Strategic Plan
Strategic Plan 2026-2031
The Richmond County Schools Strategic Plan serves as our roadmap for student success. Built around six strategic goals, the plan outlines the priorities, actions, and outcomes that will guide our work and support continuous improvement across the district.
Vision
Richmond County Schools, in partnership with families and the community, will provide rigorous and engaging learning experiences, a coherent system of academic and behavioral support, and a positive school environment while recruiting, developing, and retaining high-quality staff to ensure all students are equipped for success beyond graduation.
Mission
Richmond County Schools will ensure every student experiences high-quality instruction, meaningful support, and a safe and engaging learning environment that prepares them to think critically, communicate effectively, collaborate, and create, empowering them to pursue a purposeful pathway beyond graduation as productive citizens.
Our Core Beliefs
Personalized, Purposeful Education for All
Equity, Accountability & High Expectations for All
Safe, Inclusive School Environments
Access to Higher Education and Career Opportunities
Data-Driven Decisions
Celebration of Student and Staff Excellence
Partnerships with Parents and Community
Caring and Respectful Relationships
Fiscal Responsibility and Effective Operations
Goal 1
RCS will ensure high levels of academic growth and achievement for all students through consistent, standards-aligned instruction and targeted supports, while promoting student engagement in STEM learning opportunities.
RCS will implement a coherent system of high-quality, standards-aligned instruction across all schools, supported by data-driven decision-making, ongoing professional learning, and targeted interventions. The district will ensure consistent use of formative and summative data to monitor student progress, provide timely instructional adjustments, and deliver tiered academic supports. Schools will prioritize rigorous instruction, student engagement, and access to grade-level content, resulting in increased academic growth and improved proficiency outcomes for all student groups.
Targets
- Increase the adjusted four-year cohort high school graduation rate to 95% by 2031.
- Increase the number of English II students scoring proficient on the EOC assessment by 25%.
- Increase the number of Math III students scoring proficient on the EOC assessment by 25%.
- Increase the number of biology students scoring proficient on the EOC assessment by 25%.
- Increase Advanced Placement (AP) participation by 5% each year for a total of 20% increase in participation by 2031.
- Increase the 3rd grade through 5th grade reading EOG district average proficiency by 25% by 2031.
- Increase the 3rd grade through 5th grade math EOG district average proficiency by 25% by 2031.
- Increase the number of 8th grade ELA students scoring proficient on the End-of-Grade assessment by 25%.
- Increase the number of 8th grade math students scoring proficient on the End-of-Grade assessment by 25%.
- Increase the 5th and 8th grade science EOG district average proficiency by 25% by 2031.
- Increase the number of students on track for meeting literacy grade level expectations as measured by the K-3 mClass DIBELS composite score by 20% by 2031.
- Maintain a CTE credential attainment rate of 80% or above annually through 2031, while increasing the number of credentials aligned to high-demand, employer-validated pathways to 3,500+ per year.
- Ensure at least 98% of 8th grade students will have completed a 4-year course plan in Major Clarity annually with course selections aligned to their declared pathway.
- Achieve at least 20% membership in state-registered Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) across all middle schools by 2031.
- Prioritize employability and soft skills integration across all pathways and expanding industry exposure as measured by CTE Business Advisory Council survey data by ensuring at least 95% of pathway completers complete a formal mock interview and submit a resume before graduation by 2031.
- Increase student participation in STEM programs, events, and career-connected experiences by 25%.
- Ensure 100% of schools participate in at least one STEM initiative annually.
- Ensure no school is designated with low performing status.
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Goal 2
RCS will build and sustain a coherent system of support that ensures all students, including those identified as EL, EC, and AIG, receive the instruction and services necessary to achieve high levels.
RCS will design and implement a unified, districtwide system of academic and behavioral support that ensures equitable access to high-quality instruction and specialized services for all learners. This includes strengthening inclusive practices, aligning general and specialized instruction, and ensuring staff are equipped through targeted professional learning to meet diverse student needs. The district will monitor student access, participation, and outcomes across all programs, using data to reduce disparities and ensure every student receives appropriate, timely, and effective support.
Targets
- Ensure 85% of all students will exceed expected academic growth, eliminating gaps in growth outcomes across all student groups by 2031.
- Increase the district-wide Multilingual Learner composite proficiency on state-mandated tests by 10% by 2031.
- Ensure 35% of eligible Multilingual Learners will meet state criteria (4.5 composite or MMT) for successful exit from the ELD program.
- Ensure that 33% of Multilingual Learners will meet expected growth as measured by NCDPI English Learners’ growth standards.
- Increase the number of AIG students who achieve a Level 5 score on the Reading End-of-Grade assessment by 15%.
- Increase equitable access to rigorous and inclusive classroom experiences for all student groups, as evidenced by a 10% increase in representation of historically underrepresented students in advanced coursework options in middle and high school.
- Increase the percentage of students with disabilities in grades 3, 4, and 5 meeting grade-level proficiency in both reading and math by at least 15% as measured by End-of-Grade assessments.
Goal 3
RCS will recruit, develop, and retain highly effective staff by fostering a positive work environment, meaningful professional learning, and strong leadership support.
RCS will strengthen its workforce by implementing comprehensive systems for recruitment, onboarding, mentoring, and ongoing professional learning that are responsive to staff needs. The district will prioritize leadership development, teacher voice, and collaborative practices to build trust and improve working conditions. Professional development will be differentiated and job-embedded, ensuring relevance and impact on instructional practice. Staff feedback and retention data will be used to continuously improve workplace conditions, resulting in increased staff satisfaction, effectiveness, and retention.
