News and Updates - Edgefield County School District (2024)

New State Testing Data: District Posts Exciting Academic Gains

Johnston, SC – Edgefield County School District (ECSD) elementary and middle school students have made dramatic improvements in both English Language Arts (ELA) and math, according to the latest SC Ready testing data released today (8/16/24) by the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE). SC Ready assessments are taken each year by students in the third through eighth grades.

Edgefield County School District Superintendent, Dr. Kevin O’Gorman, says the academic gap in the past between ECSD students and their statewide peers is closing rapidly.

“We’ve made significant gains in both ELA and math this past school year, with our literacy rates being the highest they’ve been since 2015,” commented Dr. O’Gorman.

Dr. O’Gorman says the tremendous effort of ECSD math teachers and changes made to academic programming in the subject led to the positive gains in SC Ready.

“Math has been very challenging for us,” stated Dr. O’Gorman. “We’ve made important changes to our math program across the school district and combined with the hard work of our teachers while implementing a new, and sometimes frustrating, math program, we’ve made significant gains.”

Here are school district highlights from the latest SC Ready testing data:

- ECSD students showed greater improvement in ELA and math when compared to students across the state.

- The school district had a 4.18 percent gain in math while the state increased by 1.4 percent. The majority of those gains are in the “exceeds” category, the highest achievement category possible in SC Ready testing.

- ECSD showed a 2.8 percent gain in ELA, while the state slightly declined.

- The school district also showed a lower percentage of students in the “Does Not Meet” achievement category in ELA when compared to the state.

Academic gains at two schools, Merriwether Elementary School (MES) and W.E. Parker Elementary (WEP), were especially noteworthy.

Merriwether Elementary outperformed the state in both ELA and math, while posting an incredible 11-percent gain in math over the previous SC Ready testing cycle.

“I am so grateful for the incredible dedication of our students and staff. Their hard work and commitment to learning have been truly inspiring,” stated MES Principal, Sara-Beth Brown. “The outcome of our (SC Ready) state assessment is just a snapshot of the growth and learning taking place at MES and we couldn’t be prouder of it.”

Meanwhile, W.E. Parker Elementary School saw great improvement in ELA and math.

“I am incredibly proud of our students and staff for their outstanding performance on the SC Ready state assessments,” commented WEP Principal, Charidy Goldman. “These gains are a testament to the dedication, hard work, and perseverance of our entire school community.”

At the middle school level, Merriwether Middle School also showed a notable gain in ELA and the school now outperforms the state in that subject area.

“Our students and staff really stepped up to the plate last year, and I’m anxious to see how they springboard off that success this year,” added Dr. O’Gorman.

Strom Thurmond High School Celebrates Pair of Summer Graduates for Resiliency, Hard Work

Johnston, SC – Strom Thurmond High School seniors Brianna Bryan and Christian Hazel smiled as they walked across the STHS theatre stage on Friday, August 2, 2024, and received their high school diplomas before friends, family members and elated faculty and staff members.

Their high school journey stretched a few weeks longer than anticipated, but the end result was the same as their classmates in the achievement of a goal 12 years in the making.

Strom Thurmond High School (STHS) principal, Fran Altringer, commended the graduates for their personal courage and resiliency.“As you move forward remember that your past does not define you,” she commented. “It is your resilience, determination and the choices you make that will shape your future. Believe in yourself and your abilities. Trust that you have what it takes. Setbacks are not failures, but opportunities for growth. Embrace the challenges that come your way because they will make you stronger.”

The ceremony began with the presentation of colors by the STHS NJROTC Color Guard. Imelda Shoffner, music teacher at Johnston-Edgefield-Trenton Middle School, sang the National Anthem, and Edgefield County School District (ECSD) superintendent, Dr. Kevin O’Gorman, welcomed distinguished guests and faculty members.

Following the presentation of diplomas and the turning of tassels, STHS assistant principal, Mary Bates, congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to always strive hard for their goals.

“Never, ever lose sight of your future goals,” she stated. “Remember to have the courage to face challenges, the wisdom to make good decisions and the compassion to help others. You will always be a Strom Thurmond High School Rebel. Congratulations, Class of 2024.”

Board of Education Members Welcome Back Students, Staff for 2024-25 School Year

Johnston, SC - The first meeting of the 2024-25 school year for members of the Edgefield County Board of Education was held on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.

Board members welcomed back students and staff by taking a group photo with a special “Welcome Back” poster.

Pictured in the front row, from left, are board members Dr. Micah Drew; Vice Chairperson, Blair Massey and Board Chairperson, Robin Ball. Pictured in the second row, from left, are Board Secretary Dr. Willie Campbell; board member Johnny Peterson and board member Jonathan Harling. Not pictured is board member Deidra Tanks.

The "Welcome Back" poster was designed by the South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA) and created by Strom Thurmond Career and Technology Center students of "Rebel Printing" and STCTC teacher Michelle Smith.

THANK YOU so much to "Rebel Printing" for creating the poster.

District'sNewest‘BrightLightAward’ Winner: Michelle Daniels

Johnston, SC – The Edgefield County School District (ECSD) is thrilled to announce Mrs. Michelle Daniels, Special Education Teacher at Johnston-Edgefield-Trenton (J-E-T) Middle School, as the ECSD Office of Exceptional Children (OEC) Department's Bright Light Award Winner for the 2023-24 school year.

During each school year, an outstanding special educator who exhibits excellent leadership skills, supports teachers and staff to create exceptional learning experiences for special education students, and who is willing to go above and beyond is selected as the Bright Light winner.

“Mrs. Daniels is amazing in so many ways and looks out for every student in our building,” stated J-E-T Middle School Principal Debbie Courtney. “She organizes our OEC meetings weekly, ensures I receive notes from the meeting, and she is always willing to help out any teacher as needed.”

She works hard to not only support special education teachers in her building, but others within the school district as well. She is attentive in her planning and record keeping and is always ready to offer support wherever it may be needed.

For her diligence and excellence in special education and service to all at J-E-T Middle School, we are so proud to recognize Mrs. Daniels as the 2023-24 winner of the OEC Bright Light Award.

Congratulations, Mrs. Daniels!

District's Student Population Increases for First Time Since 2020-21 School Year

Johnston, SC – The more than 3,000 students counted on the third day of the new school year represent Edgefield County School District’s (ECSD) first increase in student population since the start of the 2021-22 school year. Students returned to class on Monday, July 22, 2024, for the start of the 2024-25 school year in the second year of the school district’s modified calendar.

Dr. Kevin O’Gorman, ECSD superintendent, says the new student attendance data is encouraging.

“For the first time in many years, our numbers appear to be trending upwards and the growth seems evenly spread throughout the county,” stated Dr. O’Gorman. “The good news is we have room in our wonderful facilities to accommodate a larger student population, so the growth is welcomed.”

Student attendance data showed Douglas Elementary, Johnston Elementary, Merriwether Elementary and Johnston-Edgefield-Trenton Middle as surpassing their third day counts from the 2023-24 school year. W.E. Parker Elementary, Merriwether Middle School and Strom Thurmond High School were within a total of 23 students (combined) of besting 2023-24 day three numbers, which is still possible when another district-wide count is taken on day 11 of the school year.

Dr. O’Gorman says the school district’s work to retain and recruit both teachers and bus drivers has also been evident.

“We’ve been successful in terms of retaining and recruiting teachers and bus drivers compared to most of the state,” he added. “On all fronts we are off to a great start for the new school year.”