The two educational institutions signed an agreement on June 4, allowing the school district to use welding space at the college’s Brashier Campus in Simpsonville. The space formerly housed Greenville Tech’s welding program. It will be used by the school district’s Golden Strip Career Center starting the 2026-27 school year. 

High school students will be able to complete two years of welding classes on the Brashier Campus with access to hands-on class activities at Greenville Tech’s new Center for Welding and Automation Excellence. The college’s welding program will move into the new 44,000-square-foot facility in August. 

“By partnering with the district to use our former welding space, we expand access to welding education and give students a seamless way to follow pathways that advance their professional credentials and earnings,” said Larry Miller, president of Greenville Technical College. 

An average of 300 students apply for the school district’s welding program each year. GCS currently has 100 welding booths across its four career centers. Greenville Tech’s former welding space will provide 120 additional booths, plus the 300 booths created by the new Center for Welding and Automation Excellence. 

This partnership represents a 350% increase in the school district’s welding program capacity to help address the ongoing workforce shortage of welding technicians. According to GCS, there are currently 400,000 welding job openings nationwide. 

“By expanding access to welding education at a time when skilled trades are critically important to our economy, we are creating more opportunities for students to graduate with valuable industry credentials, college credit and clear pathways to high-demand, high-wage careers,” said Superintendent Burke Royster. 

In April, GCS Board of Trustees authorized the transfer of $455,000 from the district’s general fund for one-time facility upgrades and five-year operating costs to use Greenville Tech’s welding space. The board also authorized the lease agreement for the space at its regular meeting on May 26.

Students in 10th through 12th grade at any of the district’s 15 high schools are eligible to take the new welding course at Greenville Tech’s Brashier Campus. One morning and one afternoon course will be available, serving 20 students in each session.  

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Students

Caden Johnston

Travelers Rest High

Javelin and Discus State Champion

South Carolina High School League

Julia Thompson

Travelers Rest High

Javelin State Champion

South Carolina High School League

Alex Munguia

Blue Ridge High

4A Track State Champion – 100M and 200M

South Carolina High School League

Nathan Purica

Riverside High

5A Tennis State Champion

South Carolina High School League

Teams

Blue Ridge High

4A Boys Golf State Champion

South Carolina High School League

Eastside High

5A Division 2 Boys Soccer State Champion

South Carolina High School League

Greenville Sr. High Academy

5A Division 2 Boys Golf State Champion

South Carolina High School League

Southside High

3A Boys Soccer State Champion

South Carolina High School League

Related: Class of 2026 graduation photos

Staff

Robby Bell

Fountain Inn High

Region Athletic Director of the Year

SC Athletic Administrators Association

Sarah Evanson-Atkinson

Dr. Randy Wall Distinguished Service Award

SC Association for Middle Level Education

Jim Kilgus

Mauldin Middle

Distinguished Service Award

SC Band Directors Association

Christine Plumier

Sevier Middle

Innovation in Practice Award

SC Association for Middle Level Education

Todd Prochaska

J.L. Mann High Academy

Travis Perry Braveheart Award

SC Athletic Administrators Association

Marci Silver

Beck International Academy

State Spirit Award

Best Buddies International

Kory Stelling

Berea High

SC Driver Education Teacher of the Year

SC Driver Teacher Safety Education Association

Mike Wilson

Donaldson Career Center

Lifetime Service to Wrestling

SC Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame

Schools

Beck International Academy

Overall Top Fundraising School Chapter in the Nation

Best Buddies International

Blue Ridge High

Palmetto’s Finest School

SC Association of School Administrators

Chandler Creek Elementary

National Showcase School

Capturing Kids’ Hearts

Lake Forest Elementary

National Beta Club John W. Harris Leadership Award

Beta Club

League Academy

Redesignation as a National School to Watch

Mauldin Middle

2024-2026 National PTA School of Excellence

National PTA

National School to Watch

Sevier Middle

Redesignation as a National School to Watch

Stone Academy PTA

PTA Program of Impact Award

SCPTA

Taylors Elementary

Recertified Leader in Me Lighthouse School

Woodland Elementary

Leader In Me Legacy Award

Leader In Me

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The second and final reading of the budget was held after a public hearing on June 1. The approved budget, which will go into effect on July 1, 2026, does not include a tax increase. Superintendent Burke Royster said the FY27 budget prioritizes attracting and retaining quality teachers and employees. 

“We are dependent on our employees throughout the organization,” Royster said. “It requires people putting forth tremendous effort, performing quality work to ensure our students have the opportunities they need to have and we believe that’s why its most fitting that we fully recognize that and reward them appropriately within our ability to do so.”

Salary increases

Several adjustments were made to the FY27 budget following its first reading on May 5. Teachers will receive a $2,700 salary increase – a jump from $2,550 approved at first reading – on top of an annual step increase for years of experience. A 38th step will also be added to the teacher salary schedule, raising the highest pay for a GCS teacher to $111,221. 

