Brian Howell - IB Program Coordinator 
Holly Hardee - MYP Program Coordinator

The IB program is celebrating 25 years in Florence 1 Schools 

The IB program boasts nearly 450 students

Since 1996 the IB program at Williams Middle School and Wilson High School have awarded nearly 800 students with International Baccalaureate (IB) Diplomas.

Over the years, the Florence 1 IB program has garnered recognition for its rigorous curriculum, which challenges students to explore diverse perspectives, engage in inquiry-based learning, and cultivate a deep understanding of their subjects.

The Florence 1 IB program continues its standard of excellence, being named the largest program of its kind in South Carolina, with more students participating than ever before and achieving new heights. Reflecting on the journey of the IB program at Wilson, coordinator Brian Howell remarked, "We are immensely proud of the impact this program has had on our students and the broader community. Our unwavering dedication to academic excellence, global awareness, and service embodies the core values of our school, and we look forward to continuing this legacy for generations to come.” Find out more at f1s.org/IB

Students in the IB program take advanced and unique courses:

• German
• Global Politics
• Philosophy
• Visual Arts
• Advanced Mathematics
• Sciences

Benefits

• Helps students to develop essential skills like time management, research, and public speaking

• A challenging international curriculum with global perspectives

• Opens doors to top universities and scholarships

In 2024, Florence 1 Schools was 1 of just 7 school districts in South Carolina to earn the Best Communities for Music Education award from the NAMM Foundation.

Over the last six years, millions of dollars have been invested in arts programs across Florence 1 Schools elevating curriculum, equipment, and learning spaces for all students. Our staff and students were also offered professional development opportunities and a trip to New York City, both of which broaden horizons and provide inspiration for the future.

Florence 1 Schools students, educators, and administrators have won state-wide arts awards in recent years, highlighting a district dedication to supporting both students and arts educators, as well as the investments that have been made in our staff with increased stipends and incentives.

Several schools have earned first-in-the-district recognitions, such as the Williams Middle School Orchestra which earned the highest honor an orchestra in South Carolina can earn: a Gold Outstanding Performance Award (OPA) from SCMEA. The district has also broken its own records: 57 Florence 1 students earned a Superior rating this year for performances evaluated at State Solo & Ensemble Festival.

Three Arts Magnets Schools

• Brockington Elementary School
• Southside Middle School
• South Florence High School

Over $1.7 Million Spent

$416,500 from grant funds
$1.1 million from special funds
$247,738 district funds

• $786,253 Musical Instruments, Cleanings, and Maintenance 
• $114,970 Art Supplies 
• $36,142 Curricula and Curricular Materials
• $283,751 Facility Improvements
• $381,674 Student Experience and Professional Development
• $117,239 Performing Arts Supplies and Mats
• $11,600 MISC Supplies, Awards, and Printing

Notable Arts Accomplishments

• 43 All-State Musicians
• 48 Students selected for ArtFields
• 83 State and Region Honor Band, Orchestra, and Chorus Students
• West Florence High School earns 23-24 Lower State Champions 
• West Florence and Moore Middle School Bands earn Superior with Distinction from SC Band Directors Association 
• Williams Advanced Orchestra received a Superior with Distinction evaluation from SCMEA concert performance assessment
• Wilson High School and South Florence High School Bands earn Excellent ratings and 1st place trophies 
• First year ever, Sneed Middle School Choral program earned Superior evaluation from SCMEA 
• South Florence High School Chorus invited to perform at American Choral Directors Association State Conference 
• Amber Harrar received the Mary Whyte Award from SCAEA

Science - Technology - Engineering - Mathematics 

Over $1 million dollars has been spent on STEM programming across our district. Through our newest investments middle school students can solve real-world problems and learn about potential future careers with PICO VR headsets.

Our explorers all across the district learn about STEM using:

• A state-of-the-art STEM bus available to all students
• Drone classes at all grade levels
• Virtual reality goggles used in STEM courses and other courses like English Literature
• 3D printers and 3D pens
• Robotics kits & teams
• STEM Magnet Schools
• Biomedical Science courses
• Video Game Design classes
• Elementary STEM Labs
• Flight simulators
• Cybersecurity & Computer Programming
• Drone Coding classes
• 7 Cognia Certified STEM schools
• 2 STAR Labs (mobile planetarium)
• ABii tutoring robots

Florence 1’s Exceptional Education staff meets students where they are while providing them with the resources they need to reach their individual goals. Students have a variety of therapeutic resources and learning opportunities available in our schools, as well as community-based programs with partner organizations.

Services Offered:

• Orientation and Mobility
• Physical Therapy
• Speech Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Sign Language Interpreters for Deaf/Hard of Hearing
• Partner with SC School for the Deaf/Blind to offer services

2,100 Students
225 Staff 

Did you know?
In 2021, hearing impaired services returned to Florence 1 Schools after more than 30 years.

Unique about F1S

• 3 Special Education Supervisors
• Audiologist
• Parent Liaison
• 2 Teacher Consultants
• 2 Compliance Monitors
• Autism Coordinator
• 3 Autism Consultants

• - 2 Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA)

• Safety Care Training for de-escalation techniques

Facilities

• Sensory Rooms at various locations
• Adaptive Playground equipment (6 locations)
• Compass Academy
• Pepsi Market
• 2 Project SEARCH Locations (McLeod & Raldex)

Project Search

Project SEARCH is a post secondary transition program that focuses on transition from the school to the work environment. Through this program, student interns gain valuable job skills that are preparing them for competitive employment at the conclusion of the school year program.

Project Search Locations: McLeod Health and Raldex with over 50 student interns 

"We average approximately 70-80% of our previous student interns that complete the year long program not only gaining employment after their Project SEARCH year, but continuing to sustain employment years after they complete the program." - Kandee Shelor, Transition Coordinator

The Florence 1 Schools Transportation Department plays a crucial role in education, serving as the essential link between school and home for the students who rely on the bus each day. Their hard work and dedication make a difference in the lives of students, sometimes through a simple smile in the morning or an encouraging word as students enter and exit their bus.

• Serving more than 7,500 bus riders
• Driving more than 375 daily bus runs
• Driving more than 10,500 miles per day
• 66 full time, 14 part-time, and 27 staff bus drivers

“Our department motto is “We Keep Education Rolling” because, through every challenge we face, our goal remains the same: putting Students First. For the Transportation Department, that means keeping safety at the forefront of what we do. Each day we encounter new obstacles, but I am thankful for my staff and their commitment to the success of our department and our students who depend on them to arrive at school safely every day.” - Mitchell Washington, Director of Transportation 

A Cool Fact
All 100 of our buses are equipped with air conditioning

Bus Driver Perks

• $2,000 sign on bonus
• Quarterly bonus
• Paid training 

Our culinary services partner, Chartwells, also recently received national recognition and was named the Chartwells 2024 National Account of the Year. Florence 1 was chosen to receive this award out of over 700 accounts nationwide. Our local team is comprised of a network of passionate individuals, who take great pride in serving our students nutritious and delicious meals.

• $2,000 bonuses for culinary staff
• Over $4 million in school nutrition upgrades 

Recipes for Success 

• Global Eats - Students experience culinary flavors from around the world
• Mood Boost - Students connect what they eat with how they feel
• Discovery Kitchen - Students discover new foods

Events

• 24 Food Truck Events
• 19 Mood Boost Events
• 28 Discovery Kitchens 
• 7 Global Eats
• 8 Student Choices