The Fort Mill School District has announced its plans to reopen, sharing the news with a call to parents and announcements on its website.

Click here to see the news or read below.

Among the highlights:

Elementary Schools

  • Students will remain in their classroom with their homeroom in the family model to receive their instruction.
  • Students will participate in related arts by the related arts teachers coming to the classroom rather than the students transitioning to another classroom.
  • Students will eat breakfast and lunch in the classroom. The meals will be brought to the classroom.
  • Students who qualify for special education and the gifted and talented program may transition to another classroom.

Middle Schools

  • Students will be assigned to the “A Day” group OR the “B Day” group. This will be done by alphabet of the student’s last name.All schools using the A day / B day model will use the same groupings. Students will be assigned to their group as soon as possible, but it will not occur until after the registration window for the Fort Mill Virtual Academy closes. This will ensure the two groups (A group and B group) are as even as possible.
  • Using this model will greatly reduce class sizes during in-person instruction which follows the CDC recommendations for reducing the risk of exposure.With lower class sizes, teachers will have more time to work individually with students and provide greater personalized support. At the end of their in-person class, students will be given their independent learning assignment for the next day.
  • On the days students are not physically present in school, they should be prepared to follow the bell schedule of their school at home.They will not have direct contact with their teacher on the independent learning days, but the expectation is that they complete their assignments as if they are in school. Teachers will be able to provide feedback regarding the independent learning work the next day.
  • Students will be expected to complete all work assigned – on both their in-person days and at-home days. They will be graded on their independent learning assignments and it will count towards their grade. Their independent learning days are just as important as their in-person learning days.
  • Independent learning assignments will be engaging and meaningful.

High School: Hybrid A/B Model

  • Students will be assigned to the “A Day” group OR the “B Day” group. This will be done by alphabet of the student’s last name.All schools using the A day / B day model will use the same groupings. Students will be assigned to their group as soon as possible, but it will not occur until after the registration window for the Fort Mill Virtual Academy closes. This will ensure the two groups (A group and B group) are as even as possible.
  • Using this model will greatly reduce class sizes during in-person instruction which follows the CDC recommendations for reducing the risk of exposure. With lower class sizes, teachers will have more time to work individually with students and provide greater personalized support. At the end of their in-person class, students will be given their independent learning assignment for the next day.
  • On the days students are not physically present in school, they should be prepared to follow the bell schedule of their school at home.They will not have direct contact with their teacher on the dependent learning days, but the expectation is that they complete their assignments as if they are in school. Teachers will be able to provide feedback regarding the independent learning work the next day.
  • Students would be expected to complete all A day and B day work assigned. They will be graded on their independent learning assignments and it will count towards their grade. Their independent learning days are just as important as their in-person learning days. Independent learning assignments will be engaging and meaningful.

Fort Mill Virtual Academy

Fort Mill Schools will offer a full virtual option for students in grades 5k-12 for the 2020–2021 school year. This option will differ from the remote learning experience that students had in the spring of 2020 during the schools’ closure. The FMVA will provide a more consistent curricular and instructional delivery model. Students will be assigned to a class or classes with dedicated Fort Mill School District teachers and with other students throughout the district. Registration for the Virtual Academy will be open July 10-15.

Please visit the Fort Mill Virtual Academy website for more information or to register.

Cleaning and Sanitizing

All Fort Mill Facilities and buses will be cleaned and sanitized before during and after school hours. Please review the Return to School Guide for more information on our health and safety protocols.

Use of Masks or Face Coverings

Face coverings are an additional step to help slow the spread of COVID-19 when combined with everyday preventive actions and social distancing.

  • Masks, shields or face coverings will be required for all employees during the school day and will be provided by the district if needed.
  • The district strongly recommends students attending in-person learning to wear a mask or face covering to school.


Greg "Ricky Bobby" Rickabaugh has lived in the Fort Mill and York County community since 2006. He has covered the area while a reporter for The Charlotte Observer and a freelance writer for The Fort Mill...