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Draft:Greenwood County School District 52

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  • Comment: Requires to demonstrate significant coverage in multiple independent secondary sources. The Greenwood52 website is not an independent source, neither is the South Carolina Department of Education. Dan arndt (talk) 05:57, 4 April 2025 (UTC)
Greenwood County School District 52
Greenwood County School District 52 logo
Address
605 Johnson Road
United States
Ninety Six
, South Carolina, 29666
District information
GradesK4-12
SuperintendentDr. Beth Taylor
Chair of the boardDr. Bryan Green
Schools4
Budget$17,408,635.00
NCES District ID4502400[1]
Students and staff
Students1359
Teachers79
Staff224
Student–teacher ratio14.39:1
District mascotWildcats
ColorsMaroon, Gold    
Other information
Websitewww.greenwood52.org

Greenwood School District 52 is a public school district in Ninety Six, South Carolina.[2] It is the 69th largest school district in South Carolina. As of the 2024-2025 school year, the district serves 1,359 students across 4 schools.[3][4] under Superintendent Dr. Beth Taylor.[5] As of 2024, the district currently employs 79 teachers.[6] GWD52 has an operating budget of $17,408,635.00 for the 2025 fiscal year.[7][8][9] District 52 ranked as SchoolDigger’s 6th best school district in South Carolina in 2025.[10] The district scores 23.3% higher than South Carolina’s average in SC Ready English Language Arts and Mathematics.[2][4]

Schools

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List of District 52 schools
School Name Grades Served Principal Address Enrollment Website
Ninety Six Primary School K4-2nd Mrs. Kelly Graham Weeks 121 Cambridge Street, Ninety Six, SC 29666 283[3] link
Ninety Six Elementary School 3rd-5th Charlene Louden 810 Johnson Road, Ninety Six, SC, 29666 299[3] link
Edgewood Middle School 6th-8th Jason Schumpert 664 South Cambridge Street, Ninety Six, SC, 29666 354[3] link
Ninety Six High School 9th-12th Fitz Sprowl 640 South Cambridge Street, Ninety Six, SC, 29666 423[3] link

Facilities and Infrastructure

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Old Ninety Six High School

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On February 6, 2008, during a walkthrough at Ninety Six High School, an engineer and an architect noticed that in some older areas of the school, ceilings appeared to be cracked and/or sagging, resulting in the school to be shut down for a day after district officials determined that the building was too unsafe for employees and students to remain in. Two days later, on February 8, 2008, students returned to Ninety Six High School, however, two areas of the school were blocked off. School and district officials determined that they would lease 20 portable classrooms to replace the spaces affected by the structural problem, paid from the district’s building fund. [11][12] By 2023, three buildings remained and served as administrative offices.[13]

Old Ninety Six High school renovations

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On May 9, 2023, voters chose new school board members, as well as a question regarding renovating the old High School. If the bond referendum passed, the unsafe areas of the school would be demolished and renovated for the use by athletic teams, the band, and district staff members. According to multiple communications by the district, taxes would not be raised to pay for this renovation.[14][15]

The response to the introduction of this referendum was mostly positive, however citizens questioned why this project took priority over Ninety Six Primary School, which is one of the oldest buildings in the district. District officials stated that the Primary School had recently undergone maintenance and they expect to get at least another decade of use with that building. The bond referendum passed, and planning of the renovations started at the district.[15]

On September 22, 2023, A “Groundbreaking Renovation” began at the old high school’s campus. The project transformed the school into a Multiplex built for students’ after school events, such as athletics and band practices. A brick fundraiser[16]was launched to support the renovation. By December 2023, renovations by Hood Construction had started to construct each of the three buildings, alongside other areas, before being opened on November 8, 2024, right before the first football games.[17][18]

Ninety Six Wildcat Multiplex

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Entrance to a Gym at the Multiplex

In November 2023, construction of the Wildcat Multiplex concluded. This newly renovated three-building complex, built by Hood Construction Company, Inc., serves as the home for District 52’s athletic teams, band, and administrative offices. The multiplex features modernized locker rooms, renovated gymnasiums, band rooms, office spaces, outdoor practice fields, as well as a running track behind the building.[17][18]

Home seating at the stadium

Wilson-Campbell Stadium

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Located inside of the Multiplex, Wilson-Campbell Stadium is the home of the Ninety Six Wildcats Football and soccer teams, as well as Edgewood Middle School’s soccer team. The stadium features 2 sides of seating for home and away guests, as well as concession stands on both sides.