The annual starting salary for a first-year teacher will be raised from $51,841 to $54,606. GCS currently ranks 11th in the state for starting teacher pay. Royster said the school district’s ranking is expected to increase to 5th place with the approved salary increase. 

The board initially approved a 3.5% salary increase for non-teacher employees at the first budget reading. After the final budget reading, all non-teacher employees will now receive a 3.75% salary increase or a step increase, whichever is greater. 

After the 3.75% salary increase is applied, an additional $2,000 will be added to the principal salary schedule beyond the first step. This is an increase from the $1,000 initially approved at the first budget reading. The school district also plans to adjust the salary schedule and increase entry-level pay for assistant principals. 

Royster said the adjustments ensure the school district maintains an appropriate distance between the average teacher salary, assistant principal’s starting salary and starting salary of a school principal. 

Funding has also been set aside to support GCS’s special education services and personnel. The pay scale for special education aides will be raised by $2 an hour, up to $20-$23.5. Special education aide substitutes will also receive a 6% pay increase, raising the hourly rate to $17.46.

The school district set aside funding in the FY27 budget to hire four special education specialists, 10 special education aides, three behavioral specialists, five behavior support liaisons, one school psychologist and one occupational therapist. In addition, the salaries of 15 existing mental health counselors in the school system will now be covered by the district.

The approved budget allocates funding to hire 15 additional permanent substitute teachers for the schools that struggle to fill teacher absences. In addition, non-certified and certified substitute teachers will receive a 6% pay increase. 

The first reading of the FY27 budget included a new state-mandated line regarding proposed changes to paid parental leave legislation in South Carolina. The school district initially set aside $1.6 million to fund these potential changes. However, the item has not been passed by the General Assembly, so the district removed the line item from its final budget. 

Other expenditures in the school district’s FY27 budget include:

• $1.36 million for the increase in state health insurance premiums for July to December 2026
• $955,000 for salary increases for teachers who attain an additional degree or a certificate upgrade
• $723,000 for increases to existing service and supply contract costs 
• $618,000 for additional teacher and instructional aide positions at Reedy Laurel Elementary
• $335,000 for transportation technology costs due to loss of federal E-Rate funding
• $262,000 for district property and liability insurance premiums 
• $258,000 for existing academic contract costs
• $111,000 for bus driver compensation based on years of experience

The approved budget features several expenditure reductions, including a $15.5 million reduction in personnel costs. This reduction reflects the school district’s realignment of staffing positions for the 2026-27 school year in response to the projected drop in student enrollment. According to GCS, no employees will be laid off to complete the adjustments. 

Another expenditure reduction was made to the FY27 budget in response to changes to how the district’s career and technology staff positions are funded through the State Aid to Classrooms program. Approximately $7.9 million was moved from the general fund budget to a new special revenue fund where the state funding will be now transferred. 

For more information, visit https://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/News/main.asp?titleid=2606budget.

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Approved: Property acquisition for Greenville High parking

The board authorized a $1.8 million property purchase for a 0.6-acre parcel at the corner of Dunbar and Augusta streets from Safe Harbor Inc. The school district plans to use the property at 606 Augusta St. to create additional student parking for Greenville Senior High School. 

An additional 0.21 acres along Dunbar Street will be added to the purchased property through a quitclaim issued by the South Carolina Department of Transportation. The board accepted the quitclaim at Monday night’s meeting. 

According to the school district, there is an immediate need for approximately 100 more parking spaces at Greenville Senior High School. The school district plans to rearrange the high school’s rear bus loop this summer to create 50 new parking spaces for the 2026-27 school year. 

Approved: Lease agreement for welding facility

The board approved a lease agreement for Greenville Technical College’s Golden Strip Career Center Welding Facility. The school district plans to use the existing welding facility for five years, starting the 2026-27 school year. 

According to GCS, the school district receives approximately 300 applications each year for its welding program. The Golden Strip Career Center Welding Facility will allow GCS to expand its total welding capacity from 100 booths across its four career centers to 156 booths. GCS will offer two courses at the facility beginning the next school year, with plans to expand enrollment in future years.

In April, the board authorized the transfer of $455,000 from the school district’s general fund to cover one-time upgrades and five-year operating costs for the welding facility at 1930 W. Georgia Road in Simpsonville. 

Approved: Naming of media center

The board unanimously approved the naming of the media center at Greenville Middle Academy for the late Yanilka “Nicky” Andrews. Andrews served as the school’s principal from 2016 to 2024. She passed away in May 2025.

In GCS, Andrews previously served as assistant principal at Charles Townes Center and Sterling School, principal intern at Greenville Middle Academy and principal at Greenbrier Elementary. She also worked in the Fort Mill School District Four and Spartanburg District Six during her 28-year career in education.

