Northwest Middle School opened in the fall of 1973 as an open classroom school. At the time you could stand at one end of the school and see clear through to the other end. There were no interior walls. It was like a warehouse. It was a new concept in education that proved to be faulty. It soon became apparent that middle school students needed walls to focus, so, metal walls began to go up and areas of the school were partitioned off for classrooms.
In 1990, we underwent a major renovation where the sunken theater area was filled in and metal walls were replaced with concrete block walls. The media center was enclosed for the first time, so it was no longer a passage way from one end of the building to the other.
In 1997-98 we all moved outside and Northwest underwent a multi-million dollar renovation project which gave the interior and exterior a new look. The entire school was restructured for a state of the art educational facility. All classrooms now have networked computers connected to the Internet, and classrooms are now more accessible to the media center, lunchroom, and related art classrooms.
Northwest Middle currently houses approximately 900 students who receive instruction in English, Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language (Spanish), Home Economics, Band, Strings, General Music, Art, Computer Keyboarding, Computer Tech, Physical Education, and Special Education.
Northwest received authorization as an IB World School in June 2005. That means that Northwest offers the Middle Years Programme, a middle school academic program that is part of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO).
In 2007 Northwest was recognized as a finalist in the Palmetto's Finest program that recognizes outstanding schools in our state.
Most of the students at Northwest Middle come from four Greenville County elementary schools: Duncan Chapel, Gateway, Heritage, and Slater Marietta. When our students leave Northwest, most will attend Travelers Rest High School, and many go on to receive degrees from technical schools and/or four-year colleges or universities.
Our community is very involved in our school and is a major reason for our success. Through the years many people have worked extremely hard, both parents and teachers, to help us achieve the present status of our school. Former principals of Northwest were: Tom Bollinger, Norman Harris, Bud Goble, Phil Edge, Judy James, Lacy Wilkins, and Tony Poole. Our current principal is Lee Givins. Our PTSA is a very important means of financial and moral support. We are a proud community with great educational expectations for our students.
MISSION STATEMENT
We provide educational experiences, in
cooperation with the home and community, that prepare
students for lifelong learning and for ethical, productive
participation in an ever-changing technological society.
OUR BELIEFS
-
All students can learn.
-
Students are the center of the
educational process.
-
Students learn best in a safe
environment nurtured by caring, supportive teachers,
principals, and staff personnel.
-
Students have the right of equal access
to educational opportunities.
-
Students and teachers have the
responsibility to be actively involved in lifelong
learning.
-
Instruction and assessment should be
provided consistent with the needs of all students.
-
A balanced curriculum ensures that
students communicate effectively, compute accurately,
think critically, and act responsibly.
-
Education is the shared responsibility
of the home, school, and community.
