To Inspire and Equip. The words of our mission ring with new meaning for our school district and community as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. As we transitioned to normal operating procedures over the course of the 2021-2022 school year, we continued our intentional approach to implementing new, evidence-based approaches for addressing the academic, social and emotional needs of our students and the broader impact of the pandemic on our staff and families. This continues to be an unprecedented time of charting new ground in education and in Spartanburg School District Seven.

In order to streamline our focus throughout the district, we established four key areas of focus for our 2021-2022 school year that will carry forward as multi-year initiatives:

Fountas & Pinnell Literacy Classroom ​

·       Successfully implement Fountas & Pinnell’s Literacy Classroom which includes leveled literacy intervention and provides daily, intensive, small group instruction to supplement classroom teaching. Designed to turn struggling readers into successful readers. ​

i-Ready: Individualized, Data-driven Learning​

·       Implemented during the 2020-2021 school year, this comprehensive assessment and instruction program provides teachers with resources they need for student success. i-Ready connects diagnostic data and personalized instruction, making it easier for differentiated instruction. ​

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Instructional Framework Implementation​

·       A research-based model for creating a well-designed, well-delivered lesson every day in every classroom, the District 7 Instructional Framework also provides a common language around proven instructional practices for all teachers, instructional staff and administration.  Effective implementation will help ensure quality instruction at all levels of our system.​

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Student and Staff Well Being​

·       By integrating social and emotional skills into the taught curriculum, District 7 will promote skills and attitudes that help students develop healthy identities, manage emotions and maintain positive relationships. ​

We have expanded our instructional and student services leadership teams to support these strategic initiatives. Our District Seven family embraces our focus areas with a shared sense of hope, determination, resilience, and heart that enables us to fulfill our mission of inspiring and equipping students for meaningful lives of leadership and service as world citizens.

During this unique time in our history, District Seven continues to lead on a number of fronts that position us for continual and substantial growth. From our nationally recognized 1:1 technology initiative to the increasingly strong outcomes of our graduating seniors, the cumulative impact of all we do shines in the success stories of our children, the impressive contributions of our teachers and staff, and the continued support of a community that has long prized excellence in education. Moreover, our collective commitment to equity in education and to addressing the needs of the whole child is evidenced by our outcomes as well as our national accolades and distinctions.

District Seven is a key partner in supporting the work of the Racial Equity Institute, the Diversity Leaders Initiative, the Network for Southern Economic Mobility, and a host of community efforts aimed at bringing forth equitable outcomes for our citizens.  

Meanwhile, to nurture children at every age and stage of growth, District Seven is forging the charge among educators to measure more than a student’s mastery of knowledge. With support from entities such as Compassionate Schools and Hope Lab, we are encouraging our schools and teachers to further inspire hope, to boost engagement, and to support the well-being of every child. We know educating the whole child is paramount in this competitive 21st century. Our work with local organizations such as the Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM), the Northside Initiative, the Highland Group, the City of Spartanburg, One Spartanburg, and on a national level with Compassionate Schools is a key component in bettering the quality of life for our students, their families and our broader community.

Our Franklin School, which opened in 2018 through a public-private partnership, is a world-class early learning center located in the high-need area of our District’s Northside, with the goal of equipping children from birth to 4 years of age to enter kindergarten ready to learn. The Franklin School joins our other public-private partnership school, Meeting Street Academy, a national Blue Ribbon school, as evidence of the innovative approach to education within the Spartanburg community. Our commitment to early childhood education was further strengthened in 2021-2022 with the integration of 4K classrooms into every District Seven elementary school. This integration enabled alignment across our 4K, 5K and first grade teachers and curriculum, increased enrollment, and elevated community awareness of the importance of kindergarten readiness.

Our flagship Spartanburg High School strives to ensure each student is college and career ready. Our graduation rate remains above the state and national average and our SAT average is among the highest in Spartanburg County. Approximately 80% of our graduates continue their education at a higher education institution or in the military.  Spartanburg High School’s rigorous Advanced Placement program offers one of the largest arrays of AP courses in the state, with 144 National AP Scholars identified this year (marking a new school record for the third year in a row) and AP exam passage rates that far exceed the national average. In 2021, District Seven began offering an AP Capstone course, which was developed by the College Board to provide seniors with an interdisciplinary, college-level experience that allows them to propose and explore topics that align with their personal interests and ambitions. District Seven also celebrated six National Merit honorees this past year and, for the second consecutive year, a United States Presidential Scholar. Recognizing that workforce readiness is a critical component of defining success for many District Seven graduates, our partnership with Daniel Morgan Technology Center resulted in 114 professional certifications being earned by the Class of 2022. With consistently positive student outcomes, Spartanburg High School was ranked, again this year as one of the nation’s best high schools by the U.S. News & World. We celebrate these tremendous accomplishments in the classroom, on the field, on the stage, and in our community