Laurens County Education
Two public school districts, five 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 Assocation 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 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 School Yard Habitat, 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, SC Governor’s Reading Initiative, Miliken Teacher Advancement Program, and Presbyterian College’s CHAMPS program.
About four hundred employees work in the district, and over half of the teachers hold advanced degress.
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 twelve. 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. The implementation of these programs has proven beneficial as English/Language Arts PACT scores showed an increase in four of six grades in 2002.
Laurens District 55 High School 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 GED to introductory computer skills.
Also available, 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
Thornwell Home for Children operates two private schools in Clinton, an elementary school and a high school, serving grades K4-12. Day students from the community are welcome, in addition to the children and young people who are residents of Thornwell Home. The campus also offers a quality Child Development Center that serves children aged six weeks-four years and serves as a feeder school for the elementary program. Faculty members are certified in their areas of instruction, with more than half holding advanced degrees.
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 Hwy. 49, convenient to Laurens and Clinton, as well as Union, Simpsonville and surrounding areas. The school offers a K4 through 12 college preparatory curriculum with a non-denominational 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 Hwy. 221 between Laurens and Enoree. The school offers a quality education centered on Jesus Christ in grades K5-12. 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.
Pleasant Grove Christian Academy, located at 1279 South Frontage Road in Fountain Inn, offers a Christ-centered educational experience. PGCA also offers an expanded fine arts curriculum as well as a quality athletics program. The school’s enrollment exceeds 200 students in pre-school through grade 12, representing approximately 20 churches. The Academy is associated with the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), which is responsible for the accreditation of Christian schools worldwide, and with the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA).
LAURENS COUNTY LIBRARY
The Laurens County Library System operates two libraries, 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 will accommodate 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 over 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 financial 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 non-resident fee.
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