VIP eNews | August 2025
August 27, 2025 Edition
Welcome to VIP E-News, an electronic newsletter that is distributed to GCS employees and community leaders to update them about important GCS news and events. If you have any questions about the Board meeting or news articles, please contact the Communications Department.
News
Five Greenville County Schools Among Top 25 Best High Schools in SC
U.S. News & World Report has ranked five Greenville County high schools among the top 25 in South Carolina for 2025–2026. Riverside High School led the way for the county at No. 13, followed by Wade Hampton High (No. 15), Mauldin High (No. 16), Greenville Senior High Academy (No. 24), and J.L. Mann High Academy (No. 25). The rankings are based on six factors: college readiness, state assessment proficiency, state assessment performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth, and graduation rates. College readiness is measured by student participation and performance on Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. Full List of High Schools in the State
PSAT/NMSQT Sign-ups and Testing Dates Set for 8th, 10th & 11th Graders
Greenville County Schools will offer the PSAT/NMSQT for students in grades 8, 10, and 11, including all in-person and virtual students currently enrolled in GCS, as well as homeschool students who live within the district’s attendance area. Students will test at their enrolled school or the school they are zoned to attend. The exam will be administered digitally, and all students will use district-owned devices such as Chromebooks. Testing will take place October 1–10, 2025. Sign-up Information
2025-26 Greenville County Schools Teacher of the Year Announced
This month, Robert E. Cashion Elementary fifth-grade teacher Morgan Smith was named the 2025–26 Greenville County Schools Teacher of the Year, the district’s highest teaching honor, by Superintendent Dr. Burke Royster. Smith said her passion for education is shaped by her family’s legacy and her own experiences as a student in Greenville County Schools. Smith was joined at the annual Teacher of the Year Breakfast by the three runners-up and many other outstanding educators. GCS Honors Teachers
Unofficial Board Meeting Summary
August 26, 2025
Welcome, Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Maclane New, an 8th grade student at Northwood Middle School.
Adoption of Consent Calendar
2.01 Minutes, Regular Board Meeting - June 24, 2025
2.02 Minutes, Special Called Meeting: Personnel Recommendations - August 19, 2025
2.03 Home Schooling Applications (Executive Session) - 19
Appearance of Visitors
- Surabhi Gaur - Dress Code
- Tim Jones - Intro to Grace Harbour
- Grace Pouch - Magic School AI
- Chelsey Troutman - Teacher Forum
- Jay Harris - Future Teacher Academy Leadership Board
- Cadence Gaines - Future Teacher Academy
Superintendent's Report
Dr. Royster gave an overview of Greenville County Schools’ summer accomplishments across facilities, transportation, technology, human resources, safety, and academics. Major highlights include conducting 4,900 hours of transportation training, hiring 815 employees, opening the new Reedy Laurel Elementary School and two school additions, fulfilling more than 6,400 maintenance work orders, completing extensive curriculum updates, and implementing enhanced security measures.
Action Items
Innovative and Honors Course Approvals
The Board of Trustees approved several new honors-level courses recommended by the state for students in JROTC.
Lease Agreement Renewal with SHARE Head Start
The board voted to renew the current lease agreement with SHARE Head Start for the Old Northwest Crescent Child Development Center Site.
Physical Education Exemption (Executive Session)
Board members approved a physical education exemption for one student at Mauldin Middle School.
MBE Utilization Plan
The board approved the FY 26 Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Utilization Plan as presented.
Information Items
Internal Audit Report Package
The District Administration presented the board with a package of internal audit reports conducted January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 as information only.
Finance Report
The District’s monthly financial statements were presented to the Board of Trustees as an information item.
The meeting adjourned at 6:47 pm.