Two CCSD Schools recognized by Apple for integration of technology
November 30, 2015
The Charleston County School District is proud to announce that Apple has recognized both Drayton Hall Elementary and R.B. Stall High School as Apple Distinguished Schools for the 2015-2017 school years for their innovative approach to personalizing learning for every student using iPads.
The Apple Distinguished School designation is reserved for programs that meet criteria for innovation, leadership, educational excellence, and demonstrate a clear vision of exemplary learning environments.
Drayton Hall Elementary is located in the West Ashley area of Charleston. The diverse pre-kindergarten through fifth grade population of students represents nine different countries and boasts writing scores that are a full 20 percent higher than the state average. The use of creation apps are one of the tools the school has used to lift scores. Creation apps allow students to create writings or “books” that are unique to each student. The teachers use these as a way to allow each student to individually demonstrate what they have learned about a standard or topic.
According to the school’s principal, being an Apple Distinguished School highlights the schools success as an innovative and compelling learning environment that engages students and provides tangible evidence of academic accomplishment. “As students create and demonstrate their learning with an iPad, teachers and students work in tandem to create college and career-minded individuals,” said Brian Agnew, principal at Drayton Hall.”The integration of iPads has helped our teachers better personalize learning and make better use of classroom instructional time. Technology can’t replace a great teacher, but it can help amplify the great work our educators are already doing.”
R.B. Stall High School is the largest Title I high school in the Charleston County School District, located in North Charleston, SC. The school is comprised of a very diverse student population of 1313 total number of students, with 58.4 percent African American, 13.2 percent Caucasian, 24.7 percent Hispanic, and 3.7 percent classified as other. R.B. Stall’s poverty index for the 2014 school year was 80.5 percent.
The selection of R.B. Stall High School as an Apple Distinguished School highlights the school’s success as an innovative and compelling learning environment that engages students and provides tangible evidence of academic accomplishment. Because of iPads, students are able to conduct sustained inquiries in all classes, create engaging learning showcases, access hundreds of learning sites and educational programs, connect with audiences across the state, nation, and world as well as participate in real-world problem solving. As a result of these innovative instructional strategies, R.B. Stall has realized growth in overall passage rates of End-of-Course tests, improved graduation rate, increased enrollment, and improved attendance rate.
Mr. Kim Wilson, principal of R.B. Stall High School said, “We are honored to be recognized as an Apple Distinguished School. It represents the hard work, innovation, inspiration, and learning that is occurring at R.B. Stall High School. Our teachers are to be commended for their willingness to utilize 21st Century technology to enhance student achievement.”
R.B. Stall offers a comprehensive instructional program including Advanced Placement courses in Art, US History, European History, Calculus, Government, Literature, and Composition. Students can also select dual credit courses through Trident Technical College in English, Social Studies, and Math. Students are able to select electives from CTE, Fine Arts, and World Languages. R.B. Stall is fortunate to have a community of business partners who support innovation, such as Boeing South Carolina, Intertech, Key Logistics, Goodwill Industries, Trident Technical College, Charleston Southern University, and College of Charleston to name a few. R.B. Stall High School has been a 1:1 iPad school for the past five years, employing a take-home model allowing every student to have access to technology in their homes.
To tour Drayton Hall Elementary or R.B. Stall High School and see their integration of Apple technology, please contact Daniel Head in the Office of Strategy and Communications by calling 843-937-6583 or by email at: [email protected].
