Best Schools in Mauldin South Carolina - Town Square Publications

Best Schools in Mauldin Area

Children in South Carolina are required by law to attend public or private school from age 5 until their 17th birthday, unless the parent or legal guardian signs a waiver. Waiver forms are available at local schools.

Children who will be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 must enroll in public or private kindergarten unless the parent or legal guardian signs a waiver. Children who will be 6 years old on or before Sept. 1 must enroll in first grade. Children who will be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1 may qualify for 4K programs offered at schools and centers in Greenville County.

To enroll a new student in kindergarten or first grade, a parent must present the following at registration: birth certificate, properly completed immunization certificate or religious exemption certificate and proof of residence.

Parents are encouraged to register new students before the first day of classes. To determine where your child will go to school, call (864) 355‑3100 or visit www. greenville.k12.sc.us.

Students are required to attend at least 85 days of each 90-day semester and at least 170 days each 180-day course as well as meet all minimum requirements for each course.

For registration, bus schedules or other information regarding local public schools, call The School District of Greenville County at (864) 241‑3100 or visit greenville.k12.sc.us.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Bethel Elementary School
111 Bethel School Rd., Simpsonville
(864) 355‑4100
www.greenville.k12.sc.us/bethel

Greenbrier Elementary School
853 Log Shoals Rd., Greenville
(864) 355‑5300
www.greenville.k12.sc.us/gbrier

Lead Academy Public Charter School
804 Mauldin Rd., Greenville, SC 29607
Phone: (864) 770‑1790
www. myleadacademy.com

Mauldin Elementary School
1194 Holland Rd., Simpsonville
(864) 355‑3700
www.greenville.k12.sc.us/mauldie

Monarch Elementary School
224 Five Forks Rd., Simpsonville
(864) 452‑0600
www.greenville.k12.sc.us/monarch

Oakview Elementary School
515 Godfrey Rd., Simpsonville
(864) 355‑7100
www.greenville.k12.sc.us/oakview

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Beck Academy of International Studies
901 Woodruff Rd., Greenville
(864) 355‑1400
www.greenville.k12.sc.us/beck

Hillcrest Middle School
510 Garrison Rd., Simpsonville
(864) 355‑6100
www.greenville.k12.sc.us/hillcrm

Lead Academy Public Charter School
804 Mauldin Rd., Greenville, SC 29607
(864) 916-1459
www.myleadacademy.com

Langston Charter
1950 Woodruff Rd., Greenville
(864) 286‑9700
www.langstoncharter.org

Mauldin Middle School
1190 Holland Rd., Simpsonville
(864) 355‑6770
www.greenville.k12.sc.us/mauldinm

HIGH SCHOOLS

Brashier Middle College Charter
1830 W. Georgia Rd., Simpsonville
(864) 757‑1800
www.brashiermiddlecollege.org

J.L. Mann Academy
160 Fairforest Wy., Greenville
(864) 355‑6300
www.greenville.k12.sc.us/jlman

Mauldin High School
701 E. Butler Rd., Mauldin
(864) 355‑6500
www.greenville.k12.sc.us/mauldinh

SPECIAL FOCUS

Golden Strip Career Technology Center
1120 E. Butler Rd., Greenville
(864) 355‑1050
www.greenville.k12.sc.us/gstripcc

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Christ Church Episcopal School
245 Cavalier Dr., Greenville
(864) 299‑1522

Upper School
567 Wenwood Rd., Greenville
(864) 331‑4225

Middle School
555 Wenwood Rd., Greenville
(864) 331‑4252

Lower School
245 Cavalier Dr., Greenville
(864) 331‑4281
www.cces.org

Greenville Classical Academy
2519 Woodruff Rd., Simpsonville
(864) 329‑9884
greenvilleclassical.com

Montessori School of Mauldin
205 E. Butler Rd., Ste. B, Mauldin
(864) 288‑8613
www.mauldinmontessori.com

Primrose School of Simpsonville at Five Forks
2255 Woodruff Rd., Simpsonville
(864) 757‑1191
www.primroseschools.com/schools/simpsonville-five-forks

St. Joseph’s Catholic School
100 St. Joseph’s Dr., Greenville
(864) 234‑9009
www.sjcatholicschool.org

Shannon Forest Christian School
829 Garlington Rd., Greenville
(864) 678‑5107
www.shannonforest.com

Southside Christian School
2211 Woodruff Rd., Simpsonville
(864) 234-7575
www.southsidechristian.org

Post-secondary education

Colleges, universities, technical schools and other schools serving the area include: Anderson College, Bob Jones University, Brown Mackie College, Clemson University, Converse College, ECPI College of Technology, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Furman University, Greenville Technical College, ITT Technical Institute, North Greenville College, Presbyterian College, Southern Wesleyan University, Spartanburg Methodist College, Spartanburg Technical College, Tri-County Technical College, University of South Carolina-Upstate, Webster University Greenville, Wofford College.

nd Closing the Gap, six national merit semi-finalists, 72 AP Scholars, 29 AP Scholars with Honors, 53 AP Scholars with Distinction, seven AP National Scholars, 37 Palmetto Fellows, nine Teaching Fellows Scholarships over two years and National Beta Club School of Merit recognitions, Mauldin High School graduates well-educated and civic-minded young people equipped to meet the needs of an ever-changing world.

