Education

While a good education is the best path to a successful future, the best paths are personalized, with choices that are right for each student and family. And that kind of choice lies at the heart of the student-centered success in Laurens County, where high achieving public school districts as well as high-quality private and charter schools are producing graduates ready for college and careers—and more than ready for the global world.

Many routes, more excellent results: Choice also comes into play at the earliest stages with public school options like the traditionally rigorous Scholar program, or the Montessori program, the educational method prized for its creative and critical-thinking focus, and generally available only in larger metro areas. However, regardless of the path chosen in kindergarten and pre-school, excellence and high standards are a given, as evidenced by various district achievements including rising test scores, 25 dual enrollment courses and stellar academic achievements, such as middle school teams winning the State Science Olympiad for the past 16 consecutive years, and high school teams claiming the State Science Olympiad Championships for 9 out of the last 10 years.  Exemplary teaching is always part of the equation in Laurens County, where science teachers have won the state’s “Top 5” distinction for end-of-course biology results. And in a county where many schools offer free breakfast and lunch for all students, care for the whole student is equally important, also evidenced by a 100% participation in the Cooper Institute Fitnessgram program.

Post-graduation, young people in Laurens County step into a world of opportunity without having to relocate. Students seeking two- or four-year degrees can opt for the historic Presbyterian College or University of South Carolina-Laurens. Those ready for rewarding rapid employment can choose from a range of associate degrees and certifications at Piedmont Technical College-Laurens, which is also home to the Center for Advanced Manufacturing, the region’s highly respected workforce training resource, where training labs include CNC, CMM, welding and Mechatronics.

Shift into drive for success without long commutes: Many Laurens County students jump-start their college careers in high school with dual-enrollment courses at University of South Carolina-Laurens, where students can earn a two-year associate’s degree or start a four-year degree they can complete only 60 miles away at USC’s main campus. In fact, over a dozen institutions of higher learning are located within a sixty-mile radius, meaning more choices for great life launches or life-long learning are within a single hour’s drive.