Congratulations are in order for a very special group of talented District Five 8th graders!
On Thursday, February 29, the District honored 39 8th grade students, from both D.R. Hill and Florence Chapel Middle School, for being recognized by the state of South Carolina as Junior Scholars for the 2023-24 school year. The Junior Scholar Recognition Program was established by the South Carolina Department of Education in 1985, as a way to identify 8th grade students with exceptional academic talent, and also identify inclusion programs targeted toward those students' strengths in the classroom.
Junior Scholars are identified each year based on their performance on the PSAT, with honorees achieving a certain score in either the Evidence Based Reading and Writing (EBRW), or the math section of the test.
Superintendent Dr.Randall Gary addressed the scholars at District Five's event, congratulating them on their accomplishments, and also encouraging them to keep up the hard work throughout their educational journey.
In addition to giving each scholar a certificate and pin, a special announcement was made for three outstanding students who achieved a unique countywide recognition. Ruvim Kalyuta and Jacksen Whitener, both students at D.R. Hill Middle School, tied for the top math score in Spartanburg County this year, along with two others from other districts. Additionally, Lincoln Heck, a student at Florence Chapel Middle School, was surprised with the news that he scored the top score for Evidence Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) in the county.
Congratulations to the following Junior Scholars for 2023-24:
D.R. Hill Middle School
Payton Brown, Ava Clements, Devon Cook, Audrey Kalk, Ruvim Kalyuta, Francisca Morales-Cruz, Markis Mouacheupao, Brody Simpson, Daniel Starykov, Gabriel Tucker, Jacksen Whitener, Caroline Wright
Florence Chapel Middle School
Megan Bowman, Grayson Crutchlow, Makenna Cullison, James Derrick, Rhys Fink, Sara Forbush, Emeri Hall, Lincoln Heck, Jensen Hill, Alexis Holiday, Gabriela Jennemann, Ryder Knauff, Olivia Ledford, Alyssa Lentz, Braydon Loftis, Mackenzie Mascolo, Selah Megonigal, Callie Montoya, Kylie Morgan, Lyric Owen, Hunter Peery, Sawyer Ponce, Maria Pura, Molly Smith, Ivy Thompson, Martin Vaicekauskas, Deacon Wade