The State of Education in Darlington County
By Sharman Poplava
The world of education is changing. The boundaries are limitless and the opportunities abundant. It’s an exciting time to be in education and live in the Pee Dee. Darlington County in particular is home to nationally recognized education institutions and partnerships offering unique, cutting edge experiences.
Coker College is a 4-year liberal arts college that has undergraduate, master’s degree and adult programs. The school is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the “Best Colleges” in the South. Florence-Darlington Technical College, a 2-year community college focused on work-force development is available for career training in fields such as nursing, welding, computer technology and robotics production. The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) draws academically motivated high school juniors and seniors pursuing studies in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) from across the state. GSSM is one of only 12 specialized, residential high schools in the nation.
We boast a thriving public school system, Darlington County School District (DCSD), that serves more than 10,400 students in 23 schools. In addition to regular classes, DCSD offers elementary and middle school magnet programs in the arts, sciences, mathematics and technology. Three high schools offer academic magnet programs, including an International Baccalaureate School, an early college degree program, and a top-ranked STEM school.
Programs that enhance learning experiences include the Partners for Unparalleled Local Scholastic Excellence (PULSE) program administered by the TEACH Foundation, a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. Sonoco funds the initiative. This one-of-a-kind public-private partnership was formed in 2011 to supplement academic learning and personal development of Hartsville school children. The partners include the Darlington County School District, Coker College, GSSM, and Sonoco.
Our area is rich with rigorous, well-rounded educational programs. And we are moving forward, leading South Carolina to push the concept of what an education looks like in the 21st century.
To learn more about the education vision for Darlington County, I invite you to come to the 2017 State of Education hosted by the Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce.
The forum will be held Friday, March 24 from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at the Hartsville Country Club, 116 Golf Course Road, Hartsville. The event is sponsored by the McGee Financial Group.
The breakfast will feature an update from Dr. Eddie Ingram, superintendent, Darlington County School District; Dr. Robert Wyatt, president, Coker College; Dr. Hector Flores, president, GSSM; and Dr. Ben Dillard, president, Florence-Darlington Technical College. Tickets are $20 at the door.
To learn more about the State of Education breakfast, visit the Hartsville Chamber website at: hartsvillechamber.org
To learn more about PULSE and partners, visit the TEACH Foundation website at: teachfoundation.org/93
Sharman Poplava is the Executive Director of the TEACH Foundation, located in Hartsville. Find out more about TEACH by visiting, www.teachfoundation.org/