Felton Laboratory Charter School (FLCS), originally Felton Training School, was
established in 1920 and completed in 1925 on the campus of South Carolina State
Agricultural & Mechanical (now South Carolina State University), located in Orangeburg,
South Carolina. In September 2014, Felton Laboratory School officially became Felton
Laboratory Charter School. Felton Laboratory Charter School currently serves
approximately 300-students in five-year-old kindergarten through eighth grade from the
rural communities of Orangeburg, Bamburg, and Calhoun Counties.
The mission of Felton Laboratory Charter School is to provide a rigorous, creative and
diverse learning environment through Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and
Mathematics (STEAM). This interdisciplinary approach to learning allows all of our
students to creatively examine the relationship that all subjects play in preparing them
for life in a global society, post-secondary education, and the career of their choice. A
STEM University instructor is on staff to provide real-life experiences in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics to all students at Felton on a regular basis.
STEAM Night events are held each semester to allow students, parents, and community
stakeholders opportunities to share experiences. Literacy Night and Math Night events
are conducted regularly, as are Title One Parent Night events.
An Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) consisting of the director, assistant director,
literacy coach, math coach, and Transformation Coach allows for the ongoing review of
data and exchange of ideas necessary for continuous school improvement.
Additionally, a School Improvement Team (SIT) consisting of the ILT members and
teacher representatives from each grade level, along with targeted committees, were
created to allow all instructional staff members to engage in ongoing school
improvement in the following areas: climate and culture; curriculum and data; and
professional development.
Formative assessments and curriculum resources to include Fountas and Pinnell,
i-Ready, and Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) are implemented with all students
(grades K-8). SuccessMaker Adaptive Learning, ELA intervention support, and math
intervention support are utilized with all middle level students at Felton, and the
Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) is administered to all kindergarteners.
Data conferences between teachers and students, and teachers and parents are
ongoing; as are data discussions among faculty and staff.
Continuous monitoring of lesson plans and instructional practices provides evidence to
inform schoolwide and individual professional development needs. To date, such
professional development offerings as National Institute for Excellence in Teaching
(NIET), Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS), Fountas
and Pinnell, and content specific sessions serve to support instructional improvement.
Felton Laboratory Charter School is an exceptional school where classes are small,
and students receive targeted attention from the staff, as well as from the education
majors on the neighboring university campuses (South Carolina State University and
Claflin University). As a traditional laboratory school, Felton welcomes every
opportunity to nurture collaborative opportunities with these two institutions of higher
learning, as well as with the community at large. The school’s year-round calendar
allows our students, faculty, and staff the advantage of experiencing a ten-day break at
the end of each forty-five-day grading period. These intersession breaks provide
opportunities for students and staff to rest, renew, and recharge so all can return to the
learning environment ready to work! Felton works closely with the High School for
Health Professions, another local charter school, as 90% of the students choose to
attend this high school upon completing eighth grade.