Additional items:

• The board authorized the $290,000 purchase of the 0.76-acre property at 10 Balfer Drive to support the future growth of Wade Hampton High School in Greenville.
• The board approved a resolution for the school district’s continued participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility Program for fiscal year 2027. All schools in Greenville County serve free breakfast. GCS currently has 81 CEP schools that provide free lunch to all students. 
• The board approved a perpetual utility easement with Duke Energy Carolinas LLC at the M.T. Anderson Support Center. The easement will allow utility company to provide services to the district’s new Food and Nutrition Services Center. 
• The board approved the 500 recipients of the J.E. Sirrine Scholarship Program for the 2026-27 school year. There are currently $1 million available for the scholarship program.  
• The board approved four new high school honors courses covering artificial intelligence applications, business data applications, lodging management and travel and tourism management. 
• The board accepted the slate of trustees to serve as members of the Audit Team Committee for the 2026-27 school year. The members include Board Trustee Amanda Brett, Jeff Cochran, Michelle Goodwin-Calwile, Glenda Morrison-Fair and Chuck Saylors.

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Students in the high school’s Advanced Art class were assigned to create a large-scale mural of well-known Greenville landmarks featuring McDonaldland characters. Mark Brosseau, art teacher at Greenville Senior High School, said the project required research, planning, revision and execution by the students. 

“They needed to research some of the historical McDonald’s advertising slogans and the characters that were used as part of their campaigns,” Brosseau said. “Then they had to research and decide on iconic Greenville locations to place these characters in and design murals that captured the joy and nostalgia that these places and characters evoke.”

The first part of the mural depicting Greenville Senior High and Fluor Field was unveiled on May 14. Students will complete the second half of the mural in the fall, featuring The Children’s Museum of the Upstate. Anne Wells Lowery, a junior at Greenville Senior High, said it means so much to have a mural displaying her artwork. 

“I have always loved doing art for myself and others, so the opportunity to make artwork that will be seen by so many is so special,” Wells Lowery said. “I also live in the neighborhood where this McDonald’s is located, so being able to drive past my work every day will be amazing. I’m so grateful and excited for this opportunity.” 

Leo Medina, owner and operator of the Augusta Road McDonald’s, said he was proud to host a project that showcases the talent and spirit of Greenville Senior High students. The mural is located behind the fast-food restaurant at 2200 Augusta Road. 

“We wanted to create a space that celebrates both our local heritage and the creativity of our youth,” Medina said. “The wall behind our Augusta Road location was the perfect blank slate. I can’t wait to see how these talented students reimagine these classic characters for our neighbors to enjoy.” 

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Hundreds of students across the Southeast competed at the skilled trade school in Jacksonville, Florida, on April 11. Competitors rotated through technical welding stations and were judged based on their precision, craftsmanship and real-world welding skills.

“It was an incredible day showcasing the best and brightest young people competing in welding,” says Lisa Nucci, campus president at TWS Jacksonville. “We are proud of all who completed, the ones who placed and especially our top two winners who earned scholarships to attend TWS Jacksonville.”

For his win, Smith received welding equipment and a $23,000 scholarship to attend any program at TWS Jacksonville, including welding, HVAC or electrical. Smith is part of the welding program at the J. Harrley Bonds Career Center in Greer. 

According to Greenville County Schools, seven students from J. Harley Bonds Career Center competed in the 2026 event. Along with Smith, four other students finished in the Top 20 at the competition:

• Michael Powell, Blue Ridge High School, third place
• Evan Keller, Eastside High School, 13th place
• Dominick Salamone, Riverside High School, 14th place
• Christopher Zamora Fuentes, Greenville High School, 17th place

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The recommended budget for next fiscal year, which starts July 1, does not include a tax increase. According to GCS, this will be the fifth time in 11 years that the school district’s millage has not been raised. 

Superintendent Burke Royster explained that the general fund budget provides the resources to employ and retain the quality personnel needed to support the district’s students. Teachers are expected to receive a $2,550 salary increase based on the recommended FY27 budget, a jump from the $2,450 initially proposed at the budget workshop in April.  

Each teacher would also get a salary step increase. A 38th step is proposed to be added to the teacher salary schedule, which determines an educator’s salary based on their years of experience. All other employees are expected to receive a $3.5% salary increase or a step increase, whichever is greater.  

Two new line items in the recommended budget adjust the salaries of the district’s principals and assistant principals. The budget includes $136,000 to add an additional $1,000 to the principal salary schedule after the 3.5% increase is applied. Funding has also been budgeted to adjust the salary schedule and increase the entry-level pay for assistant principals. 

Royster explained that the entry-level salaries for assistant principals currently sit slightly below or barely above the average teacher salary. He said the recommended changes would create an appropriate gap between the annual salary of a classroom teacher and that of an assistant principal. It would also create more distance between the annual salaries of assistant principals and principals. 

“Increasing the competitiveness for assistant principal and principal pay is important,” Royster said. “At the school level, while a teacher … has the deepest impact on student achievement, a principal, a quality principal, has the broadest impact on student achievement.”

