Brookland-Cayce Grammar No. 1 wins top school award

Brookland-Cayce Grammar No. 1 is one of four schools in South Carolina named Palmetto’s Finest award winners Tuesday.

The Lexington 2 school with more than 460 students in West Columbia was one of two elementary schools that received the honor.

Brookland-Cayce was cited for innovative lessons, student leadership opportunities and superior instruction in music, art and physical education. Students are in kindergarten through fifth grade.

The awards are given annually by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators after a review of nominees over several months by teams of educators.

Students gathered in an assembly to watch on closed-circuit TV as the winning schools’ named were announced.

Upon hearing his school had won, Principal Walter Clark took off running through the crowd, shaking his head in disbelief, district officials said. He greeted teachers and administrators with hugs and students with high fives before returning to the podium to congratulate the school.

The other winners are Holly Springs-Motlow Elementary School in Campobello, Boiling Springs Middle School in Inman and St. James High School in Murrells Inlet.

This story was originally published March 15, 2016 at 3:16 PM with the headline "Brookland-Cayce Grammar No. 1 wins top school award."