Upstate Schools Achieve Excellence

Nominated for National Blue Ribbon School
East End Elementary, Easley, SC – Pickens County
East End Elementary is one of only five South Carolina Schools nominated to compete in the National Blue Ribbon School Program by the South Carolina Department of Education. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors both public and private K-12 schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement. East End is now eligible to apply for the national award. The U.S. Department of Educations says that National Blue Ribbon recipients are models of excellence that other schools can emulate. Winners will be announced in late 2008.

Named One of “Palmetto’s Finest”
Riverside Middle School, Pendleton, SC –
Anderson County
The application process included two site visits that evaluated the school on student achievement, school culture, instructional program and school leadership. The award was announced on March 3. In the Upstate, Greenville Technical Charter High and Anderson District 1’s Wren High also were among the 12 finalists for the awards.

In The Top 5 Percent Nationwide –
Newsweek Magazine
Daniel High School, Pickens, SC –
Pickens County
For the third year in a row, Daniel High School has been recognized by Newsweek magazine. This year’s recognition ranks Daniel as on of the top 1,200 public high schools in America which places them in the top 5 percent nationwide in Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests completed by all students at a school for a given year, divided by the number of graduates. 220 of Daniel’s graduates this year are National Merit Scholars and many others received athletic scholarships.

Clemson University’s Undergraduate Business Program Ranked 22nd by Businessweek Magazine, Clemson, SC – Pickens County Clemson’s undergraduate business program is ranked 22nd among public schools in the country according to Businessweek Magazine’s 2008 ranking of “The Best Undergraduate Business Schools.” The program is ranked 56th on Businessweek’s comprehensive list of public and private institutions.