When the Charter Institute at Erskine launched its School Improvement Task Force, it was born out of a direct need to provide intensive, hands-on support to schools facing critical challenges. While school improvement has always been a core pillar of the Institute, this past year marked a transformative evolution in how that support is delivered. Virtus Academy of South Carolina was selected as one of four schools in the inaugural cohort for this elevated approach. By moving beyond high-level oversight and stepping directly into the daily work of implementation, the Institute and Virtus Academy built a true partnership that has yielded extraordinary results.
Through diagnostic evaluations, actionable improvement plans, and side-by-side coaching, the Florence-based public charter school has executed one of the most impressive turnarounds in the region. This transformation was a true team effort, combining the Institute’s guidance with the hard work and commitment of Virtus Academy’s leaders, teachers, and staff. Together, they looked closely at key areas of the school and built a clear plan to raise standards and improve the campus environment.
Virtus Academy’s educators and administrators did the heavy lifting. They took ownership of the Institute’s school improvement strategies and turned plans into daily practice through routine data reviews, collaborative instruction, and regular conversations about student well-being. The results show up at every level of the school:
- Elementary school: The percentage of students meeting their Median Annual Targets rose 6.5 points, and the percentage meeting their Added Value Targets rose 5 points. Overall growth points climbed from 9.2 to 11.28, moving the school from unsatisfactory growth to below average growth, a gain of one level.
- Middle school: The school climate rating advanced from average to Excellent.
- High school climate: The rating moved from good to Excellent.
- High school academics: The academic rating rose from unsatisfactory to average, a gain of two full performance levels in a single year.
The school also made a deliberate push to support its lowest-performing 20 percent of students. The share of those students meeting the identified growth measure increased by 13.6 percentage points, a sign that efforts to accelerate learning for the students who need it most are working.
A two-level academic leap in one year is a milestone achieved by only 10.9 percent of all schools across the Institute’s entire portfolio this year, proving what is possible when school communities and district partners work in complete alignment.
“Our students proved what’s possible when an entire school community rallies around them,” said Toni Brandt, Chief Executive Officer at Virtus Academy. “We are immensely proud of our report card progress, but this is only the beginning. Students get one chance at any given school year under optimal circumstances, and we are honored to push them to their highest potential when they are a Virtus Wolf.”
Virtus Academy’s progress spans elementary, middle, and high school, and it reflects a schoolwide commitment to continuous improvement. Higher elementary growth, a focused effort to lift the lowest-performing students, stronger school climate, and a historic academic turnaround at the high school all point to the same lesson: using data to identify needs, strengthen instruction, and monitor progress. By meeting high standards with dedicated teamwork and deep, embedded support, Virtus Academy and the Institute have set a powerful precedent for student success. Today, Virtus Academy stands stronger than ever, delivering on its promise to empower students across the Pee Dee region.
To learn more, visit www.virtusacademysc.org.
