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Richland 01 students earn 123 Seals of Biliteracy; immersion program expands to Dreher High
Summary
Richland 01 reported 123 South Carolina Seals of Biliteracy across eight languages for the year, highlighted expansion of its language-immersion pipeline with students moving into Dreher High and data on multilingual services and supports.
Richland 01 presented results and next steps for its world-language programs Tuesday, saying students earned 123 South Carolina Seals of Biliteracy this year across eight languages and that the district’s language-immersion pipeline will reach Dreher High School for the first time next fall.
The district’s coordinator of second-language programs, Paul Spence, told the School Board that the 123 seals represent a 35% increase from the prior year: “This year Richland 1 students have earned 123 seals of biliteracy in 8 different world languages.” He said the seals include 14 gold, 54 silver and 55 bronze awards, and that nine students earned seals in more than one language.
Why it matters: the South Carolina Seal of Biliteracy is a state-recognized credential that signals proficiency in English and a second language and can translate into college credit at several in-state institutions and into a verifiable workforce credential. District officials said the growth indicates deeper K–12 continuity in language instruction and argued it supports college and career options for students.
Spence described district services that supported the results: the multilingual learner program recorded 108 students who reached English proficiency and exited services this year, and the district’s International Welcome Center — staffed by a four-person team — served about 475 families since July 1 of the prior school year. He thanked the board for funding the district’s first full-time Spanish interpreter this year, which he said helped improve family access and services.
On immersion and school-by-school results, Spence said the Carver‑Lyon magnet immersion program began in 2016 and follows a 50/50 model that currently includes Mandarin and Spanish from pre‑K through grade 9; next year will be the first cohort to enter high school at Dreher. He said AC Flora led the district with 75 seals; Dreher had 38; W.J. Keenan had three; Eau Claire, Columbia High and C.A. Johnson each had two; C.A. Johnson’s seals were described as the first in that school’s history; and Lower Richland had one. Spence singled out a Dreher senior, Abigail Boyas, who earned five seals across four languages and who demonstrated that two languages were self‑taught to a high level.
Board members asked about expansion and equity. Commissioner Clyburn asked whether the immersion program would be added to other high schools; Spence said Dreher was chosen because it already offered Mandarin and noted that students leaving the immersion middle program will have choices — they can remain in the immersion pathway or attend their home high school programs such as AC Flora’s IB program. Commissioner Bishop pressed on strategies to close gaps between clusters; Spence and other staff said the primary levers are more stable K–12 feeder programs, stronger elementary and middle‑school teacher preparation, and more data‑driven instruction.
The board’s superintendent, Dr. Witherspoon, praised the team’s growth of language programming in the district: “We’ve grown that program over the years,” he said, calling the work a districtwide achievement.
Looking ahead, staff said they hope to expand offerings but noted expansion will require additional investment in lower‑grade slots and teacher staffing so new high‑school cohorts have a continuity of instruction. No formal board action was taken; the presentation was received as an informational item and followed by Q&A.