Special education funding

The proposed budget also emphasizes expanding the school district’s special education services and personnel. Funding has been budgeted for GCS to hire four special education specialists, 10 special education aides, three behavior specialists, five behavior support liaisons, one school psychologist and one occupational therapist. The salaries of 15 existing mental health counselors in the school system would also be covered in the recommended budget. 

The school district plans to adjust the salary scale for special education aides, raising the hourly pay range to $20 to $23.50. In addition, special education aide substitutes are anticipated to receive a 6% pay increase, raising the hourly rate to $17.46.

A  new state-mandated line item was also added to the district’s recommended budget regarding the proposed changes to paid parental leave legislation in South Carolina. The amendment would double the paid parental leave for primary caregivers working for the school district to twelve weeks and for co-parents to four weeks. 

The school district has set aside $1.6 million to fund these potential changes if the state General Assembly passes the amended legislation without additional state funding. Royster said that if the legislation does not pass, the district intends to bring back a recommendation to the school board to use the budgeted funding to further increase the pay for teachers and other employees. 

Other expenditures in the proposed FY27 general fund budget include:

• $1.36 million for the increase in state health insurance premiums for July to December 2026
• $955,000 for salary increases for teachers who attain an additional degree or a certificate upgrade
• $707,000 for 15 permanent substitute teacher positions at schools struggling to fill teacher absences
• $673,000 for increases to existing service and supply contract costs
• $617,000 to fund additional teacher and instructional aide positions at Reedy Laurel Elementary
• $335,000 for transportation technology costs due to loss of federal E-Rate funding
• $262,000 to increase substitute teacher pay by 6%
• $262,000 for district property and liability insurance premiums 
• $258,000 for existing academic contract costs
• $111,000 for bus driver compensation based on years of experience

GCS plans to realign staffing positions for the upcoming school year in response to the projected reduction in student enrollment. The staffing adjustments are reflected in the proposed budget as a $15.5 million reduction in personnel costs. The recommended budget also includes reductions regarding changes to athletic trainer fees, the international teachers program and the wireless service provider. 

A public hearing for the school district’s FY27 general fund budget will be held at 6 p.m. on June 1. The second and final reading of the budget will be held following the public hearing at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, visit greenville.k12.sc.us/News/main.asp?titleid=2605budget.

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Approved: Facilities plan, capital improvement program

The board approved the school district’s 2026 long-range facilities plan and capital improvement program. GCS revises the planning document annually and issues general obligation bonds to finance its capital improvement program.

This year’s updates to the capital improvement program will fall within the district’s current bond funding structure with no anticipated millage increase. The board also approved the $33.8 million transfer from the district’s unassigned general fund to the building fund to help fund the capital improvement program.

The updated long-range facilities plan and capital improvement program include:

•  $62.2 million to demolish and replace the J Harley Bonds Career Center in Greenville
• Approximately $21 million for the initial purchase and future replacement of robotic sweepers and scrubbers for school cleaning
• $9.6 million to extend the car rider loops at Bethel Elementary, Bryson Elementary, Greenbrier Elementary, Skyland Elementary and Wade Hampton High School.
• An additional $6 million to install bi-directional amplifiers in school buildings for adequate first responder radio communication
• $5.7 million to upgrade stadium lighting systems with LED fixtures
• An additional $3.2 million for property acquisitions 
• An additional $100,000 in annual allocations for capital equipment replacements
• Funding to renovate the concrete bleachers at Greenville High’s Sirrine Stadium
• A two-year accelerated timeline for the new West Greenville School, decreasing the project’s overall cost by $1.8 million

Approved: $18M general fund transfer

The board approved the allocation of $18.05 million from the school district’s general fund for several non-recurring expenditures. 

• $10.5 million for the replacement and maintenance of the district’s enterprise resource planning systems used for payroll and finances
• $5 million to replace the district’s Backpack platform with a new academic information and communication hub for students, families and staff
• $2.1 million to fund five years of professional development opportunities for teachers, administrators and staff focused on meeting the needs of students with disabilities
• $455,000 for one-time facility upgrades and five-year operating costs for GCS to use Greenville Technical College’s Golden Strip Career Center Annex Welding Facility 

Approved: Strategic education plan update

GCS revises its five-year strategic plan annually with updated data and goals. The plan’s three goal areas include student achievement, teacher and administrator quality and school climate. Plans created for individual schools are based on the goals and strategic initiatives outlined in the district plan. 

The board approved this year’s update to the 2024-2029 District and School Strategic Education Plans, which will be submitted to the South Carolina Department of Education. The updated plans will go into effect on July 1. 

