The Fort Mill School Board heard glowing reports Tuesday night as state data revealed the district secured some of the highest academic rankings in South Carolina, even as officials managed ongoing facility growth and seasonal budget cycles.
State report cards released Tuesday placed Fort Mill among the elite public school systems in South Carolina. All three district high schools, alongside all six middle schools and nine elementary schools, earned overall “Excellent” ratings. The district also claimed the state’s highest proficiency rankings in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science on SC Ready assessments, as well as top state marks for traditional districts in End-of-Course exams for Biology, English II, and U.S. History.
Fort Mill’s on-time graduation rate reached 95.7%, tying for the highest mark statewide among traditional districts.
“These results reflect the dedication of our educators, students, and community,” district officials noted during the presentation by Dr. Mike Waiksnis and Matt Rohring.
On the financial front, Chief Financial Officer Leanne Lordo presented the district’s monthly report for the period ending August 31, noting total revenues of $23.1 million against expenditures of $44.6 million—a routine seasonal cash-flow variance absorbed by the district’s fund balance. Lordo also reported that impact fee collections continue to track regional housing growth, with total collections reaching $85.9 million alongside $7.5 million in earned interest across more than 5,300 single- and multi-family residential units.
In other business, the board:
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Recognized four district staff members with the Superintendent Red Nose Award for October: Alison Davis (Pleasant Knoll Middle), Kristy Swigunski (District Office), Georgia Welborn (Sugar Creek Elementary), and Kristin Prater (Oak Grove Academy).
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Heard a virtual showcase from Fort Mill Elementary School Principal Brad Johnson highlighting the school’s “Sting Mentality” and collaborative planning initiatives.
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Advanced the first reading of updated Policy ADF regarding district-wide student wellness, which aims to integrate health initiatives and family engagement.
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Approved routine field trip requests and received updates on current enrollment figures from Superintendent Grey Young.
The Fort Mill School District streams its regular meetings live and on-demand via its official YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@FortMillSchoolDistrict.
