Hanahan Middle School - Hanahan, SC

One our greatest challenges in recent years has been the change in student demographics and an increase of at-risk students. Our English as a Second Language (ESL) population has increased 83% in the last five years. Our free/reduced lunch percentage has steadily increased from 36% in 2004 to over 50% in 2014. With these changes, our school has maintained high student achievement by employing a full time ESL teacher, and by providing tutoring, mentoring and small-group guidance sessions for at-risk students.

Hanahan Middle School’s ESL teacher partners with the high school to have the Spanish II students tutor our ESL students. The high school students visit once a week for a class period. Student Ambassadors from the College of Charleston also work, in school, with our students.

Innovative programs such as Lunch Buddies, a Breakfast Club for struggling readers, the nationwide anti-bullying Rachel’s Challenge program, and various reading incentives create an environment in which all students are motivated to excel. Our Lunch Buddy program includes over 100 lunch buddies from a local corporation, SPAWAR, who meet with at-risk students during lunch on a monthly basis. Our Distinguished Gentlemen Club and Distinguished Ladies Club both provide opportunities for character development. The SLEUTHS Club promotes character development through service learning.

Our CORE Day program provides opportunities for enrichment, intervention, and remediation every Friday. Students are grouped based on data from common assessments. Not only do these programs motivate students, they also engage families and stakeholders in supporting students. We will continue to maintain high student achievement by creating these unique opportunities for success.