Spartanburg Earns StriveTogether’s Coveted Systems Transformation Designation
Connecting data and resources to transform systems in South Carolina
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Established in 1785, Spartanburg has evolved from a major textile center to a diverse and growing region with urban, suburban, and rural areas. There is a committed set of employers who have provided an employment engine, particularly in manufacturing. In the last two years, employers committed over $5 billion in capital investments across the County, representing nearly 6,000 new jobs over the investment period.
It is no surprise that Spartanburg is one of the nation’s fastest growing communities; its population of 336,000 represents 18 percent growth over the last decade. In addition, its economic engine, the County is home to seven postsecondary institutions with a diverse set of strengths and student populations.
As major recipients of federal and state grants in early care and education, the city and county governments have established a history of working deeply with nonprofit organizations, corporate stakeholders, and community partners. Its seven school districts regularly make decisions, coordinate plans, and launch initiatives together – often sharing resources and support for career and technical training for students. Over the past decade, Spartanburg stakeholders have led innovative, cross-sector strategies that have translated into real results for its residents, including increased economic growth, dramatically reduced teen births, and improved academic performance in its highest poverty schools. Those successes were possible because of our deep set of community assets and our strong track record of collaboration.
While there is much to celebrate, Spartanburg acknowledges that prosperity and economic opportunity is not yet available to all. One out of every eight residents in Spartanburg lives in poverty; that number jumps to nearly two out of five when focused on children living in poverty, well above the national rate of 15 percent.[1]Unfortunately, for the vast majority of those children, the experience continues throughout their lives. Spartanburg ranks in the bottom 10 percent of counties nationwide for economic mobility. A child born in a low-income household in our County has only a 4 percent chance of making it to the top fifth of income in the US. For Black children, the odds drop in half (2 percent).
Despite these divides, the community across Spartanburg County remains committed to building connections. Spartanburg Acacemic Movement (SAM) leads the way in bridging the community. SAM is an all-in partnership of education, business, government, foundation, community and faith leaders all working together to support economic mobility for every child in Spartanburg County.
SAM’s data-driven, comprehensive and community-focused approach is improving educational outcomes and fostering equity in Spartanburg County. Their work has earned SAM the Systems Transformation designation along the StriveTogether Theory of Action™, the most advanced stage along our framework for change. From cradle to career, SAM is expanding opportunity for young people in the community.
Transforming systems for better early childhood outcomes
Every year, about 3,500 babies are born in Spartanburg County. Their first experiences shape their futures. That’s why SAM focuses on the earliest needs of Spartanburg’s residents and their families, starting with prenatal care. The goal is to prepare more children to enter school ready to succeed.
Hello Family is key to early childhood support in Spartanburg. Hello Family offers evidence-based, comprehensive prenatal and maternal health services to every child born within the city’s limits. Hello Family oversees programs designed to improve health outcomes for young mothers, focusing on Black maternal health. Families help shape programing through focus groups and serving as parent ambassadors.
The Hello Family initiative is now set to grow beyond city limits, as SAM’s Movement 2030 strategic plan seeks to spread this work to the entire county. Between 2023 and 2030, SAM’s strategies are projected to reach approximately 20,000 children and their families through targeted services. During this period, SAM estimates that 1,800 more children will be prepared for school when they arrive. This transformation will also lead to healthier newborns and better access to services for all families.
Transforming systems for better student outcomes
SAM is dedicated to accelerating equitable K-12 outcomes. The Spartanburg Academic Movement Out-of-School Time Collaborative is working to improve, expand and sustain high-quality after-school and summer programs for middle and high school-age youth to improve economic mobility. The Collaborative includes 31 organizations and reaches more than 2,900 middle and high school students experiencing poverty. Partners coordinate program delivery within middle schools so that students can access enriching activities without having to leave their schools.
Another example of SAM’s approach to cradle to career outcomes is its Four Schools Project, which started in 2016 in the four elementary schools with the highest poverty rates in Spartanburg County. These schools faced a significant literacy challenge, with a collective 14.7% proficiency rate for third grade reading.
SAM set a goal to improve early grade reading proficiency to 30% by 2021. They supported schools to take up continuous improvement methodology, where data is used to improve strategies as work progresses. Despite the pandemic, the four schools surpassed their goal, achieving a 32.4% reading proficiency rate in 2022. Racial disparities narrowed, too. With these results, districts began to cover some costs for continuous improvement. The pilot program is now expanding to the ten schools experiencing the highest poverty rates across the county.
Transforming systems for better postsecondary and workforce outcomes
SAM and their partners are creating more opportunities for youth and families to achieve their education and career aspirations.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a critical gateway to postsecondary education. SAM is working to ensure that every eligible student can access financial resources by providing public high schools with monthly student-level data on completion. With this data, guidance counselors and career development facilitators can individualize supports and reach more students.
SAM also engages students in this work. Five high schools harnessed the power of student voice to develop outreach and FAFSA completion strategies. Broome High School increased FAFSA completion rates from 49 percent to 67 percent of the senior class between 2020 and 2023. Student ambassadors played a pivotal role by encouraging peer participation.
Another success at Broome came in addressing “summer melt” — when students who intend to enroll in college ultimately do not. SAM introduced the Start Smart initiative at high schools with lower college enrollment rates. Start Smart pairs students with community volunteers who serve as mentors throughout the summer, guiding them through the enrollment process. Upon successful enrollment, students receive $250 to their college bookstore. At Broome, nine out of 10 participating seniors enrolled in college immediately after graduation.
Moving Forward
Anchored by SAM, Movement 2030 is a community plan to dramatically advance economic mobility in Spartanburg County, demonstrating what is possible and setting an example for communities across the country. This plan builds on and integrates existing plans such as the OneSpartanburg Inc. Vision 2.0, City and County government priorities, and neighborhood-level transformation plans. The primary focus includes three areas that were elevated as priorities by community residents in a planning process led by SAM: early care and education, postsecondary attainment, and spurring economic mobility in disinvested neighborhoods. This work will complement ongoing economic mobility initiatives including continuous improvement in high-poverty schools, work to expand and deepen out-of-school time programming, and the Connect adolescent health initiative.
Community Vision: By 2030, thousands more Spartanburg residents are on pathways to social and economic mobility, measured by improvements in cradle-to-career outcomes and closing racial and geographic disparities.
By 2030, these strategies will reach over 60,000 people, and will contribute to 7,000 additional young people being on a pathway to economic mobility as measured by progress against key milestones. Strategies are designed to spur durable systemic changes, meaning impact will extend and compound past 2030. These strategies will also contribute to broader benefits including redeveloping blighted communities, expanding the local talent pool, contributing to economic growth, and elevating the profile of Spartanburg nationally. SAM will support these results by implementing collaborative, community-driven, and evidence-informed practices.
SAM is leading change in Spartanburg County, providing critical access to data and aligning partners for success. Across the country, Cradle to Career Network members are ensuring stronger futures for kids and families by transforming systems.
[1] Based on official poverty measures. Sources: Data.usa (Spartanburg) Census.gov (national)