Appointments: GCS principals 

Superintendent Burke Royster recognized the appointments of three new principals in the school district, including:

• Barry Ledford, J.L. Mann High School
• Donald Jones, Beck International Academy
• Brook Patterson, Northwood Middle School 

Additional items

• GCS received 11 proposals from architecture firms for design services for the new Donaldson Career Center. The board approved allowing the district administration to begin negotiating architectural fees with the highest-ranked firm for the project. 
• The board approved the purchase of an additional 1.2-acre property at 610 Fairview St. for the planned conversion of Fountain Inn Elementary School into a K-8 school. A lease agreement with the city of Fountain Inn was also approved by the board for the gymnasium, playgrounds and ball fields at the future school when not in use.
• Greene Finney Cauley LLP has been selected to provide external audit services to the school district for five years, starting in fiscal year 2026. The board approved the services contract with the firm. 

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Students, teachers and administrators at the school north of Greer watched the broadcast announcement for this year’s Palmetto’s Finest School winners on April 23. The Palmetto’s Finest Award recognizes elementary, middle and high schools across the state that provide innovative and effective educational programs. It is considered one of the most prestigious honors for schools in South Carolina.

Principal Ashley Wardlaw said she felt overwhelmed and overjoyed that the school received this honor. 

“Our motto is ‘Hear Us Roar,’ because we want to build strong relationships,” Wardlaw said. “We want to be an organization that promotes the achievement of all of our students, and we want to rally our community behind our school. Today, we were able to do that.”

Blue Ridge was among 13 schools selected as finalists for the 2026 Palmetto’s Finest Awards. For the selection process, a committee of educators and past winners evaluated schools’ educational programs by analyzing student achievement, instructional programs, professional learning community and overall school culture. 

Greenville County Schools Superintendent Burke Royster said the recognition by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators speaks to the efforts made over the last several years to enhance the school under Wardlaw’s leadership. Blue Ridge was recognized as the highest-performing high school in Greenville County in the fall of 2025 and has experienced the highest growth in graduation rate in the district. 

“It lets people know what a great program exists here in all aspects of the school, not just academics, but athletics, the arts, career and technical education – all those different areas that are important to all of our students,” Royster said. 

The school was founded in 1954 and currently serves more than 1,000 in ninth through 12th grade. Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees Chair Carolyn Styles, an alumna, said the high school has finally reached the pinnacle of success after 72 years.

“I’m here to tell you that Blue Ridge High School is no longer a best-kept secret, but it’s a school that is well-known in our district and our state for educational excellence,” Styles said. 

Additional winners of the 2026 Palmetto’s Finalist Award include:

• Carver Elementary Magnet School in Florence District 1
• Harbor View Elementary School in the Charleston County School District 
• Waccamaw Middle School in the Georgetown County School District
• HCS Scholars Academy High School in the Horry County School District

For more information, visit greenville.k12.sc.us/bridgehs.

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Greenville County Schools stands as the largest school district in South Carolina, with more than 76,000 students and 13,500 employees. It also ranks as the 42nd largest district in the United States. 

District officials closely monitor growth and development trends in the area to project future student enrollment and guide their planning decisions. 

Education enrollment

Greenville County has experienced year-over-year residential growth for several decades. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county’s estimated population in July 2025 was 583,125. 

The school district has historically mirrored this growth, except for the current school year. According to GCS, student enrollment decreased from 78,115 in August 2024 to 76,571 in August 2025. The district’s planning and demographics department predicts that the student population will further fall to 75,760 in the upcoming 2026-27 school year. 

Drew Brittain, the school district’s planning and demographics director, pointed to several factors that caused the population reduction, including the recent drop in Hispanic student enrollment. GCS grew by only 36 new Hispanic students in 2025, a significant decrease from the annual average of 971 students over the past three years.

The decrease in enrollment can also be linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, GCS had a slightly smaller kindergarten cohort percentage in fall 2025 than in previous years due to the low number of births during the pandemic. At the same time, the larger high school classes that came in after 2020 are graduating, creating a population imbalance. 

“We’re not necessarily losing our students, but just the influx of new students that we historically had did not occur in 2025,” Brittain said. 

Greenville County Schools plans to complete staffing adjustments for the 2026-27 school year in response to the projected decrease in student enrollment. While some staffing positions will be removed, the district has assured that no employees will be laid off. Instead, positions vacated by teachers who leave the district or retire will be left unfilled. 

Enrollment projections indicate the student population will begin to level out over the next few years. Brittain said Greenville County’s birth rate, which has steadily increased since 2020, suggests the district’s population will start to grow again in the future. 

Population projections

Several variables are used to predict the school district’s future student enrollment patterns, including ongoing housing development in Greenville County. The planning and demographics department tracks single-family and multi-family building permits, subdivision proposals and utility expansions to monitor growth. 

“We’re looking at planning law … like the county’s comprehensive plan as well as the municipalities,” Brittain said. “Where are they projecting their development, or where are they targeting an area that is going to be built for single-family housing, because that’s where we’re going to get the majority of our student yields.” 

GCS continues to see considerable housing development in the southern portion of Greenville County as more large-scale single-family subdivisions come online. Fountain Inn has specifically been identified as one of the fastest-growing enrollment areas in the school district.

