Cario Middle recognized as a Palmetto’s Finest School

Thomas C. Cario Middle School made history for Charleston County School District (CCSD) on April 30, 2025. Cario is the first school in CCSD in more than two decades to be named a Palmetto’s Finest School by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA). This prestigious award goes to schools that offer the best in innovative, effective educational programs.

Principal Bryan Coleman cited several factors that made Cario Middle a strong candidate for this honor. Academically, students have recorded seven straight years of improved growth in English Language Arts (according to internal district assessments), and the Comets have achieved their highest proficiency averages on the state ELA and Math tests (SC READY) in school history for three consecutive years. In addition, Cario has received Superior ratings for its music programs from both the South Carolina Band Directors Association and the Carowinds Festival of Music, maintains a strong STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) program, and consistently does well in middle school athletics in Charleston County and the Tri-County region.

Earlier in the fall of this school year, 29 South Carolina schools submitted a 20-page application, followed by an onsite examination visit from a review committee. From that group, SCASA selected 12 finalists, and those schools went through a second onsite evaluation.