Pelion Middle School continues to capitalize on student achievement using differentiation strategies and a blended personalized learning model developing the world-class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. In addition, Pelion Middle is identified by Franklin Covey as a “LEAD Middle School” focusing on developing students as leaders in the classroom and community. This program is centered on providing our students a path to be self-directed, and to work effectively. Through these efforts, we are preparing students to be successful and developing leaders for our future.
Pelion Middle has strived to provide professional development opportunities for teachers, promote a positive learning environment and support teachers towards continuing contracts. Teachers work collaboratively both within their content areas, grade levels and with instructional coaching to individualize instruction for all students to reach their potential and tailor instruction accordingly. Teachers collaborate through Professional Learning Communities that are focused on targeting student strengths and weaknesses identified through formative assessments and effectively group students based on growth opportunities and differentiate instruction. Beyond Professional Learning Communities within our school, teachers have on average 2.5 days of additional staff development. In addition, Pelion Middle is part of the Dynamic Learning Project as a partnership with Google to continue to increase student achievement.
Pelion Middle School focuses on helping students become lifelong learners and innovative thinkers. We accomplish this by offering relevant and rigorous opportunities both in the classroom, and in the extracurricular areas. Our school offers an environment that is focused on small group instruction, digital integration, and performance based learning. Students not only learn to be independent thinkers, but also learn the skills of working in collaborative teams. Gifted and talented students have had a high success rate on end of course assessments and high majority of students have been offered opportunities in the arts. In addition, discipline referrals have decreased by 16.5% over the last school year and there have not been any expulsions during the previous school year.
Pelion Middle advocates the importance of rigor, relevance and relationships. This focus, we believe, is the driving force in Pelion Middle students collectively achieving the highest level of growth out of Lexington One elementary and middle school students. Pelion Middle is also committed to be a strong community asset and a liaison to our stakeholders as we develop 21st century graduates.
