Welcome to Orchard Park Elementary
Located in the Golden Corner of South Carolina, Orchard Park Elementary, a Title I school, is nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in an area abundant with waterfalls, rivers, and lakes. Our attendance area encompasses approximately 180 square miles and reaches to the Georgia state line. The school was established in the fall of 1997.
Orchard Park Elementary endeavors to develop the world class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate with a variety of programs and initiatives. Our students frequently engage in inquiry-based learning, facilitating growth in the areas of collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and communication. In an effort to cultivate work ethic, perseverance, and integrity, our school has implemented a robust PBIS system and our counselor provides regular character-building and life skills lessons for all grade levels. With a computer lab, a state-of-the-art television studio, mobile sets of laptops and iPads, and a ratio of one Chromebook (2nd-5th grade) or one iPad (1st grade) for every student, cutting edge technology is integrated into the daily instruction of all classrooms. Through the use of Rosetta Stone Classroom, all students, pre-k through fifth grade, study their choice of Spanish, French, German, Mandarin Chinese, and Japanese. Various programs, such as Student Council, Junior Beta Club, Safety Patrol, Pride Pay (financial literacy), food drives, media assistants, Warrior News Team, honors chorus, Math Madness competitions, Battle of the Books, and Future Chefs, foster student leadership, teamwork, and community service. The implementation of student electives, covering a wide variety of interests, offers greater depth of study and a personalized, strengths-based approach to learning.
The teachers and staff at Orchard Park are preparing all students for high school, college, careers, and life-long learning by providing an instructional environment with rigorous standards for student performance in all areas. Results from district-wide MAP assessments are used to drive instruction and meet the specific academic needs of all students. Personalized instruction using the Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Literacy Intervention System have led to our students in kindergarten and grades 3-5 exceeding the national norm in reading this year. Effective math instruction, emphasizing small group differentiated levels, prepares our students for real world problem-solving. Our first grade students, in particular, exceeded the national norm in math. Our reading and math scores clearly indicate that the students of Orchard Park Elementary are receiving a world class education.
The administration, teachers, and staff at Orchard Park Elementary recognize the importance of building and strengthening an effective partnership with our families, community, and local business leaders. Parents and community members are valued as strong advocates and supporters of the development of the whole child. Their participation in the School Improvement Council, PTO, visual and performing arts events, volunteer readers, All-Pro Dads program, our electives program, and Career Day supports our instructional efforts. Multiple family learning events, such as Tailgate Night (literacy), Day of Code (math, science, and technology), and Taste of the World (foreign language and culture) provide ample opportunities for stakeholders to witness how our students learn and support our efforts in the development of the knowledge and skills our students will need to succeed in the 21st century.
Orchard Park Elementary School positively impacts the futures of each of our students. We are committed to maintaining a culture of excellence and providing an environment where a love of learning is continuously valued and cultivated. Our mission is to facilitate the development of world class skills and foster the necessary mindset for all students to be prepared academically, socially, and personally for success in the 21st century.