Brian Thompson, the assistant principal at Beech Springs Middle School in Duncan, has been charged with failure to report child abuse/neglect. According to reports, Thompson was informed of an incident involving two juveniles in October and neglected to report it to police. He turned himself in on Monday, Dec. 8, and was released the following day on bond. He is set to return to court in early 2026. The incident is currently being investigated by the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office.

Superintendent Dr. Randall Gary of Spartanburg District Five Schools has been named "Citizen of the Year" by the Middle Tyger Area Council for his outstanding leadership, service, and commitment to the community. Under his leadership, the district has seen growth in student enrollment and academic achievement, including a rise in graduation rates and test scores. The Council also noted the passage of two bond referendums and the construction of several schools.

Three members of the Spartanburg District Five Schools Board of Trustees, Alex Perez, Sherri Taunton and Jeff Boland, have completed their terms in office. They were honored at the board’s regular meeting on Monday night. Also at the meeting, the board approved two resolutions related to the $200 million bond referendum, which passed with 79.8% of voters in favor. Additionally, a fifth-grade student, Nolan Copeland, was recognized for designing the winning card for the annual Holiday Card Contest.

The $200 million bond referendum for Spartanburg District Five Schools has been passed with approximately 80% "yes" votes. The funds will be used to construct a new middle school and to reconstruct Duncan Elementary School of the Arts and Byrnes Freshman Academy. The district's superintendent, Randall Gary, expressed his excitement for the overwhelming support from the community.

14-year-old McKenzie Silvers has turned her passion for art into a full-fledged business, selling spirit rock paintings, jewelry and other art pieces. Silvers has been creating things since childhood and currently takes honors art at Florence Chapel Middle School. With the support of her family and teachers, Silvers plans to continue to grow her business and gain practical skills for her future career.

The James F. Byrnes High School Rebel Regiment marching band has been selected to perform in the 2026 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City — the 100th edition of the event. The Rebel Regiment was one of 10 marching bands selected. This will be the band’s fourth time performing at the parade since 1983.

Twelve of the fourteen schools in Spartanburg County District Five have been placed on America's Healthiest Schools list for 2025 by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. The schools were judged across nine categories for accreditation. The announcement was made at Monday night’s Board of Trustees meeting. The board also voted to unanimously approve a 2027 summer field trip to Greece and Italy for students enrolled in Project Lead The Way biomedical science courses.

The Spartanburg District Five Board of Trustees held their first regular meeting of the school year on Aug. 25, where they discussed departmental updates and voted on the Minority Business Enterprise Plan for the 2025-2026 school year. The Board also heard a presentation on the selected architects for the system's construction projects.

Greenville County Schools and Spartanburg Districts 1-7 began their new school year on Aug. 11, with many schools experiencing increased enrollment and construction projects. Principals from various schools in the area expressed their excitement for the new year and their goals for academic growth and creating a positive learning environment for their students.