Enrollment projections can also be impacted by various economic factors, such as job creation within the school district’s attendance area. Brittain and his team monitor major job announcements to help determine where population growth may occur within the district. For example, more residents are expected to move to Piedmont in the coming years as Isuzu and other companies bring new job opportunities to the area. 

In addition, demographic changes in Greenville County’s population can influence student growth patterns. While the county typically has an aging population, there has been an influx of young adults aged 22-39 in recent years. This population cohort is more likely to start families and add new students to the school district. 

“Some areas will experience – we call it aging out. So the population in an area may start becoming older, and then they’re less likely to have younger children,” Brittain said. “Over time, that’ll regenerate, younger families begin purchasing that home. That we can’t really track with necessarily development. You’re having to track what you’re seeing in enrollment trends.”

The planning and demographics department also monitors outside enrollment opportunities in the public school district’s attendance area. According to GCS, charter and homeschool enrollment have continued to grow over the past several years in Greenville County. Brittain said they are constantly trying to determine how an influx of these alternative school options will affect GCS, whether it will help absorb growth or pull from the district’s enrollment.

Classroom capacity 

District leaders must ensure that the school system has the capacity to meet future enrollment growth across its attendance area.  GCS currently operates more than 100 schools and facilities, including 52 elementary schools, 19 middle schools, 15 high schools, career centers, child development centers, administrative buildings and speciality facilities. 

“We want to ensure that we have adequate, appropriate spacing for all our students,” Brittain said. “At the end of the day, we’re here to serve students of Greenville County Schools.”

In some cases, GCS might choose to open a new facility to alleviate the burden on other schools in the surrounding area. A recent example of strategy was the opening of Reedy Laurel Elementary School in Greenville in August 2025. Students were reassigned to the new elementary school from eight neighboring schools.

Projects to expand existing school facilities can also be completed to accommodate future capacity needs based on student growth. For example, a 94,000-square-foot addition was built for Fountain Inn High School, increasing the school’s capacity by 1,250 new seats. The  $48.5 million facility addition was completed before the start of the 2025-26 school year. 

The school district’s facility projects are planned several years in advance and outlined in a long-range facilities plan, which is revised annually. GCS Board of Trustees recently approved the first reading of the updated planning document and capital improvement program during its committee of the whole meeting on April 14. 

The long-range facilities plan includes several projects in the southern portion of Greenville County, including the planned conversion of Fountain Inn Elementary into a K-8 school. The project will add seats for middle-level grades and expand elementary capacity in the area. The new K-8 school is scheduled to open in 2028.

An additional $3.2 million is also being allocated for site acquisitions in the updated capital improvement program. This would raise the school district’s total balance for property acquisitions to approximately $32.4 million. 

At the April 14 meeting, Superintendent Burke Royster explained that the district is actively working to locate available property in areas it projects will experience future growth for potential long-range facility projects. He said that a recommended property purchase in the southern portion of Greenville County near Fountain Inn is expected to go before the board for approval in the near future. 

“There’s obviously going to be no more land created,” Royster said. “The longer we wait to purchase property, the greater the price and the greater the likelihood we cannot buy it in large tracts, which is always the less expensive way to buy.”

Greenville County population vs Greenville County Schools enrollment (Graph)

Year: 1980

• Greenville County: 287,913
• Greenville County Schools: 51,775

Year: 1990

• Greenville County: 320,167
• Greenville County Schools: 51,594

Year: 2000

• Greenville County: 379,616
• Greenville County Schools: 60,101

Year: 2010

• Greenville County: 451,225
• Greenville County Schools: 69,942

Year: 2020

• Greenville County: 525,534
• Greenville County Schools: 73,897

Year: 2021

• Greenville County: 533,834
• Greenville County Schools: 76,513

Year: 2022

• Greenville County: 547,950
• Greenville County Schools: 77,515

Year: 2023

• Greenville County: 558,036
• Greenville County Schools: 77,888

Year: 2024

• Greenville County: 570,745
• Greenville County Schools: 78,115

Year: 2025

• Greenville County: 583,125
• Greenville County Schools: 76,571

Source: Greenville County Schools, U.S. Census

Quotes

“We’re not only large in population, but we’re quite large in total square mileage, right? So what’s happening in the north may not be a direct indicator of what’s happening in downtown Greenville or towards Greer.” – Drew Brittain, planning and demographics director for Greenville County Schools

“Historically, we’ve had year-over-year growth. That did not occur this year and we anticipate kind of leveling out over the next year or two.” – Drew Brittain, planning and demographics director for Greenville County Schools

School choice

Greenville County Schools offers a school choice program to its students. This program allows parents to request that their child attend another school outside their assigned school, which is determined based on their home address. 

Drew Brittain, planning and demographics director for Greenville County Schools, explained that the district increased its school choice population during the 2025-26 school year due to more seats being available with the recent decrease in overall student population. According to GCS, a total of 10,364 students attended a school of their choice in the 2025-26 school year. 