Entrance to Ninety Six High School

Edgewood Middle School and Ninety Six High School Integrated Campus

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In 2012, construction of the new Ninety Six High School, as well as Edgewood Middle School concluded. The campus features a 185,000 square feet energy efficient adjoined middle/high school building, as well as a baseball field, softball field, greenhouse, and agricultural field.[19][20]

Controversies

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Ninety Six Primary School Tuberculosis outbreak (2013)

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In early 2013, a tuberculosis outbreak occurred at Ninety Six Primary School resulting in at least 74 individuals[21] testing positive for the disease after district officials failed to lab-test a newly-hired janitor[22][23], violating state law, which included a significant number of children. The district was further criticized for delaying to notify the public as an alleged attempt to conceal knowledge of the infection, including a board member reportedly advising staff to not inform parents about the outbreak.[24][25][26] DHEC promptly fired three nurses over the outbreak, causing them to sue over concerns of a false termination after their notifications to the district officials were an allegedly ignored.[27][28]

Title IX gender discrimination investigation (2016)

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In June 2016, a complaint was filed with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights alleging that female athletes, particularly in volleyball in areas such as coaching qualifications and publicity during the 2015-2016 school year, also mentioning that District 52 allegedly retaliated against the complainant. In August 2018, the OCR reported that they had found insufficient evidence to prove the retaliation claim. However, the district did agree to implement a Resolution Agreement to address concerns regarding treatment of female athletes.[29]

Special education teacher charged with child sex crimes (2022)

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In November 2022, Michael David Byrd Jr., an special education teacher at Edgewood Middle School[30] was charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and third-degree criminal sexual conduct, according to jail records in Greenwood County.[31] After the Houston Metro ICAC began conducting investigations on social media platforms, they conversed with an unknown individual who later said he was a teacher in South Carolina. After a search warrant was issued was granted for Byrd’s home in Greenwood, forensic analysts determined that he had transmit child sexual assault material, or CSAM on social media platforms, according to investigators. They also claimed to discover that Byrd had had previously engaged in sexual battery with a child in Greenwood County. District 52 promptly released a statement[32] and placed the employee on administrative leave, referring all questions to the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office.[33][34] Byrd resigned from the District on January 27, 2023.[35]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Greenwood 52". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  2. ^ a b "Academic Achievement Details - SC School Report Cards". screportcards.com. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Active Student Headcounts". South Carolina Department of Education. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  4. ^ a b "Search for Public School Districts - District Detail for". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  5. ^ "Administration". www.greenwood52.org. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  6. ^ "Class Environment - SC School Report Cards". screportcards.com. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  7. ^ "Budget". www.greenwood52.org. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  8. ^ "Search for Public School Districts - District Detail for". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  9. ^ matten@indexjournal.com, Mya Atten (2025-03-14). "District 52 might face revenue losses in future". Index-Journal. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  10. ^ "South Carolina District Rankings". SchoolDigger. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  11. ^ admin (2008-02-07). "Structural Concerns Partially Close S.C.'s Ninety Six High School". Insurance Journal. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  12. ^ Staff, C. S. (2008-02-12). "South Carolina High School Shuts Down Part of School Due to Damage". Campus Safety Magazine. Archived from the original on 2024-11-05. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  13. ^ Meeting notes
  14. ^ "Vote 2023".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ a b lhodges@indexjournal.com, LINDSEY HODGES (2023-04-17). "Bond referendum will ask voters about renovating old Ninety Six High School". Index-Journal. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
  16. ^ "GREENWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT 52 Old Ninety Six High School Renovation". 2023.
  17. ^ a b "The Ninety Six Wildcats Multiplex is here! The newly renovated… | Hood Construction Company, Inc". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  18. ^ a b "Ninety Six High School". Wildcats Official Athletic Website. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
  19. ^ "M. B. Kahn - Ninety Six High School". M. B. Kahn. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
  20. ^ "M. B. Kahn - Edgewood Middle School". M. B. Kahn. Archived from the original on 2025-01-24. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
  21. ^ "DHEC: More than 50 test positive for TB at SC school". www.wbtv.com. 2013-06-04. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  22. ^ "About That TB Outbreak - FITSNews". 2013-08-05. Archived from the original on 2025-01-31. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  23. ^ "TB Scandal: School Failed To Test Employee - FITSNews". 2013-08-06. Archived from the original on 2025-01-22. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  24. ^ "TB Scandal: More Evidence Against School District - FITSNews". 2013-08-13. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  25. ^ Press, MEG KINNARD Associated. "DHEC: Dozens in Ninety Six infected with tuberculosis". Spartanburg Herald Journal. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  26. ^ Writer, Staff. "CDC blame's man's death on TB outbreak". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  27. ^ Writer, Staff. "CDC blame's man's death on TB outbreak". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  28. ^ "Hundreds retested after TB outbreak in Greenwood County". WYFF. 2013-08-17. Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  29. ^ "OCR Complaint No. 11-16-1371 Letter of Findings" (PDF). August 22, 2018.
  30. ^ "Staff Directory | Edgewood Middle School". 2022-11-30. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  31. ^ Moore, Stephanie (2022-11-23). "New details released about Upstate teacher facing sex charges". WYFF. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  32. ^ Taylor, Superintendent Dr. Beth (November 22, 2022). "Important Statement From Our Superintendent". Facebook.
  33. ^ "Greenwood Co. teacher facing child sex crimes charges". WSPA 7NEWS. 2022-11-23. Archived from the original on 2023-12-25. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  34. ^ reports, From staff (2023-04-26). "Former District 52 employee now faces federal charges". Index-Journal. Archived from the original on 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  35. ^ "Order of Permanent Revocation". South Carolina Department of Education. June 11, 2024. Archived from the original on March 30, 2025. Retrieved April 9, 2025.

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