Education
“College and university growth will yield a much-needed qualified workforce .”
Participants were enthusiastic about the quality of education—both public schools and higher education—in Pickens County, citing statistics to back up their enthusiasm. In the weaknesses/threats, again, housing and transportation came into play, both for college/university students and for parents of school-age children.
Strengths and Opportunities
- 26 AP courses offered
- Career and tech center
- Clemson University (2 responses)
- Clemson, SWU and other universities (tech colleges)
- College and university growth will yield a much needed qualified workforce
- Excellent public school systems (2 responses)
- Good reputation for public schools
- Great institutions
- Great school systems and great job with charter schools
- Less than 2/4 year degree programs—high school trade centers
- Need for 2nd Pickens County industrial park/ Tri-County center
- Need to include tech colleges as well as universities in transportation planning
- Pickens County Career and Technology Center
- Pickens County ranked #2 out of 82 districts in overall SAT scores
- Pickens County ranked #2 among SC districts for SAT scores
- Pickens County SAT scores higher than the national score and state score
- Presence of world-class research university
- Some of the best schools in the state
- Strong network of public libraries for education, recreation, and jobs
- Technical high school
- Tri-County Tech
Threats and Weaknesses
- Crime rates
- Diversity—need more opportunities (higher education)
- Early education access
- Lack of access for families to participate in child’s school activities if they do not have a car access outside and 8am–5pm
- Lack of housing and mass transit
- More and more commuters are looking for easy, inexpensive, and safe transportation options—Pickens CATbus is needed
- More private schools needed
- Need Clemson University at the table
- Need for cities (Easley, Pickens, Liberty, Clemson, Six Mile)
- Outreach programs for kindergarten readiness/low scores for kindergarten readiness testing
- Small thinking
- Somewhat in debt re: public schools
- Student/resident conflicting priorities
- Students/alumni can’t afford downtown Clemson
- University/college growth will continue to challenge resources and take land