The post As Greenville County grows, school district measures to meet student needs appeared first on GREENVILLE JOURNAL.

Initial approval: Facilities plan, capital improvement

The board gave initial approval to the updated long-range facilities plan and capital improvement program for GCS. The school district revises the planning document annually. A board workshop was held on March 10 to review the proposed revisions.

This year’s update includes a $62.2 million project to demolish and replace the J Harley Bonds Career Center in Greenville. GCS initially planned to complete a $10.1 million renovation of the facility’s culinary arts and administrative areas. 

The construction timeline for the new West Greenville School project has also been accelerated by two years in the updated planning document, now with expected occupancy in 2031. The adjusted timeline is expected to decrease the project’s overall cost by $1.8 million.

The updated long-range facilities plan and capital improvement program also include:

• Approximately $21 million for the initial purchase and future replacement of robotic sweepers and scrubbers for school cleaning
• $9.6 million to extend the car rider loops at Bethel Elementary, Bryson Elementary, Greenbrier Elementary, Skyland Elementary and Wade Hampton High School.
• An additional $6 million to install bi-directional amplifiers in school buildings for adequate first responder radio communication
• $5.7 million to upgrade stadium lighting systems with LED fixtures
• An additional $3.2 million for property acquisitions 
• An additional $100,000 in annual allocations for capital equipment replacements
• Funding to renovate the concrete bleachers at Greenville High’s Sirrine Stadium

GCS issues general obligation bonds to finance its capital improvement program. This year’s updates will fall within the district’s current bond funding structure with no anticipated millage increase. The board also gave initial authorization for the transfer of $33.8 million from the district’s unassigned general fund to the building fund to help fund the capital improvement program. 

Initial approval: $18M general fund transfer

The board gave initial approval to allocate a total of $18.05 million from the district’s general fund for several non-recurring expenditures. Approximately $10.5 million will go towards the replacement and maintenance of GCS’s enterprise resource planning systems used for payroll and finances. 

The school district will also allocate $5 million to replace its Backpack platform with a new academic information and communication hub for students, families and staff. The need for a new platform was identified during the recent review of GCS’s special education services. 

In addition, $2.1 million will fund professional development opportunities for teachers, administrators and staff focused on meeting the needs of students with disabilities. The new training will be implemented over the course of five years, with some recurring annually. 

GCS also plans to use the Greenville Technical College’s Golden Strip Career Center Annex Welding Facility for five years starting the 2026-27 school year. The district will lease the facility for the pro-rated cost of utilities. Approximately $455,000 will be allocated to cover one-time facility upgrades and five-year operating costs.

Presentation: Satellite Diploma Program 

At the committee of the whole meeting, the board received a presentation on the school district’s Satellite Diploma Program. The adult education program offers an alternative opportunity for at-risk students aged 17 to 21 to earn their high school diploma or GED. The Satellite Diploma Program is housed at the school district’s five career centers. 

GCS plans to launch a new pilot program in the 2026-27 school year to help overage ninth-grade students who struggle in traditional high school settings get back on track to earn their diploma. The pilot will start with a cohort of 20 students who will receive individualized instruction through the Satellite Diploma Program. 

Additional items

• The board gave initial approval to the update of the 2024-2029 District and School Strategic Education Plans. The plans are revised annually and must be sent to the South Carolina Department of Education. The updated plan will go into effect on July 1. 
• GCS received 11 proposals from architecture firms wishing to design the new Donaldson Career Center. The firms were reviewed and ranked by the district’s architect selection committee. The board gave initial approval to allow the district’s administration to begin negotiating architectural fees with the highest-ranked firm for the project. 

The post Greenville County Schools revises long-range facilities plan: Board of Trustees notes appeared first on GREENVILLE JOURNAL.

Currently, the school system does not anticipate proposing a millage rate increase for the next fiscal year. The estimated revenue budget for FY27 is $986.9 million based on projected local, state and other revenue sources. The district’s forecasted expenditure budget is currently $986.5 million. 

GCS plans to realign staffing positions for the upcoming school year in response to the projected reduction in student enrollment. According to the district, student enrollment is expected to decrease from approximately 77,000 to 75,760 for the 2026-27 school year. 

The school district intends to complete the adjustments through attrition and retirements, meaning positions vacated by teachers who left the district will be unfilled. According to GCS, no employees will be laid off. 

The staffing adjustments are expected to result in an estimated $15.5 million decrease in personnel cost reflected in the preliminary expenditure budget for FY27. The positions to be removed include 134.8 teachers, three administrators, 6.5 school counselors, three media specialists, eight clerks and 3.5 lab managers. 

“This adjustment ensures that personnel resources remain aligned with actual student counts and projected FY27 enrollment. We are committed to ensuring that all certified employees affected by allocation reductions are placed into a position for which they are qualified for FY27,” according to GCS. 