Additionally, students earn college credits while still enrolled in high school through AP courses as well as dual credit classes, and many students explore other opportunities with partner schools such as Donaldson Center, the Fine Arts Center, Golden Strip Career Center, and Greenville Tech Jump Start.

With marked success and achievement already, what does the future hold for Mauldin High School? Principal Peake is working to create stronger connections with the Mauldin community. By restructuring orientation and open house to be more family centered, the school is becoming more accessible and open. He also is strengthening connections with colleges and universities as well as programs of occupational training to increase participation in Greenville County’s G+ model, an initiative that enables Mauldin High School students to graduate with more than just a high school diploma.

Mauldin Middle School

Mission Statement
The mission of Mauldin Middle School is to prepare all students to succeed in becoming lifelong learners and responsible, productive citizens.

Vision
The vision of Mauldin Middle School is to develop 21st Century learners by creating a collaborative learning community. We will ensure lifelong learners who are responsible, productive citizens by encouraging discovery and exploration through personalized learning.

Beliefs

All students can learn.
Students are the center of the educational process.
Students should be actively engaged in the learning process through the use of a variety of teaching and assessment strategies.
Students should have equal access to educational opportunities.
Students should learn in a safe, positive, and inviting environment.
Education is the shared responsibility of home, school, and the community.
Curriculum and instruction should meet the needs of all students.
Curriculum should be based on the South Carolina Curriculum Standards.

Objectives

To provide an educational atmosphere in which each child can learn.
To provide a program of education best suited to the individual student’s needs.
To help each child be aware of and cope with the differences in himself and others.
To help each child develop a positive set of values which provide a moral and ethical basis for decision-making.
To provide the knowledge necessary for students to build and maintain sound healthy bodies, now and in the future.
To provide experiences to develop responsible, involved citizens who will function effectively in a democratic society.
To encourage a sense of self-respect and dependability among the students that will promote leadership and service.
To encourage healthy attitudes and provide activities for students to develop positive self-concepts.
To provide counseling services for students as a means of preventing and solving problems.
To develop a close relationship between the school and the community.

Mauldin High School
What is a maverick? A maverick is someone who “exhibits great independence in thought and action.” According to Mauldin High School principal Mike Peake, “What makes the school so special are our students. We are blessed to have our students.”

Mauldin High School mavericks in the Class of 2019 graduated ready to change the world. With millions of dollars in college scholarships, these students have gone on to study at colleges and universities around the state and country, and it was the outstanding, rigorous, and student-centered education offered to them that enabled their success.

With a very high graduation rate (many of those students attending two- or four-year colleges), Excellent Absolute Rating on the South Carolina School Report Card, Palmetto Gold Awards for General Excellence and Closing the Gap, national merit semi-finalists, AP Scholars, AP Scholars with Honors, AP Scholars with Distinction, AP National Scholars, Palmetto Fellows, Teaching Fellows Scholarships, and National Beta Club School of Merit recognitions, Mauldin High School graduates well-educated and civic-minded young people equipped to meet the needs of an ever-changing world.

Academically, students at Mauldin High School have varied and diverse opportunities to prepare for life outside of the classroom. Each classroom has a smart board, and the school became a Greenville County pilot school for integrating personalized and student-centered learning by providing each student with a Chromebook. Teachers participated in relevant professional development to prepare for teaching familiar content in new and technologically enhanced ways, preparing students for the technological demands of living, learning, and working in the 21st Century. The ready access to technology, supported by grants from the PTSA, has allowed the school to increase participation in areas like STEM and health sciences. Additionally, students continue to participate in earning college credits while still enrolled in high school through AP courses as well as dual credit classes, and many students explore other opportunities with partner schools such as Donaldson Center, the Fine Arts Center, Golden Strip Career Center, and Greenville Tech Jump Start.