Targets
- Increase the number of teacher candidates enrolling in and completing traditional educator-preparation programs (EPPs) to 95% by 2031.
- Increase retention of beginning teachers and early-career administrators, especially in low-performing and high-poverty schools to 95% by 2031.
- Increase the certified teacher retention rate to 98% by 2031.
- Ensure that 85% of teachers report that professional development is relevant and meets their individual needs, and at least 75% will report applying learned strategies in their classrooms, as measured by annual surveys and follow-up feedback by 2031.
- Increase the effectiveness of Beginning Teacher mentorship, resulting in improved teacher satisfaction (90%) and increased retention (10 percentage points) by 2031.
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Goal 4
RCS will ensure efficient, effective, and responsive operations that support student learning and district priorities.
RCS will optimize operational systems, including transportation, maintenance, nutrition, and technology, to ensure reliable, safe, and efficient services for all students and staff. The district will use data to improve service delivery, reduce response times, and enhance the overall student and staff experience. Cross-department collaboration will be strengthened to align resources with instructional priorities, ensuring that operational systems directly support teaching and learning.
Targets
- Increase student satisfaction with school meals and administer a student satisfaction survey to establish a baseline and work toward increasing satisfaction by 2%–3% or higher.
- Reduce custodial supply usage by 10% and increase custodial efficiency by 10%.
- Reduce our overall utility use by 10%, led by our Energy Management Technician, to reduce power, gas, and water use through a variety of strategic methods.
- Implement a holistic preventative maintenance program on our major systems, which will increase the efficiency of these systems.
- Reduce the total average mileage travel by 10% across the transportation department’s district fleet.
- Reduce the average student ride time by as much as seven minutes using the GPS-driven software.
- Teach digital citizenship as self-regulation, discernment, privacy, and responsible use, not just compliance.
- Increase student data accuracy to 98% or higher (demographics, attendance, scheduling, contact data).
- Achieve 100% staff completion of annual cybersecurity training and reduce phishing click rates to below 5%.
- Increase staff participation in instructional technology professional learning to 90% annually.
- Increase effective classroom technology integration to 85% of classrooms.
- Ensure 100% of schools participate in ongoing technology support structures through technology learning communities at least bi-monthly.
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Goal 5
RCS will foster safe, supportive, and engaging learning environments that promote student voice, well-being, and connection to school.
RCS will establish consistent systems to monitor and improve student engagement, safety, and well-being by implementing student perception surveys, strengthening school climate practices, and expanding access to mental health and behavioral supports. Schools will create structures for student voice and leadership while ensuring safe, orderly environments through effective discipline and safety protocols. Data from student feedback, attendance, and behavior will be used to guide continuous improvement, resulting in increased student engagement, improved perceptions of safety, and stronger connections to school.
Targets
- Ensure at least 85% of staff report that student discipline procedures and safety protocols are effective and consistently implemented, as measured by the TWC survey, with no school below 80%.
- Reduce barriers to learning by ensuring that at least 80% of students receiving Student Services interventions show measurable improvement in at least one area, academic engagement, attendance, behavior, or social emotional functioning, as measured through annual student data reviews.
- Reduce out-of-school suspension days by 30%.
- Reduce in-school suspension days by 20%.
- Recover approximately 2,500 instructional days annually by 2031.
- Reduce discipline referrals for EC students in kindergarten and 1st grade by 25%, as measured by office discipline referral (ODR) data by 2031.
- Build sustainable staff capacity to support student mental health by ensuring that at least 90% annually of instructional and support staff complete mental health professional learning, increasing their ability to identify concerns early, as measured by training completion data and staff confidence surveys over time.
- Ensure at least 95% of students will participate annually in a student engagement survey measuring perceptions of safety, engagement, voice and learning, with all schools using disaggregated results to inform and create improvement actions and increase positive student responses over time.
- Ensure at least 85% of staff will report positive perceptions of School Leadership and Teacher Leadership on the TWC survey, including trust, shared decision-making, and opportunities for teacher input, with no school below 80% by 2031.
- Increase funded SRO capacity from 4.5 to 6.0 Full-Time Employee (FTE) through grants or partnerships by 2031.
- Provide bi-annual safety training for all safety teams and officers by 2031.
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Goal 6
Richmond County Schools will implement a comprehensive family engagement system that ensures consistent communication, meaningful involvement opportunities, and strong community partnerships to support student achievement and well-being.
Richmond County Schools will implement a comprehensive and coherent family engagement system that ensures consistent, two-way communication, meaningful involvement opportunities, and strong community partnerships to support student achievement and well-being.
Targets
- Ensure that 100% of schools implement a comprehensive family engagement plan that includes curriculum-aligned learning opportunities before, during, and after school, resulting in at least 50% of families participating in one or more engagement activities annually by 2031.
- Increase positive family and student perceptions of school climate and support to at least 80%, as measured by annual surveys, by expanding access to support services, strengthening community partnerships, and implementing structured opportunities for family and student voice at every school by 2031.
- Ensure that 90% of families report that they receive timely, accessible communication and feel equipped to support their child’s learning at home, as measured by annual family surveys and communication analytics.
- Utilize Parent and Family Nights, website and DOJO messaging, and other means of communication to support at-home learning for all students.
- Establish a family liaison or parent-support structure in each school zone.