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Education in Laurens County

Two public school districts, three private schools, one technical college, one four-year college and a branch university meet the educational needs of Laurens County. Numerous other colleges and universities are within a one-hour commute.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Laurens County School District 56 serves the City of Clinton and southern Laurens County. The district serves approximately 3,500 students in four elementary schools and three secondary schools. All of the district’s schools are located in Clinton with the exception of Joanna-Woodson Elementary in the Joanna community.

All seven schools are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the South Carolina Department of Education. The district has an excellent 18:1 pupil to teacher ratio and a 4:1 student/computer ratio.

District 56 strives to embrace the five principals on which they stand as they relate to the students, staff and community. They are environment, uniqueness, collaboration, goals and content.

Clinton High School offers advanced placement courses in English, calculus, American history and biology. Students who qualify may earn college credit through a cooperative agreement with Presbyterian College. Computer assisted instruction is offered in all schools. A full complement of extracurricular activities is provided in a variety of award-winning programs.

District 56 has both a nationally recognized JROTC program and National Beta Club. They offer strong programs for the academically gifted, services for students with disabilities, outdoor environmental labs, National Wildlife Federation Schoolyard Habitats®, a National Honor Society, state-recognized service learning labs and a strong band program. The district also collaborates with such prominent organizations as the Dolly Parton Imagination Library free books program, South Carolina Governor’s Reading Initiative, the Miliken Teacher Advancement Program and Presbyterian College’s CHAMPS program. About 400 employees work in the district and more than half of the teachers hold advanced degrees.

With seven elementary schools, three middle schools and one high school, Laurens County School District 55 serves approximately 6,300 students from the City of Laurens and its surrounding areas. Educational opportunities are designed for students beginning with four-year-old kindergarten and continuing through grade 12. Instruction focuses on the state and national education standards at every grade level. There are currently Montessori early childhood programs in five of the schools, as well as two upper elementary sites and one middle school site.

Write from the Beginning is a developmental writing program for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Thinking Maps: Tools for Learning is an organizational system used by teachers and students as part of the writing program.

In an effort to address literacy needs, District 55 uses an assessment process to determine each child’s individual academic growth and to understand a student’s current performance level. Using this information, teachers are able to discover students’ reading and writing levels. This process allows educators to tailor each student’s instruction in reading and writing in order to maximize growth while helping students reach their potential.

Laurens District 55 High School (LDHS) houses students in grades nine through twelve, and was chosen by the Southern Regional Educational Board as a “High School that Works.” This selection identifies LDHS as a school that has exemplary educational programs. Semester scheduling has been adopted at LDHS as a means to broaden the opportunities for all students. Advanced placement classes are offered in six areas. LDHS, in conjunction with the United States Navy, offers a Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program. A Tech-Prep program is offered and includes Math for Technology, Communications for the Workplace and Principles of Technology. These classes provide students with real work experience. A Manufacturing Certification course is offered, providing training skills needed for entry-level positions in local manufacturing plants. Graduates who earn the Manufacturing Certificate enhance their employment possibilities. LDHS Raider teams compete in football, basketball, volleyball, wrestling, baseball, softball, soccer, track, cross-country, tennis and golf.

Every day, the Laurens County Lifelong Learning Center strengthens the local workforce and fosters opportunity for those who are a part of it. Courses range from high school diplomas and GEDs to introductory computer skills.

The local adult education program focuses on a variety of skills that are now considered basic and crucial in the workplace. Graduates of the Manufacturing Certification Program are guaranteed interviews with any of 30 companies that are hiring. This unique set of courses translates the needs of local employers who have considerable input on the curriculum.

In addition to courses taught in traditional learning environments, Lifelong Learning calls upon a team of experienced industrial managers to provide training that is tailored to each workplace. Subject matter of the Training that Works program includes OSHA-approved safety courses, quality assurance with statistical process control and English and Spanish as second languages.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Faith Christian School in Laurens is a full-service institution with classes for grades K-6. Faith Christian also offers day care services. Founded in 1965, the school is operated by Faith Baptist Church. The average class size is 15 students.

Laurens Academy is located one mile off I-385 on Highway 49, convenient to Laurens and Clinton, as well as Union, Simpsonville and surrounding areas. The school offers a K4 through grade 12 college preparatory curriculum with a nondenominational Christian emphasis and is accredited by the South Carolina Independent School Association. Visual and choral arts, foreign language, computer lab, physical education, dual enrollment (high school/college credit) courses and a competitive and successful athletic program are just a few of the things offered at Laurens Academy.

Lighthouse Christian Academy is located on Highway 221 between Laurens and Enoree. The school offers a quality, Christ-centered education in grades K5 through 12. Their goal is to educate each child in a Christian atmosphere and provide them with the academic training they will need to succeed. Annual and monthly tuition plans are available.

LAURENS COUNTY LIBRARY

The Laurens County Library System operates two libraries and one bookmobile and provides book deposits at several locations throughout the county for senior citizens.

The 23,000-square-foot Headquarters facility, located at 1017 West Main Street in Laurens, opened in 1989. It has a large public meeting room that accommodates 80, a smaller conference room and several study and tutoring rooms. The 8,200-square-foot Clinton Public Library is located at 107 Jacobs Highway in Clinton. The bookmobile provides service throughout Laurens County.

In addition to more than 110,000 books, the library’s collection contains books on tape, magazines, videocassettes and large-type books. Both Clinton and Laurens libraries have computers connected to the Internet with various programs (including Word, Excel and Powerpoint) loaded and available for public use.

The Headquarters Library in Laurens has an extensive local history and genealogy collection. Both libraries offer children’s programs throughout the year. Reference services are also available. Resources covering a wide range of subject areas, including finance and business, are available in both print and electronic format. The library’s trained and helpful staff is available to assist patrons using these resources. The Laurens County Library and the Greenville County Library have a reciprocal borrowing agreement allowing residents of both counties to use both library systems without paying a nonresident fee.