GREEN Charter School of the Midlands (GREEN Midlands) opened its doors
in the 2017-2018 school year in Irmo, South Carolina. During the 2021-2022
school year, the school enrolled 282 students in grades K-8. Our low student-
to-teacher ratio of 20:1 allows us to tailor instruction for each individual
student, simultaneously challenging the gifted student while offering
academic acceleration services for those who struggle to master grade level
standards.
GREEN Midlands prepares students for life in the 21st century by challenging
and directing them toward mastery in areas such as problem-solving,
teamwork, and communication. As a result, our students routinely perform in
the top percentile on state-mandated assessments.
Our school has experienced tremendous success with its unique educational
model which focuses on STEM and environmental sustainability. The inquiry-
based Energy and Engineering curriculum at GREEN Midlands involves
defining a problem, identifying the criteria, imagining solutions, constructing
and testing the design, and communicating the results. This process is
incorporated into all core subjects taught at our school. Utilizing this model,
our teachers act as the facilitators of content knowledge while students
become the problem solvers. The rationale behind this inquiry-based
approach is to facilitate student-generated questions as a core part of the
learning process.
Our school implements Green Steps and Experiential Learning across all
grade levels. Green Steps is an environmental action committee that
recognizes schools that take annual sustainable steps toward becoming
more environmentally responsible. These facets of our curriculum support
the mission of GREEN in providing students with developing an
understanding of environmental sustainability, renewable energy, and
technology.
GREEN Midlands employs the NEED Project (National Energy Education
Delivery System) and PLTW (Project Lead the Way), a K-12 curriculum that
focuses on problem-solving and engineering skills. Students work
collaboratively in order to solve problems while following the engineering
design process. The NEED Project curriculum provides comprehensive,
objective information and activities involving the energy sources that fuel our
country and involves studying their economic and environmental impact.
Students explore energy from both a historical context and a current one.
They explore future energy development opportunities and challenges. They
understand that certain energy sources may be better choices for specific
energy needs, and they discuss and debate the energy resources we use
today and may use in the future. Another important component of the NEED
Project is that it continually updates its curriculum.
GREEN Midlands also utilizes PLTW in its elementary and middle school
classrooms. PLTW's approach involves activity-based, project-based, and
problem-based (APPB) learning, and incorporates hands-on, real-world
projects that help students understand how the skills they are learning in the
classroom can be applied in everyday life. PLTW's programs are
comprehensive, and its curriculum is standards-based, while also flexible and
customizable, allowing us to adapt it to the needs of our school and our
students. A key component of the program is the intensive and ongoing
professional development offered through the University of South Carolina.
Using the extensive resources of NEED and PLTW, our school also provides an
inquiry-based science program. We offer integrated science in grades K-8,
with a focus on building strong habits of the mind and research skills while
simultaneously following state-mandated standards.
The diversity of GREEN Midlands student body is an additional asset to our
learning community. Our student demographics for the 2021-2022 school
year were as follows: 40% White; 5% Asian; 43% Black/African American; .35%
Hispanic/Latino; .35% American/Alaska Native; and 11% Two or More Races.
48% percent of the student population participated in free or reduced lunch.
At GREEN, we believe that every member of our learning communities - our
students, staff, parents, and leaders - is deserving of a Voice and Choice in
academic, social, and professional pursuits. This is a highly prized ideal
embedded within the GREEN strategic plan as well as a brand promise of the
school’s leaders and its Board.
GREEN Midlands is thrilled with the opportunity to serve the educational
needs of our community. We appreciate the support we have received from
our families and surrounding neighbors. Our success is directly tied to the
partnerships that have been formed and the dedication of teachers, staff,
students, and parents. As we continue to strive for excellence, we look
forward to the ongoing development and growth of the GREEN Charter
School Midlands in Irmo, SC.
