Academics: Strengths, Challenges, New Initiatives
Highlights from Headmaster’s State of the School Address, October 29, 2007

Additional Links:
State of School Home
Campus: Strengths, Challenges, New Initiatives
Enrollment: Strengths, Challenges, New Initiatives
Finances: Strengths, Challenges, New Initiatives

One of our promises is the delivery of results, and these are statistically apparent every year in the scholarships earned by our seniors, the institutions in which they enroll, and the colleges where they are accepted. We see the multiple advantages of a college counseling program working constructively and cooperatively with students and families to arrive at the best possible fit.

Strengths
Upper School advanced courses:
- 15 honors, 18 AP, and 25 IB Diploma courses

SAT Performance Level:
- 23% higher than Greenville County Schools
- 22% higher than the national average
- 11% higher than the national independent school average

2006 College Board commendation for one of the best science and math AP programs in SC

IB Diploma Students Pass Rate (97%)
- 17% higher than worldwide pass rate
- 28% higher than U.S. pass rate
- 42% higher than SC pass rate

CCES Faculty:
- 65% of all CCES faculty hold advanced degrees
- 90% of all Upper School faculty hold advanced degrees, including three Ph.D.s.

Challenges
- Recruiting, rewarding and retaining the best teachers

- Providing the best curriculum

Initiatives
- Creating a faculty development plan with new professional development opportunities and financial incentives

- Increasing the level of individual attention by adding four classroom assistants in first grade and primer

- Conducting a review of the entire CCES curriculum during 2008-09

- Addressing the needs of students with learning differences and those with accelerated academic abilities

- Reviewing scheduling structures in the Middle and Upper Schools: terms vs. semesters; length and number of class periods; length of passing time (US); course offerings (US)