Wren Middle School is a student-centered environment where we continue to uphold the tradition of excellence with high academic achievement and access to a plethora of co-curricular and extracurricular activities. At Wren Middle School we just finished all phases of construction for a new school building which we are excited about for our students and community. The new building and grounds will better facilitate 21st-century skills and provide collaborative spaces for students.
The Wren Middle School community’s (attendance zone) population continues to grow. There are houses and developments constantly being built. The Wren Middle School enrollment has increased by almost 100 students in the last three years. This trend does not seem to be slowing down any time soon. Our new school provides us the ability to safely handle a capacity of over 1100 students. We are fortunate that our district leadership and community planned for the growth that we are seeing in our area.
The mission of Wren Middle School is “Wren Middle School will ensure all students achieve high levels of academic mastery and personal growth through collaborative learning communities”. This mission was derived from the work our guiding coalition (teacher leadership team) did in the spring of 2020. Also, the guiding coalition revamped the Wren Middle School vision, “The Wren Middle School community is committed to being a top-performing school where all students are held to high expectations in preparation to lead and serve in a global community”. We refocused our sights on reaching all students through our instructional strategies and through working in our professional learning communities (PLC) to reach all students and provide a guaranteed viable curriculum. Part of the process for a guaranteed viable curriculum was each grade-level, academic team analyzed the state standards and created essential standards for implementation along with a yearly scope-and-sequence of instruction (highlighted by common formative assessments).
Students within Wren Middle School continue to perform well above the state average on the South Carolina SCPASS and SCReady assessments. Furthermore, in the 2021-2022 school year, 17 Wren Middle School students were recognized as “Junior Scholars” based on their excellent performance on the PSAT assessment. Wren Middle School is able to provide both grade level classes along with accelerated classes for students to prepare them for high school credit courses in 8th grade (Spanish I, Honors English I, Algebra I). Furthermore, the goal for Wren Middle School is to send all students to high school with one credit in Fundamentals of Computing with a strong focus on computer coding.
High academic performance is supported by teachers participating in collaboration through the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) model. Teachers meet to discuss teaching strategies and student data to ensure that all students are learning the essential standards within the curriculum. Teachers are able to provide intervention to students that need extra support and to help students fill in learning gaps. We have embedded this time of intervening and extending learning with W.I.N. (What I Need) time. Every day, teachers have a 32-minute block of time to work with students to grow their learning.
Wren Middle School provides a variety of co-curricular experiences for students including band, choir, and strings. Our students have a history of success in being tabbed to all-district, county, and state groups. Furthermore, Wren Middle School is home to a robust Junior Beta Club program that performs and competes at the state convention. Wren Middle School students have a history of success in being named the state Junior Club Vice President. Our students have excelled in these extra opportunities to achieve.
The athletic department provides student-athletes with many opportunities including C-teams (Baseball, Boys and Girls Basketball, Football, and Volleyball) and the opportunity to participate on high school teams as well. We are excited to announce that we have both 7th-grade and 8th-grade teams in Boys and Girls Basketball, Football, and Volleyball.
Technology is at the forefront at Wren Middle School as we prepare students for 21st-century careers. Each student is provided an iPad to support learning. Teachers utilize cutting-edge programs and apps to support student learning and promote student engagement. Students that take the Gateway to Technology classes will have the opportunity to research and develop a variety of products including but not limited to 3D printer creations and exposure to drones. As we prepare to make students career ready, we know these technology opportunities are essential.
Wren Middle School has been a school of Excellence for years based on the State of South Carolina Report Card. Teachers at Wren Middle School are some of the finest in the state and they understand the importance of having positive relationships with students. These relationships allow teachers to really get to know their students and therefore, know how to motivate students to high levels of achievement. Furthermore, teachers understand their students' needs and can provide intervention and support when needed. The positive learning environment in combination with high academic standards and achievement makes Wren Middle School a leader within the state.
