Electrician in Fort Mill, SC

FORT MILL, S.C. — A new study ranked the best elementary schools in South Carolina, and the Fort Mill School District can safely claim it’s the best in the state for youngsters.

Seven of the top 10 public elementary schools in South Carolina all stand in Fort Mill, with Gold Hill Elementary School taking the top spot overall. But the rising notoriety might also explain why the school district had to freeze enrollment at Gold Hill just a few months ago.

Channel 9′s Tina Terry spoke to district leaders who said that the freeze had to do with overcrowding at that school and others, but the new study may prove why so many people want to live in Fort Mill.

RELATED: 3 Fort Mill schools freeze enrollment for new students

“I think when you get to work with great people, success will follow,” said Josh Burris, the principal at Gold Hill Elementary School.

Burris is giving credit to the teachers and staffers at the elementary school. He says they’re the reason the school took the number one spot on the new list, which was published by Niche.

Here are the Fort Mill schools that made the top-10 list:

Niche says it considered criteria like math and reading scores, surveys from students and parents about teachers, and diversity.

“We’re a diverse school. We have 23 languages represented among all our students and families,” said Burris. “We have students who look different and come from all different places and have different experiences.”

Burris says despite their differences, kids at Gold Hill Elementary function as a family and thrive together. Terry spoke with one parent who agreed.

“He’s thriving, he’s very happy here -- I enjoy the diversity,” the parent said.

While it’s a win for Fort Mill Schools, the accolades come as the district tries desperately to manage growth and overcrowding. Since the 2002-2003 school year, the Fort Mill School District has grown from roughly 6,000 students to nearly 18,000.

“Just 10-15 years ago, a lot of those schools didn’t even exist,” said Joe Burke with the Fort Mill School District. “So to have that many on the list, in the area of growth that we have and the rapid growth that we face, is really impressive.”

Burke acknowledged that the wins will likely lead to even more growth that the district will have to juggle.

“That’s the flip side of being on a list like this. We know a lot of people look at this, and that’s how they decide where they want to live,” Burke said.

Niche also looked at the best public elementary schools in North Carolina, but just two schools in our area made the top-ten list: Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy landed at number two and Lake Norman Charter in Huntersville ranked number seven. You can see the full list of North Carolina schools at this link.

(WATCH: Nonprofit in Fort Mill surprises Monroe family with free wheelchair van)

FORT MILL, S.C. — It's a big weekend in Fort Mill, as the annual South Carolina Strawberry Festival returns to York County.

This Saturday is the 14th annual Strawberry Festival at Elisha Park in Fort Mill. Located along North White Street between Ardrey Street and Sidney Johnson Street, the festival has everything strawberry and fun for the whole family. The event runs from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.

The festival's events started earlier this weekend, including the annual strawberry pageants, golf tournament, strawberry sprint, stroll and strawberry scavenger hunt. The main event is the festival itself, and there's a little bit of everything for everyone, Fort Mill public relations director Chris Sardelli said.

A few familiar WCNC Charlotte faces came out for the 14th annual Strawberry Festival at Elisha Park in Fort Mill on Saturday.

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Everything starts with those delicious, juicy strawberries, which are grown right here in York County. Ron Edwards, the general manager of Springs Farm, says this year's crop is awesome and you can pick them yourself if you take a ride to the farm. If you're just going to the festival, don't worry. There will be plenty of strawberries for purchase, not to mention all the other goodies!

The South Carolina Strawberry Festival features live entertaining, kids rides and activies, strawberry pie, ice cream and other recipe contests. They also have pig races, great food from local and regional vendors, arts and crafts and a car show. And on Saturday night, there's a spectacular fireworks show to close out the event.

To learn more about the South Carolina Strawberry Festival, click here.

Contact Larry Sprinkle at lsprinkle@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Starting in 2024 the public schools in Fort Mill, South Carolina, will shift the way young children are taught to read — switching from a “balanced literacy” approach to one that zeroes in on phonics and other basic steps based on reading research.

Early this year, parents and reading experts began coming to Fort Mill school board meetings asking for just such a change. In March a district spokesman said Fort Mill was satisfied with its approach but would change if the state required it.

Last week Superintendent Chuck Epps told the board that his staff has been reviewing 90 pages of new state curriculum standards that were released in January — and, he says, the district does need to change.

“One of the changes we have found in our ongoing research is that the new standards, especially in K-2, have a strong focus on the explicit and systematic approach to teaching phonics and phonemic awareness. This is where we find alignment with the science of reading approach,” Epps said.

This is part of a national debate about the best way to teach reading. It’s been going on for decades but has intensified in the last couple of years — partly because of parent pressure after the pandemic and partly because of an American Public Media podcast, “Sold a Story,” that dug into problems with whole language and balanced literacy. Those strategies have been popular for decades but leave many students lacking basic reading skills.

Caitlin Boyle, of Fort Mill, is one of the parents who has been calling for change. She says overall reading scores in the small, affluent district just south of Charlotte may be high, but many students struggle because of faulty instruction. She lauded the district’s change of tactics.

“What I hope is happening is that the district has seen that the parents really want a focus on phonics for their children and for other children in the district and even though the district is going to have a lot of leeway in implementation, what we want is a solid science of reading stance,” she said.

Boyle is vice chair of the York County chapter of Moms For Liberty, a national parents’ rights group that formed soon after COVID-19 closed schools. Chapter members have been prominent in the call for change in Fort Mill, but others have joined in.

A slow shift to structured literacy

At last week’s board meeting, staff told the board the new state standards shift the focus to structured literacy, also known as the science of reading. It requires an explicit focus on teaching children to know the sounds letters make, use them to sound out words and understand the meaning of words and stories. Balanced literacy can include some of those steps but focuses more on exposing children to good books and helping them use context to figure out words.

