• Category 2

    Selected in 2022

  • Grades: pre k - 6
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 3,163
    Student Enrollment: 217
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 73%
    White/Caucasian: 18%
    Hispanic: 5%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 1%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 3%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:12.7
    % Reduced Lunch: 100%
    % ELL Learners: 4%
    Founded: 2009
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Gale Whitfield
  • CONTACT:
    1647 US Highway 321 Bypass North
    Winnsboro, SC 29180
    803-635-4810
    gwhitfield@fairfield1.org
Fairfield Magnet School for Math and Science
Winnsboro, SC
"We believe every child can learn and receive the highest quality education."
1. Tell us about your school’s success.
Our school’s success is contributed to maximizing educational opportunities that bring out each student’s fullest potential. Our expectations are passionate, highly qualified teachers dedicated to their students along with elevated engagement and rigorous teaching. We expect to see innovative practices that entice students to be eager learners coupled with involved parents, willing to work with their children to make a difference. Our test scores prove that our students are surpassing state and district goals. FMSMS has been awarded several prestigious awards throughout the years, including being named a Palmetto’s Finest School in South Carolina in 2014. Since 2011, FMSMS has received the Palmetto Gold Award and a report card grade of Excellent each year for student achievement on state assessments. In 2022, FMSMS was named a National Blue Ribbon School for being an Exemplary High Performing School. We believe every child can learn and receive the highest quality education.
2. Talk about the greatest contributing factor(s) that promoted positive change in your school.
Being a school known for excelling, personalized instruction is a major contributing factor to our school’s success. Students performing below grade level receive varied instruction to help close the achievement gap. Students are given intense academic assistance each morning in ELA and Math. After-school programs assist these students as well. Students performing above grade level receive additional academic support to ensure that they do not fall below our school, district, and state's expectations. These students are also invited to attend an afterschool enrichment program where they are able to explore through various learning activities that are beyond their grade level’s expectations. All students are given additional time to utilize technology-based programs to assist with targeted and differentiated instruction. Personalizing instruction to meet the needs of our students has been a huge contributing factor to our school’s success.
3. How has ESEA funding supported the school's success?
Our school benefits from ESEA funding by providing supplemental instruction support through coaching and afterschool tutoring, along with enhanced opportunities with personalized learning software, and interactive family engagement sessions.
4. What professional development activities were used to improve teaching and learning?
At FMSMS, our teachers and administrators cultivate creativity, foster innovative thinking, and promote higher-order thinking skills. The school's administration supports the school vision by providing teachers, who are life-long learners, with the opportunity to attend professional development, conferences, workshops, and training throughout the year to support and enhance student and teacher growth. Faculty and staff are expected to continue learning and growing in their profession. Throughout the year, book studies are conducted to support the teachers' growth in various areas, from self-care to classroom management. School administrators encourage, develop, and provide time for teachers from all curriculum areas and grade levels to collaborate and plan. At FMSMS, we believe everyone is a leader, therefore, a wide range of committees, instructional learning teams, and mentoring opportunities are provided for teachers to serve as leaders.
5. Talk about the cultural shift leading up to your school's success.
One shift that we believe has been influential in our school's success is our transformation into a STEAM school. This approach to teaching and learning allows us to integrate science, technology, engineering, arts, and math to guide student inquiry, discussion, and problem-solving while still strategically implementing the state-mandated standards. This approach provides our students with an opportunity to learn through creativity and exploration. The history of incorporating the arts in the classroom at FMSMS has shown us the effectiveness of this practice in improving learning throughout all academic areas. As a school, our state test scores have improved since the implementation of STEAM, with the school being awarded the Gold Award each year for students' high achievements. The data results solidify that our integration of STEAM into the state standards, as well as, purposely assuring engagement, innovativeness, and rigor has allowed our students to thrive in a successful school.
6. How has community involvement strengthened your success?
Along with our dedicated administration and teachers, we seek to foster relationships with parents, family members, and the community to help maximize student learning and achievement. FMSMS organizes numerous events throughout the year to get the parents and community involved. These include a monthly collaboration with the principal, Parent Book Drive, Grandparent’s Day celebration, and Family Literacy Night. Additional opportunities for involvement are student-led conferences, SIC, and most importantly, an open-door policy. We have partnered with several businesses in our community that support our vision. They have provided us with resources and their time to ensure that our students receive a high-quality education. We utilize the local police department to showcase their D.A.R.E program and Fairfield Behavioral Health to conduct lessons on bullying and drug prevention. Parent and community involvement in our school contributes to the success of our students and school.
Stats
  • Category 2

    Selected in 2022

  • Grades: pre k - 6
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 3,163
    Student Enrollment: 217
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 73%
    White/Caucasian: 18%
    Hispanic: 5%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 1%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 3%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:12.7
    % Reduced Lunch: 100%
    % ELL Learners: 4%
    Founded: 2009
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Gale Whitfield
  • CONTACT:
    1647 US Highway 321 Bypass North
    Winnsboro, SC 29180
    803-635-4810
    gwhitfield@fairfield1.org