Early Learning Center

Wanda Owens-Jackson, Director
Phone: 864-594-4465
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ELC Brochure
Student Enrollment - 281

The Early Learning Center at Park Hills is a world-class full service community school for children ages birth to four-years-old. The Early Learning Center program is designed to enhance children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development by offering comprehensive services such as home visits. Family and community services will also be integrated into the center's offerings - parent education, adult education, home visits, medical care, and social services. With help from grants, District 7 has strengthened ties with Spartanburg First Steps, an organization that already provides services for children from birth to 3 years old with a focus on parenting education and parent-child relationships. The center is further complemented by the presence of an Adult Education Program. The adult education component recognizes that students have different learning styles and provides the instruction that will best match each student’s needs. A medical clinic through ReGenesis Health Care will be offered at the early learning center. Services could include family medicine, pediatrics, immunizations, community-based health education, and exams and mental health referrals.

With help from grants, District 7 has strengthened ties with Spartanburg First Steps, an organization that already provides services for children from birth to 3 years old with focus on parenting education and parent-child relationships. The center is further complemented by the presence of the county-wide Adult Education Program, which serves all seven school districts and employs instructional strategies that have been researched and used as best practices throughout the state. The adult education component recognizes that students have different learning styles and provides the instruction that will best match each student’s needs. A medical clinic through ReGenesis Health Care will be offered at the early learning center. Services could include family medicine, pediatrics, immunizations, community-based health education, and exams and mental health referrals.

The Mary Black Foundation has a goal to increase the number of children who are assessed as “ready to learn” when entering kindergarten and increase the capacity to provide quality early childhood education. With the generous support of a grant from the Mary Black Foundation, the Early Learning Center at Park Hills facility was modified help prepare children ages birth to four-years-old for kindergarten. The district will use the Early Childhood Environmental Ratings Scale (ECERS) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) facilities standards as a guide to make modifications to the facility. All teachers and assistants are trained in the High Scope educational approach emphasizing “active, participatory learning”. District 7, through generous grant monies, has modified the facility which used to operate as Park Hill Elementary School to meet standards of NAEYC. The center will seek NAEYC accreditation and create a learning environment that is conducive for early learners.

Jesse Boyd Elementary

Jesse Boyd is an International Baccalaureate (IB) School implementing the Primary Years Program (PYP) which combines global significance, a concept driven curriculum, and guided inquiry instruction.  IB aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, caring, and principled young people who take action to create a better and more peaceful world through an innovative, rigorous, and challenging program of inquiry.  Through the IB Learner Profile and the PYP Attitudes students become internationally-minded lifelong learners. 

Bob Grant, Principal
Student Enrollment - 438

Chapman Elementary

Chapman Elementary looks to ignite the curiosity of the technology-minded student. The infusion of technology into a balanced curriculum enhances and enriches the academic program and gives students a vibrant 21st century learning environment. On a daily basis, the use of technology is integrated into the curriculum, and connections are made with the use of real-world technological applications designed to allow students to become effective problem solvers and communicators. With all classrooms at Chapman equipped with state-of-the-art interactive technology equipment, students are able to research, apply, and present what they are learning in creative and cutting-edge ways.

Eric Mathison, Principal
Student Enrollment - 377

E. P. Todd School

E.P. Todd is home to the county’s first public Montessori program for pre-K to grade 3 students. Montessori classes are an option for parents seeking an alternative early education choice for their children. The Montessori Method focuses on each child, and incorporates four basic objectives: coordination, concentration, order, and independence. E.P. Todd also offers the traditional elementary school configuration. We believe this offers parents the choice to completely customize the educational experiences for their child.  E.P. Todd School has incorporated 8th Grade for the 2011-12 school year fully implementing a K3-8 grade configuration model. E.P. Todd School is Spartanburg School District 7’s first K3-8 school.

Marc Zachary, Principal
Student Enrollment – 910

Cleveland Elementary

The Cleveland Academy of Leadership has embarked on a new journey which will enhance the strong academic focus on literacy, math, and science. The Academy has implemented the school transformational model, The Leader In Me based on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. The Leader in Me initiative promotes and challenges each student to become a leader. The entire school community incorporates the 7 habits in all daily work and activities as well as their personal lives. This new journey aims to discover a new paradigm of leadership and to create a vision for the impact all young people can have.

Fred Logan, Principal
Student Enrollment - 417

Houston Elementary

Houston Elementary, Academy for Creative Expression (ACE), integrates creativity with a strong academic program to empower every student with a solid foundation for lifelong success. Houston provides an innovative curriculum including Problem Based Learning with higher order thinking skills and a focus on gifted and talented strategies for all learners. Our extended-day program offers students a unique opportunity to participate in various enrichment activities such as dance, karate, film studies, Mad Scientists, and Writer’s Corner in a safe, nurturing, and creative environment. Learning comes to life by strengthening each student’s unique talents and interests.

Thomas Stokes, Principal
Student Enrollment - 332

Pine Street School

A rich academic and historical heritage combined with a dedicated focus on the arts make Pine Street a unique elementary school. Pine Street offers a rigorous academic curriculum enhanced by instruction in drawing and painting, graphic design, ballet, jazz, creative movement, music, steel and African drumming, dramatic interpretation, creative writing, and puppetry. Arts-infused learning breeds confidence and dedication in all students. Named an Arts in the Basic Curriculum (ABC) site by The South Carolina Arts Commission, Pine Street is a model site for other schools in the state. 