Lead Academy
In 2007, a committee of concerned members began to explore educational alternatives that would best provide all students within Greenville County an excellent education. After considering many options, the committee settled on the idea of petitioning the Greenville County School District for a public charter school to serve Greenville County students in grades five through eight. As a result, a charter school Planning Committee was formed. Committee members gathered information to prepare the application by visiting schools across the Southeast, examining other successful models, meeting with members of the Greenville community and researching educational best practices.

On May 1, 2009, a final charter school application was submitted to the SC Board of Education, as well as the Greenville County School District Board of Trustees.

With much excitement, in June 2009, the planning committee celebrated the approval of the Lead Academy Public Charter School. As a public charter school, Lead Academy is a nonreligious, no home-based, nonprofit educational entity. There are no fees or admissions requirements to attend Lead. Any student in the appropriate grade residing in South Carolina may apply for admission.

Lead Academy opened its doors in fall 2010.

During it second year of operation, the school saw some of the best growth scores in the state, as measured by the end-of-year state assessment. Students began the climb to achieve “A” status, and Excellent Growth Index and an Absolute Ranking of Good.

In August 2012, Lead moved from the campus of Redemption World Outreach Center to Upstate Circle of Friends to reach maximum grade build out of fifth- through eighth-grade students.

In January 2014, the school began a relationship with Expeditionary Learning, aiming to engage a partner with similar motivations and a history of solid outcomes.

At the start of its sixth school year, the school became a full EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning) partner and added grades K5-four to its already functioning middle school. Lead Academy also left the Upstate Circle of Friends campus and relocated to Reedy River Missionary Baptist Church until its permanent site was available in April 2016.

The school aims to create citizens of character, on the basis that when students graduate and enter adult life, they will be judged not by their performance on tests of basic skills, but by the quality of their work and their character. Therefore, the school’s vision of student achievement now includes dimensions: 1. Mastery of Academic Skills and Content; 2. High-Quality Work and 3. Character. Student success is measured in these three categories, which include test scores.

Lead Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status or age in its employment, programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.

Langston Charter Middle School
Langston Charter Middle School represents a true partnership between parents, teachers, and students. The school has entered its 15th year with the same excitement and sense of purpose that its visionary founding members had in fall 2005.

Langston’s academic program holds students to high standards, providing opportunities to earn up to four high school credits by the end of eighth grade. Teachers have continually honed their strategies for teaching in the single-gender environment by both attending and leading workshops on content and instructional practice. The combination of experienced teachers, dedicated parents and motivated students is the key to Langston’s success, as evidenced by student performance and Excellent rating on the state report card.

Having been told that the middle school years were a time to “just get through,” Lisa Stevens, founding board chair, gathered a group of dedicated parents and professionals to create a better option for students in Greenville County. After almost two years of hard work, Langston Charter Middle School opened in August 2005 with six teachers and 111 students in grades six through eight. From its first building (a six-room former day care facility), founders began to build a legacy of student leadership and success.

Between 2007 and 2010, the school occupied a larger facility and grew to 300 students. In 2010, the school moved to its current campus – its permanent home. With 26 teachers and 450 students, Langston Charter Middle School is an excellent educational option for Upstate families.

The mission of Langston Charter Middle School is to enrich and empower sixth- through eighth-graders with personal responsibility and a compassion for their community through single-gender classes and innovative teacher, parent and community collaborative learning. The school expects parents to be involved in their child’s academic, emotional and social development.

Bethel Elementary School
Bethel Elementary School is helping all students develop world-class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the Graduate by engaging children in a nurturing learning environment and providing a quality education. The school vision, “Cardinals Fly High,” encourages students to dream big and reach their goals, implements a continuous improvement model for student achievement and offers a variety of learning experiences including academic and enrichment activities.

This award-winning school reflects a history of academic excellence. It received an “Excellent” rating on the 2018-2019 school report card ,and the Palmetto Gold designation as well. During the 2016 school year, Bethel was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education. In recent years, Bethel has received awards for Palmetto’s Finest, Palmetto Gold, Red Carpet, Greenville County Elementary Healthy School of the Year, and Greenville County Safety Award. Faculty, staff and community provide an annual update to the school portfolio to guide its direction for the future and to comply with accreditation requirements. School goals focus on academic achievement, professional development, technology integration and community relations. Specific strategies are developed to support the attainment of each goal.

Since 1997, multiage classes have been an innovative option to consider in lieu of a traditional classroom setting. Primary Multiage consists of 43 first- and second-graders, while Intermediate Multiage has 48 third- and fourth-graders. Thematic projects, literature circles and cooperative learning centers are incorporated based on curriculum standards.

