classes includes options such as visual arts, theatre, dance, chorus, band, orchestra and creative writing, as well as Physical Education, Adventure Education, STEM and Computer Applications.
Life and Career Characteristics
Through a close partnership with Lexington High School, PHMS ensures students are fully prepared for a smooth transition into high school and beyond, whether that involves higher education, military enlistment or vocational certification. Our Student-led Conference (SLC) events are a vital part of this journey, held in conjunction with course request nights to help students plan for the future. During these sessions, students showcase evidence of their advancement toward personal objectives set at the start of the term. These goals are anchored in the Lexington One Graduate Profile Competencies, offering a deliberate framework for academic success and long-term planning.
We take great pride in our successful recertification status as an Arts in the Basic Curriculum (ABC) Certified School, a distinction supported by a grant from the South Carolina Arts Commission. This support allowed our musical theatre department to perform Dare to Dream Jr. and funded the artistic rebranding of our campus. Updates included enhancements to the cougar statue at our main entrance and the addition of canvas paintings throughout the building inspired by a variety of artistic styles that highlights our diverse exploratory course options.
The "Three C’s" — Be Committed. Be Caring. Be Courageous. — remain the fundamental pillars of student success at PHMS. These core values assist our students in mastering the World Class Skills outlined in both the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate and the Lexington One Graduate Profile Competencies. We are deeply honored by the way our students, educators, staff, and local community have demonstrated these principles during this significant academic year.
Julie Painter, Principal
Beth Quick, SIC Chair
