News Summary
Spartanburg County School Districts 1 and 5 are seeking voter approval for significant construction and renovations, with a combined cost of $340 million. District 5 plans to build new educational facilities to accommodate a growing student population, while District 1 aims to address aging infrastructure with renovations. Both districts assure no tax increases for residents as they work towards enhancing educational facilities for their communities.
Spartanburg – Spartanburg County School Districts 1 and 5 are seeking voter approval for significant school construction and facility renovations in a referendum set for November 2025. The combined cost of the proposed referendums is approximately $340 million, which both districts assure will incur no tax increases for local residents.
District 5 is proposing to allocate $200 million for the construction of three new educational facilities: a middle school, an elementary school, and a freshman academy. District 5 currently serves over 11,000 students, with enrollment projections indicating numbers could exceed 14,000 by the year 2034. Superintendent Randall Gary highlights a forecasted 16% increase in student population, translating to about 1,800 additional students within the next five years. This anticipated growth necessitates alleviating overcrowding particularly in existing schools, such as Florence Chapel and Abner Creek Middle.
The planned Duncan Elementary School is set to take the place of the current Duncan Elementary School of the Arts, while the new freshman academy will be strategically situated closer to Byrnes High School. A facilities study conducted in 2016 revealed the need for a new freshman academy to support the growing student body at Byrnes High.
In District 1, which serves the communities of Campobello, Inman, and Landrum, residents have not seen new school construction in over 20 years. Many of the schools in this district are over 70 years old, thus making significant renovations a pressing concern. District 1 proposes a $140 million bond referendum aimed at funding a new Mabry Middle School and a new O.P. Earle Elementary School, as well as renovations to New Prospect Elementary. The facilities in District 1 are reported to need critical repairs, with issues including leaking roofs and outdated HVAC systems.
With over 800 new homes currently under construction in the District 1 area, student enrollment is projected to increase, highlighting the urgent need for new educational infrastructure. The proposed new O.P. Earle Elementary is designed to accommodate 700 students, nearly doubling its current capacity.
The designs for the new schools incorporate modern features, such as areas for performance arts, larger classrooms, and increased cafeteria space to meet the needs of a growing student population. The upcoming months will see ongoing negotiations for land acquisition, with the school board expected to announce developments in the next three months.
Both districts stress the importance of these initiatives not only for current students but also for the many families in the area. By securing voter approval for these referendums, Districts 1 and 5 aim to enhance educational facilities while ensuring financial stability for residents.
As the November 2025 voting date approaches, the school districts are working diligently to inform the community about the need for these projects and the benefits they will bring in supporting a thriving educational environment.
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Additional Resources
- Post and Courier: Spartanburg County Districts New Schools
- Google Search: Spartanburg School Districts
- Fox Carolina: Spartanburg School District Referendum
- Wikipedia: Spartanburg County, South Carolina
- WSPA: Spartanburg District 5 Cell Phone Policy
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Spartanburg
- Fox Carolina: Spartanburg District 5 Budget Approval
- Google News: Spartanburg Schools
Author: STAFF HERE SPARTANBURG
The SPARTANBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESpartanburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Spartanburg International Festival, Spartanburg ArtWalk, and motorsport events at Spartanburg Speedway. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and textiles that power the local economy such as BMW Manufacturing and Milliken & Company. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAiken.com, HEREBeaufort.com, HEREChapin.com, HERECharleston.com, HEREClinton.com, HEREColumbia.com, HEREGeorgetown.com, HEREGreenwood.com, HEREGreenville.com, HEREHiltonHead.com, HEREIrmo.com, HEREMyrtleBeach.com, HERENewberry.com, HERERockHill.com, and HERESpartanburg.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into South Carolina's dynamic landscape.