Technology integration is an important aspect of the elementary curriculum at Bethel. Teachers and students utilize technology on a daily basis while teaching and learning. STEAM Lab is offered to all students in fourth and fifth grade. Students utilize Chromebooks to work on research and other assignments. The media center promotes technology with the use of iPads and Nooks. The media specialist works with teachers and students to support creative ways to share their ideas and research through technology. In September 2019, the school implemented a “Bethel Bots” program for students to check out robots through the media center, bringing the excitement from the classroom home. Students also attend an internet safety presentation that offers suggestions for being safe while using the internet at school or home.

The counseling staff provides a high level of support services for students. Services include school-wide character education, parent education, mentoring programs, classroom instruction and small group and individual counseling. Counselors conduct monthly classroom guidance lessons based on “The 7 Habits of Happy Kids” by Sean Covey. This curriculum teaches children seven principles that focus on social-leadership skills, problem solving and successful communication. Fourth- and fifth-grade students explore and investigate careers using the SC Occupational Information System. Career interest inventories are completed and portfolios are created that expose students to career clusters.

Mauldin Elementary School
Established in 1925, Mauldin Elementary School has become a landmark for the Mauldin Community. The current school, built in 2002, is located along Holland Road, in Simpsonville, South Carolina and is one of 52 elementary schools within the School District of Greenville County. During the 2019-2020 school years, a school staff of 115 employees serves approximately 1005 students in Pre4- K5 through fifth grades. The current student population is composed of 37% Caucasian, 40% African American, 11% Hispanic, 3% Asian and 9% others. Mauldin Elementary has a 51% percent poverty rating, with 10% of students qualifying for the gifted / talented program and 13% qualifying for special education services. In 2019, Mauldin Elementary received an Excellent rating on the South Carolina Department of Education school report card and was a Palmetto Silver Award recipient for outstanding growth in academic performance. Along with rigorous classroom instruction, Mauldin Elementary students participate weekly in classes for physical education, music, art, computer, media, and enjoy hands on lessons in the STEAM science lab.

In addition to preparing students academically, Mauldin Elementary is a Leader in Me School with a mission to empower all individuals to lead with intention, explore with purpose, and persevere in seeking solutions. Through the Leader in Me process, students learn the Seven Habits of Healthy Children and experience a wide range of opportunities to develop their personal leadership capabilities within the school. Throughout the school, students take an active part in daily operations such as safety patrol, morning news crew, school tour guides and a Lighthouse Team consisting of students that develop and effect programs throughout the school.

Montessori School of Mauldin
Montessori School of Mauldin opened in 1977 with just two children. Over the past 41 years, the school has continued to grow; constantly expanding its programs. The alumni are a diverse group of global citizens, who have each continued on with their educational path in their own unique way.

The Montessori approach to learning helps to build independent people who learn to take responsibility for themselves, their actions, and most importantly, their learning. This philosophy was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in 1907, and is the driving force behind the education at the Montessori School of Mauldin. As students move through a Montessori program, they develop academic proficiency while simultaneously internalizing the concepts of respect, courtesy, and global awareness.

By focusing on each stage of a child’s development, the Montessori philosophy presents an individualized curriculum of self-directed work. The Montessori teacher ensures that each child pursues developmentally appropriate academic, practical life and social learning experiences.

Southside Christian School
Southside Christian School is a place where students are encouraged to discover, grow and achieve the plans God has for them. The school partners with Christian parents in providing a transformational education anchored in Christ and offers a wide range of educational programs for approximately 1,100 students from 12 months through 12th grade.

Each week, students in pre-K 4 through 12th grade participate in weekly chapel services. Middle and high school students have opportunities to grow together spiritually through small groups led by faculty and staff.

The school offers a superior academic program, including 51 honors and AP classes, a smaller student body and a low student-teacher ratio. Student SAT and ACT scores are above local, state and national levels, and there is a 100 percent college acceptance rate among graduates.

Southside Christian also has a competitive athletic program with 33 teams that consistently compete for region, district and state championships. These teams have achieved four state and 26 region championships over the last five years.

A variety of fine arts opportunities is offered, including art classes available for pre-K 4 through advanced placement, year-round drama events and award-winning band and choir programs.

Outside the classroom setting, students have several opportunities to make a difference in the surrounding community and beyond through service projects, club organizations, and mission trips throughout the year.

The school is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International and Cognia. Southside Christian was awarded Exemplary accreditation by ACSI in 2019, and is also an approved Student and Exchange Visitor School, registered with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The school won both best preschool and best private school in the Greenville News “Best of the Upstate 2019.”

The leadership team consists of Dr. Sam Barfell, the superintendent, Harriet Neal, early education principal, Rob Brown, elementary school principal and acting assistant superintendent, Mr. Steve Mason, middle school dean, and Dr. Bob Stouffer, high school principal.