Main focus of 2027 budget

Superintendent Burke Royster said a main focus for the FY27 budget is enhanced pay for the school district’s personnel. Based on the forecasted budget, teachers are expected to receive a $2,450 salary increase, which would raise the starting salary for a first-year teacher to $54,344. 

“We feel comfortable with what we’ve got included in the expenditure budget, and quite honestly, I think we’ll be able to increase the teacher pay and the other employee pay a little bit before first reading, certainly before second,” Royster said. 

A 38th step is also anticipated to be added to the teacher salary schedule, which determines an educator’s salary based on their years of experience. Each teacher would get a salary step increase. Teachers who attain an additional degree or a certificate upgrade would also see a pay increase. All employees not on the teacher salary schedule are expected to receive a 3.25% salary increase or a step increase, whichever is greater. 

The preliminary expenditure budget also focuses on supporting the school district’s special education personnel. Royster said these budget items came out of the completed internal and external audits of the district’s special education services.

Funding has currently been set aside in the forecasted budget to support:

• Four new special education specialists
• 10 new special education aids
• Three new behavior specialists 
• Five new behavior support liaisons 
• One new school psychologist
• One new occupational therapist 
• 15 existing mental health counselors

The salary scale for special education aids is expected to be adjusted to add a $2-per-hour increase across all aid pay rates. This action would move the hourly pay range for special education aides to $20-$23.5.  Special education aide substitutes are also anticipated to receive a 6% pay increase, raising the hourly rate to $17.46. 

GCS also plans to hire 15 permanent substitute teachers to work at schools that struggle to fill teacher absences. In addition, the preliminary expenditure budget includes a 6% increase in substitute teacher pay. 

The first reading of the school district’s FY27 general fund budget will be held May 5. A public hearing and the second reading of the budget will be held June 1. If approved, the budget will go into effect July 1. 

The post Greenville County Schools discusses preliminary budget for 2027 fiscal year appeared first on GREENVILLE JOURNAL.

Photos provided by Greenville County Schools.

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Students

Summer Balding

Golden Strip Career Center

HOSA Veterinary Science First Place

HOSA

Nina Bennett

Golden Strip Career Center

SC SkillsUSA Screen Printing Gold Medalist

SkillsUSA

Jacob Bustos

Golden Strip Career Center

SC SkillsUSA CNC Programmer Gold Medalist

SkillsUSA

Jacob Drinkhahn

Golden Strip Career Center

SC SkillsUSA HVAC/R Gold Medalist

SkillsUSA

Cadence Flaig

Golden Strip Career Center

SC SkillsUSA American Spirit Gold Medalist

SkillsUSA

Austin Gibson

Golden Strip Career Center

SC SkillsUSA Commercial Roofing Gold Medalist

SkillsUSA

Ryan Ingle

Golden Strip Career Center

SC SkillsUSA Branding Gold Medalist

SkillsUSA

Coleman Medford

Golden Strip Career Center

SC SkillsUSA American Spirit Gold Medalist

SkillsUSA

Jacob Ramsey

Golden Strip Career Center

SC SkillsUSA CNC 3 Axis Gold Medalist

SkillsUSA

Nils Wieden

Golden Strip Career Center

SC SkillsUSA CNC 2 Axis Gold Medalist

SkillsUSA

JC Williams

Golden Strip Career Center

SC SKillsUSA Plumbing Gold Medalist

SkillsUSA

Teams and Groups

Caleb Driscoll and Katherine Kapetanakos

Eastside High

Project Management Community Giving DECA Event State Champion

DECA

Golden Strip Career Center Culinary Arts Management Team

Jeremy Lawrence, River Wilson, Douglas Mattos, and Kiah Harris; Instructor Elijah Edwards

SC ProStart Management Winner

ProStart

Golden Strip Career Center EMT HOSA

Audrey Duwel and Zach Smerkol

HOSA CPR/First Aid- First Place

HOSA

Golden Strip Career Center EMT HOSA

Arianna Vidal and Brian Huynh

HOSA EMT First Place

HOSA

Ava Judd, Ashley Elliott, Kiera Rios

Golden Strip Career Center

SC SkillsUSA Community Service

SkillsUSA

Lake Forest Elementary Jr. Beta Club

John W. Harris Leadership Award
National Beta Club

Riverside High Speech & Debate

State Champion

South Carolina Forensics Coaches Association

Riverside High Virtual Enterprise

South Carolina State Championship

South Carolina Virtual Enterprise

Virtual Enterprise Southern Regional Championship

Virtual Enterprise Southern Regional Business Plan Championship

Staff

Sara Crider

J.L. Mann High Academy

2026 Keizai Koho Center Teacher Fellowship

Keizai Koho Fellowship Program/Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania

Bryan Raeckelboom

Golden Strip Career Center

SC SkillsUSA Advisor of the Year

SkillsUSA

Schools

Woodland Elementary

Legacy School 

Leader in Me Franklin Covey Organization

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