Fort Mill officials say classrooms will begin making small adjustments now. For instance, Amanda Griffin, coordinator of elementary reading, says local educators are doing a book study on “Shifting the Balance: Six Ways to Bring the Science of Reading Into the Balanced Literacy Classroom.”

During the coming school year districts across South Carolina will train teachers and select new classroom materials for use in 2024-25.

Assistant Superintendent Michael Waiksnis says state officials have cautioned that there are misconceptions and oversimplifcations afloat about the reading debate. For instance, he said, some describe the strategies Fort Mill currently uses as “just guessing at words,” while others act as if science of reading is one proven strategy that can be packaged and marketed. In fact, he said, it’s a complex body of research whose applications are still being tested.

“It’s certainly not settled science, 100%,” he said. “We think it is a great idea for K-2, it’s supported by research. But there’s also research out there that says that’s maybe not the best way.”

Two years ago the North Carolina General Assembly provided $50 million to put all elementary and pre-K teachers through extensive training on how to use techniques based on the science of reading. It’s still being rolled out and requires 160 hours of training over two years.

Peter Olinger, director of elementary education for Fort Mill schools, says the district will not expect teachers to make dramatic changes without support.

“We want to make sure that we’re very methodical, that we’re very respectful and that we’re trying to meet them where they are to get this process going,” he said.

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A new Dunkin’ Donuts will bring its donuts, breakfast and beverages to Fort Mill’s east side. The donut shop is part of the new Avery Plaza development, and won’t be far from a site where there will be hundreds of new homes.

A new multi-tenant building will go between the existing Food Lion shopping center and QT gas station at the corner of S.C. 160 and Springfield Parkway. Dunkin’ will have a more than 2,000-square-foot end space nearest the QT. A slightly larger space on the opposite end will face Food Lion. Between them, five more spaces will offer almost 1,400 square feet each.

Kerri Robusto, senior vice president with Clear Springs Development, said other tenants are yet to be determined.

“I don’t have any other leases signed yet, but I’m just starting to market it since the Dunkin’ deal is finally signed,” Robusto said.

With construction just starting, Robusto said it could be 18 months before the donut shop opens. By the time Dunkin’ and up to six more businesses open in the new retail space, the area could look much different.

Springland Associates, a company affiliated with Clear Springs, sold more than 340 acres just northeast of Avery Plaza to Dan Ryan Builders for almost $16.5 million. The property is next to Anne Spring Close Greenway property, along with the school complex that includes Fort Mill Elementary School and Fort Mill Middle School.

The land has access off S.C. 160.

Robusto said plans for the site include roughly 500 age-restricted homes. The builder is working through the permit process now, Robusto said, so development activity could be at least four or five months from starting.

Assistant town manager Chris Pettit said the property is approved for 475 age-restricted homes or townhomes as part of a 2008 development agreement with Clear Springs. Some early grading is underway. The new residences won’t have to come to the town council or planning commission again.

“Given that it was approved in 2008 in the development agreement, all subsequent approvals are administrative and do not require further council or planning commission action,” Pettit said.

Dan Ryan also bought almost 3 acres from another associated company, Clear Springs Baxter, last year for $1 million. That site is off Sixth Baxter Crossing and Hugh Street. An application last year by Clear Springs Baxter for that site included plans for 20 townhomes.

Dan Ryan has communities in 10 states from Florida to Pennsylvania. The company worked in Masons Bend in Fort Mill, and it Paddlers Cove in Lake Wylie. DRB Elevate is the brand of active adult, age-restricted communities for seniors.

Dunkin’ is a Massachusetts-based company that started in 1950. There are now more than 11,000 locations worldwide, including more than 8,500 sites in 41 states. Dunkin’ has two Fort Mill locations, both in the Gold Hill Road corridor, plus three stores in Rock Hill and another in Lake Wylie.

This story was originally published April 14, 2023, 12:13 PM.

FORT MILL, S.C. — Some new homebuyers in Fort Mill may have to pay more than $1,700 every year if a developer gets their way.

It’s proposed for the Elizabeth community along Fort Mill Parkway. It would be one of the largest subdivisions in Fort Mill, with more than 820 single-family homes and close to 500 townhomes.

James Rivenbark owns a business nearby. He sees the community as just another sign of growth.

ALSO READ: Fort Mill’s elementary schools named the best in South Carolina

“A lot of growth. Traffic’s bad, but we’re right beside a big city, so big city problems,” he said. “The schools in Fort Mill are great so people will continue to come.”

The developer, Lennar Homes, wants city leaders to create a special municipal improvement district. Homeowners in Elizabeth would pay up to $1,750 per year in addition to their property taxes.

The money would pay for infrastructure improvements like roads, water, and sewer.

A new single-family home in Fort Mill already costs $18,000 more due to impact fees approved by York County for Fort Mill Schools. Rivenbark doesn’t mind those fees, but he said the Lennar proposal goes too far.

“As far as all that’s concerned, that’s their responsibility, not the public,” he said. “If they want to do business, do business.”

Fort Mill’s town council will have the final say. Channel 9′s Tina Terry asked the mayor, Guynn Savage, where she stands.

“I just feel that it’s inappropriate in today for the town to work to delay or advance any money towards a development that certainly isn’t bringing any benefit to the whole of the community that elected me,” she said.

Lennar will make a formal presentation to town council in the near future, but Terry was told the date hasn’t been set just yet.

Terry has reached out to Lennar Homes to hear their thoughts on the plan.

(WATCH BELOW: 3 Fort Mill schools freeze enrollment for new students)