Thomas C. Cario Middle School is helping our students develop world class skills based on the Profile of a South Carolina Graduate. We nurture a love of learning through challenging academics and a supportive, kind environment where every student is valued. Students are encouraged to think critically and creatively and are expected to model dignity and respect for self, others and community.
Cario provides quality academics with opportunities for high school credit in mathematics, computer science, and World Language to promote critical thinking and problem-solving. Our students have a diverse program of studies that includes courses in pre-engineering Project Lead the Way curriculum, business, computer science, writing, marine science, video production, horticulture, health sciences, and leadership. Cario students compete in numerous local, state, and national academic challenges and win top awards, such as in the CCSD Spellbound Spelling Bee, Quest, LEGO Robotics, SC State Scholastic Chess Championship, National Geographic Geography Bee, and Mock Trial. We are extremely proud of our comprehensive and nationally recognized Fine Arts programs, each of which wins local, state, and national recognition. Nationally-normed benchmark testing indicates that our students are improving yearly with critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Character building, leadership, self-advocacy, kindness, and community outreach are strongly emphasized at Cario, which foster creativity and an innovative mindset. We teach that kindness and self-advocacy is a choice and is founded upon service to self, others and the community. We have powerful and active student leadership organizations through the National Junior Honor Society and student council, among others. Our students use their creativity and innovation skills to create philanthropic endeavors that leave large footprints on our community. We offer a variety of clubs that include competitive academics; art; drama; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM); leadership; horticulture; Star Wars; and literacy, among many others. Our students are involved and highly successful in sports offered through the recreational department and various private organizations. We could not be as successful or offer the vast variety of opportunities to our students without our committed and supportive parent and community groups! We work to ensure each student will be a highly successful, competitive South Carolina graduate and local, national, and world leader.
Our teachers have focused this year on educating the whole child, even as the ever-changing COVID-19 expectations and impacts have evolved. Our teachers maintained efforts to ensure students’ needs were met and that they felt a part of the classroom whether in person or remote. The professional development centered on health, wellness, and technology access to support students during this challenging school year. This allowed teachers to focus more on meeting students' social and emotional needs, which in turn allowed students to focus on reading and learning. This emphasis on students' social and emotional well-being was critical to ensure the greatest academic growth during such a challenging year. Because teachers were more in tuned to students' various needs, they were able to identify students who might need extra support in reading or math in a very timely manner which was effective in supporting student learning over-all.
Sharon Randall, Principal
Katie Donohoe, SIC President
