With a determination to get back to the business of educating students, Florence 1 Schools began the 2020-21 school year with an award-winning and inviting theme presentation focused on its district wide initiative, Emerging Stronger. Permeating the schools and the community with the Emerging Stronger theme, Florence 1 Schools welcomed students, faculty and staff into an unprecedented school year which focused on safety as a priority, while offering educational opportunities unmatched by any other districts in South Carolina or across the nation.
“Returning to School Safely During the Pandemic” earned recognition from the South Carolina Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (SC/NSPRA) in the videography category. SC/NSPRA also recognized Florence 1 Schools for its photography as well as outstanding videography showcasing its brand-new programs (Engineering and eSports).
As the year began, parents of students in Florence 1 Schools also received a choice of educational services which included an A/B hybrid schedule, a virtual schedule and an in-person learning schedule.
Early in the school year, the South Carolina Department of Education released data showing Florence 1 Schools had achieved an 86.7% graduation rate in 2020.This was the third consecutive year the district had a higher graduation rate than the state average of 82.1%.
Florence 1 celebrated 956 graduates who received scholarships totaling more than $19,783,083. Among this class of students two-hundred ninety-five (295) were single-cord graduates (grade point average of 3.0-3.99). One hundred forty-four (144) were double-cord graduates (grade point average of 4.0-4.99). Two hundred fifty-one (251) graduates were Life Scholarship recipients (earning at least a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, a score of at least 1100 on the SAT, and/or ranking in the top five percent of the graduating class). Two-hundred nineteen (219) were Board of Trustees Scholars (grade point average of 4.5 or higher). Florence 1 Schools also had three National Merit Finalists and 50 International Baccalaureate Diploma recipients. Four students received both the high school diploma and an Associate of Arts degree from Florence-Darlington Technical College.
On the National German Examination, six Wilson High School students received the Gold Medal (90th percentile or higher) and earned special recognition on the Presidential Honor Roll for outstanding performance on the 2020 National German Exam for High School Students. Among the highest achieving students was a Florence 1 student who ranked number one in South Carolina among the cohort. In the area of the arts, two students were named all state choral participants.
Beyond high school students, twenty-four (24) eighth grade students in Florence 1 Schools were recognized as South Carolina Junior Scholars. This program identifies students who demonstrated exceptionally high scholastic achievement and intellectual ability, based on the students’ performance on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT).
Additionally, Florence 1 Schools recognized students who earned perfect scores on standardized tests during the 2018-19 school year. Twenty-five students earned the maximum score on a portion of the SC READY, and ten students earned a perfect score on a portion of the SC PASS.
Florence 1 participated in the nation-wide transition-to-work program that puts special needs students in environments where they get skills training and job experience that will help them gain employment in the future.
Notable accomplishments by individual schools include two elementary schools, recognized for exemplary practices by the Johns Hopkins University National Network of Partnership Schools. Another elementary school received recognition for having raised and contributed $10,259.27 for American Heart Association.
In addition to student success, Florence 1 Schools, with the support of school officials and community partners, unveiled a new STEM Bus. This opportunity will allow elementary and middle students to begin exploring STEM careers while giving high school students a chance to expand their curriculum in a specific STEM field. Florence 1 is among the first in the state to announce the addition of eSports as a competitive gaming program. School officials unveiled the eSports center, and students involved in the program ranked among the top in the nation. Continuing a trend in innovation, Florence 1 also publicized that it would operate on a Modified Year-Round Calendar. Moreover, Florence 1 notified the community that it would take on a district-wide assessment in the 2021-2022 school year, partnering with the Blue-Ribbon Schools of Excellence organization to complete a Blueprint for Excellence. Florence 1 prepared to set in motion the first phase of transition to a middle school model, beginning in the 2021-22 school year.
Teachers in Florence 1 have been recognized, nationally, state-wide and regionally. An enhanced learning teacher was named the National University System-Sanford Teacher Award recipient receiving $10,000. A middle school science teacher served on a national science advisory board. One educator achieved National Board Certification status and three others completed renewal of their national certificates. A Florence teacher was among the second cohort of twenty-seven educators recognized by the South Carolina Treasurer. This qualified her to become a South Carolina Financial Literacy Master Teacher. A Florence 1 teacher was named regional outstanding art educator, continuing the districts ‘s legacy of state and national teacher recognition.
In the area of community partnerships, The School Foundation distributed $46,128.4 in pandemic grants to Florence 1 Schools during the 2019-2020 school year. The School Foundation also recently secured a $44,000 donation from the Longleaf Fund to help ensure that every child in Florence 1 receives the opportunity to learn remotely. Ruiz Foods also provided $7,815 in grant awards to Florence educators.
Strengthening community ties has also been a priority of Florence 1. Schools participated in community partnerships to enhance learning opportunities for visual and performing arts students. The Fine Arts department worked with the Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center which produced a series of live-streamed and recorded lessons covering a variety of topics related to the technical, artistic, and business operations of the center. Florence 1 launched a collaboration with the Florence County Museum to produce thousands of art supply kits for virtual students in kindergarten through sixth grade. These kits allowed every K-6 virtual student to work on creative projects at home, led by their art teachers.
Inspired by the success of the highly recognized Farm-to-School program at one elementary school, Florence 1 Schools and the City of Florence recently developed a partnership to create an initiative to benefit all students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 through creation of the Farm in Florence 1 Schools. Compliments of a $5,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation, three additional elementary schools will be able to initiate a garden on their campuses as well.
Both Florence 1 Child Development Centers will soon have a lending library due to the generosity of grants from local industries Sonoco and Pee Dee Ready Mix.
A new branch of partnership has also developed between McLeod Health, Pee Dee Area Health Education Consortium, Florence 1 Schools’ Project Lead the Way Biomedical Innovations Health Science Program. Future student research projects in combination with education at McLeod Health will explore Public Health, Epidemiology, Human Physiology, and Microbiology.
To receive specific information about each of these school programs and initiatives, call Florence One at 843.669.4141.
