Lakeside Middle School empowers all students to develop the World-Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by fostering a sense of community through Crew, providing rigorous curriculum, offering extracurricular activities and prioritizing focused professional development for staff. As we conclude our fourth year of an established school community, LMS is a thriving learning community where students are achieving success in many different ways. Our collaboration with students, families and staff has established a strong foundation and fostered the essential conditions for a remarkable school that will serve our community for generations.
This year, we made a concerted effort to focus on gathering student progress data through multiple, varied formative assessments to measure and understand student progress. It is our belief that with constructive, meaningful, specific, relevant, and timely feedback, students are able to embrace a growth mindset, connect improvement with their overall learning goals, respond to concrete feedback to grow, and are able to efficiently self-monitor their learning progress. Through this practice, middle school students are empowered to take ownership of their learning and deepen their understanding of their learning progress towards specific goals and success criteria.
Our staff at LMS has been diligently crafting powerful learning experiences tailored to our students' needs. Through meticulous planning and the implementation of high-leverage instructional practices, we have designed relevant and meaningful learning expeditions that seek to answer critical questions in our community that seamlessly integrate content-based standards through a multidisciplinary approach. Case studies, guest speakers, field studies, and multiple anchor texts have allowed students to engage with primary resources and practice literacy skills such as reading, writing, speaking, listening and vocabulary development. These experiences have deepened their understanding of state standards and helped them make real-world connections to address needs in the surrounding community.
Student voices continue to take center stage at LMS as we implement and live out the South Carolina Graduate Profile. Students begin their school day in Crew, where the focus remains on specific, targeted, and developmentally distinct learning experiences around the Lexington One Graduate Profile Competencies. The Crew experience at Lakeside allows students to build relationships with adults and creates a space designed for a sense of community. In addition to learning expeditions, student-led conferences allowed students to take ownership of their learning narratives, showcasing their progress and setting future goals. Additionally, eighth grade students prepared for Passage presentations, reflecting on their middle school journey and demonstrating growth through our implementation of the Lexington One Graduate Profile Competencies. These initiatives celebrate student achievements and provide platforms for self-reflection and goal-setting.
Our success extends beyond the classroom walls. Raider Athletics has made a significant impact on the Lex10 Athletic Conference this school year by fielding highly competitive teams across all sports. At Lakeside, both 7th and 8th grade teams are fielded in Football, Competitive Cheer, Volleyball, Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball, and Track. In addition to these athletic opportunities, our students have access to Swimming, Tennis, Cross Country, Wrestling, Baseball, Soccer, Softball, and Lacrosse at our feeder school, River Bluff High School. LMS Athletics not only enriches our school community, it also demonstrates remarkable competitiveness among its peers.
The Fine Arts department has continued to shine, with our orchestra receiving an Excellent rating at the S. C. Music Educators Association’s (SCMEA) Certified Performance Assessment, along with receiving many Excellent and Superior ratings while hosting a SCMEA regional Solo and Ensemble event. Our band earned a Superior rating at the S.C. Band Directors’ Association Concert Performance Assessment, Superior Ratings at Solo and Ensemble, and had students earn chairs in the South Carolina Region and All-State Bands. Our band also earned the SCBDA Outstanding Performance with Distinction Award. Our musical theater production of Music Man, Jr. showcased the incredible talents of our students, delighting the community. Lakeside also boasts a robust Dance program and Competitive Dance team that garnered numerous recognitions at their competitions around the state.
Additionally, our growing agricultural program has been a source of pride, involving students in activities such as growing and harvesting produce, environmental conservation, and animal caregiving. Eighth Grade Forestry placed first in the Middle School Division of the S.C. Forestry Career Development Event and First Place in the Farm Business Management Career Development Event. The program culminated in a successful Agriscience Fair, with several projects advancing to national competition.Additionally, our Agriculture program provides real life business operation skills with the sale of chicken eggs and produce within our local community. The VEX Robotics team garnered numerous awards and recognitions in their local and state competitions.
As we conclude the 2025–2026 school year, LMS stands as a testament to the power of a dedicated community working together to create an exceptional educational experience. With a solid foundation in place, we are excited to continue our journey of educational excellence, benefiting our community for generations to come.
Megan Carrero, Ph.D., Principal
Nicholas Mayes, M.D., SIC Chair
