Clover School District begins student reassignment process for three new schools opening in 2026 to cope with rapid growth.
CLOVER, S.C. — The Clover School District is launching its student reassignment process to accommodate three new schools scheduled to open in August 2026.
The new schools — Lake Wylie High School, Roosevelt Middle School, and Liberty Hill Elementary — represent the district's response to unprecedented expansion that has seen enrollment grow by 250 to 300 students annually over the past seven to eight years.
"We've got 3,000 more homes coming in the next three years, so we're gonna see another uptick," Superintendent Sheila Quinn told WCNC Charlotte in July.
The only students who this change won't impact are rising seniors in the Class of 2027, who will remain at Clover High School.
The school board will receive the first draft of proposed attendance lines on Monday, Aug. 25, during a 6 p.m. meeting. The meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed on the district's YouTube channel.
Following the initial presentation, the district will enter a month-long community engagement period featuring three public forums. The first forum is scheduled for Sept. 4, at 6 p.m. at Oakridge Middle School, followed by a second forum on Sept.11 at 6 p.m. at Clover Middle School. The final meeting will be held on Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. at the Clover School District Auditorium.
The district will also post an online feedback form on its Student Reassignment webpage, allowing parents and staff to ask questions or share concerns. While respondents won't receive individual replies, all feedback will be reviewed by the board and administration and included in the final report on attendance lines.
A final vote on the new attendance boundaries is expected on Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. at the district office.
The transition marks a significant change for the community, particularly the shift from one high school to two.
"It's always hard to go from a one-high-school town to a two-high-school town," Quinn said.
The expansion comes as Clover has invested heavily in teacher retention, setting a $50,000 starting salary and extending the pay scale from 23 to 28 steps.
"We're not gonna recruit enough teachers to get out of the teacher shortage," Quinn said. "We're gonna have to keep our better teachers."
Officials emphasized their commitment to clear communication throughout the transition period.
"We know that times of transition can be challenging for families, but we hope that clear, two-way communication throughout the process will keep our community informed and make this time of change a little easier for everyone," district officials said.