Anne Chapman Jeter, Principal
Student Enrollment - 678

Mary H. Wright Elementary

Mary H. Wright Elementary focuses on improving student achievement and character education through a strong early literacy program. Mary H. Wright is currently exploring a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) initiative as part of their balanced literacy focus. Groups of students are also invited to attend Camp Bob in Hendersonville, NC for a week filled with fun outdoor activities. After-school clubs include the Boys & Girls Club and the Wofford Math Academy. 

Verotta Kennedy, Principal
Student Enrollment - 476

E. P. Todd School

E.P. Todd is home to the county’s first public Montessori program for pre-K to grade 3 students. Montessori classes are an option for parents seeking an alternative early education choice for their children. The Montessori Method focuses on each child, and incorporates four basic objectives: coordination, concentration, order, and independence. E.P. Todd also offers the traditional elementary school configuration. We believe this offers parents the choice to completely customize the educational experiences for their child.  E.P. Todd School incorporated 8th Grade this school year fully implementing a K3-8 grade configuration model. E.P. Todd School is Spartanburg School District 7’s first K3-8 school. 

Marc Zachary, Principal
Student Enrollment - 910

Carver Middle School

Carver represents excellence in education and is one of the county’s first secondary STEM schools. STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. As a STEM school, Carver focuses on these subjects to help youth gain the skills required to succeed in today’s challenging world. High-quality science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education can unleash the creativity and curiosity of our students, motivate them to understand our world, and provide them with tools to think critically, solve complex problems, communicate effectively, and drive advancements in science and technology. The program offers small class sizes, increased technology, and also diverse course offerings including leadership and character education programs to supplement and enrich the classroom learning experience.   

RaaShad Fitzpatrick, Principal
Student Enrollment - 511

McCracken Middle School

McCracken Middle School has a proven track record of success as evidenced by the district, state, and national recognition it has received in academics, the arts, extra-curricular activities, and athletics. McCracken is a College Board Candidate school seeking to meet the needs of all students by providing a rigorous program of study with a focus on creating critical thinkers and problem solvers prepared to meet the demands of a challenging high school and college curriculum.  The foundation of the program is supported by the integration of math, science, social studies, and literature through the cultivation of reading, higher-order thinking, and writing skills combined with field studies. 

Margaret Peach, Principal
Student Enrollment - 702

Spartanburg High School Freshman Academy

The Spartanburg High School Freshman Academy is an innovative small learning community designed to assist 9th graders with the transition to high school.  The Freshman Academy offers a standards-based curriculum that provides students additional support in all subject areas.  Students are offered the opportunity to excel through meaningful learning activities.  Classroom activities are designed to help students work cooperatively on challenging assignments and encourage students to practice study skills that are essential to success at the secondary and post secondary levels. 

Dr. Shawn Foster, Principal
Student Enrollment - 481

Frequently Asked Questions about the Freshman Academy 

Spartanburg High School

Spartanburg High School’s mission is to cooperate with home and community to provide educational programs that enable students to realize their potential as productive members of a diverse society. As the first school in the nation to win the prestigious Blue Ribbon School Award four times, SHS will never accept mediocrity. Additional achievements such as being chosen as a Flagship School of Promise, a Palmetto Gold High School, a Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School, a High School That Works and being recognized by Newsweek magazine and the Washington Post as one of the top high schools in the nation attest to the fact that excellence is not a goal, it is a way of life at SHS. SHS is proud of the widespread community support of its programs in academics, arts, activities and athletics. Teachers, staff, and administrators remain committed to providing the best possible education for all the students they are privileged to serve. 

Jeff Stevens, Principal
Student Enrollment - 1393
Student Enrollment With Freshman - 1874

McCarthy Teszler School

The McCarthy Teszler School is a school for special needs students that serves the entire county. The school is physically located in District Seven and District Seven is the fiscal agent. The McCarthy Elementary Division serves students ranging in age from three to twenty-one years that are disabled or multi-handicapped. All students in the elementary program have access to physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.  Each student also participates in library, art, music, and PE. The Teszler Division serves students ages five and above who are classified as severely emotionally disabled. The program focuses on academic remediation, with special attention to social skills deficits, with the plan of returning these students to a successful school career in their neighborhoods.  The Vocational Division serves students in these programs ages twelve to twenty-one to provide them with the skills necessary to become successful in the world of work. 

Cheryl Revels, Principal
Student Enrollment - 224

Daniel Morgan Technology Center

Daniel Morgan Technology Center is about preparing productive citizens. DMTC offers students from Spartanburg High educational opportunities in line with the skills that current and future employers in the community need. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors enroll in sequential courses that match their interests, skills, and career goals. There is a wide array of career based programs that students can choose. DMTC instructors teach hands-on classes in Automotive Technology, Building Construction, Business Technology, Culinary Arts, Electricity, Environmental Services, Graphics and Printing, Machine Tool Technology, Computer Aided Drafting and Design, Marketing, Protective Services, Welding, and Horticulture. Work-based learning opportunities are also provided to students in all program areas.

Wayne Chapman, Director

Whitlock Flexible Learning Center

The Whitlock Flexible Learning Center houses under one roof the Spartanburg County Alternative School (SCAS), AmeriCorp, and the Upstate S2TEM Center.