Richland One is helping all students develop the world-class skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing a rigorous curriculum, high-quality instruction, personalized learning experiences and unique enrichment opportunities designed to prepare our students for college and careers.

Since March 2020, our district has faced many unprecedented circumstances and challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the 2020-2021 year, our instructional modalities changed from virtual to hybrid to face-to-face. Nonetheless, true to our “Richland One Strong” mantra, Richland One students, parents and staff made the adjustments necessary to ensure that teaching and learning continued.

Protecting the health and safety of our students and staff has been our priority throughout the pandemic. We also have worked to ensure that our students’ basic needs were met, including providing them with meals whether they were in our school buildings or learning from home. From March 2020 through March 2021, our Nutrition Services team distributed and served 2,428,866 meals to students.

Although 2020-2021 was far from a typical school year, there were many major achievements made in Richland One. One of our biggest Points of Pride was our 2020 graduation rate, which was 82.9 percent – nearly a full percentage point higher than the previous year’s graduation rate (82.2 percent) and higher than the state average for the second consecutive year. We are proud of the work that our students and staff at all grade levels have done to lead to the highest graduation rate in the district’s history.

We also saw a nearly $4 million increase in our scholarship total this year. Our Class of 2021 graduates collectively earned more than $65.4 million scholarships and other financial assistance. The graduating class included four National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, a distinction achieved by less than 1 percent of all high school seniors in the U.S. Also, 195 high school seniors were honored as Richland One Academic All-Stars. To qualify as Academic All-Stars, students must have at least a 3.5 GPA, rank in the top 10 percent of their high school’s senior class and have no grade lower than a C for any subject taken for high school credit.

Along with academic achievements, Richland One students also continued to excel in athletics, with our teams and individual student-athletes winning 26 state sports championships, including the first state football championship won by a district team in 50 years.

In Richland One, we work to provide our students with as many competitive advantages as possible. One way we do that is through our dual enrollment programs and partnerships with various colleges and universities. During the 2020-2021 school year, 35 Richland One students earned certificates and/or associate degrees through our dual enrollment program with Midlands Technical College, more than any other school district.  

Additionally, 445 Richland One students completed career and technical education (CTE) programs of study during the 2020-2021 school year, with many earning state and nationally recognized certifications. Also this year, Richland One established the first certified pre-apprenticeship program in South Carolina, in partnership with Apprenticeship South Carolina. The program will prepare students to enter and succeed in a registered apprenticeship program in career fields such as health science, engineering and construction through an approved training curriculum based on industry standards, educational and pre-vocational services, hands-on training through a simulated lab experience or volunteer opportunities, and assistance in applying to apprenticeship programs.

Richland One schools and departments also earned several national distinctions, including all 46 schools being named National Healthy Schools Award winners, as well as honors and awards for the district in financial reporting (32nd consecutive year) and cybersecurity (IT). At the state level, Richland was named a Purple Star School District by the South Carolina Department of Education in recognition of the district’s significant commitment to have programs and resources in place to support military families.

Also during the 2020-2021 school year, Richland One celebrated the completion of three major facility projects – upgrades to the Dreher High School athletics field, a new culinary arts facility and Victory Program wing at Heyward Career and Technology Center, and a new media center at Rosewood Elementary School.

In the past year, we have navigated previously uncharted waters and dealt with the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic together as a Richland One family. We are proud of the progress made by our students and staff during these uncertain times, and we are extremely grateful for the support we have received from the entire community.

We are resilient and we remain Richland One Strong.

Craig Witherspoon, Ed.D.

Richland One Superintendent