Theodore Lester Elementary School, Florence SC (2026 List)

About Theodore Lester Elementary School

Theodore Lester Elementary School in Florence, South Carolina is a public school for kids in grades 3–5. About 300 students go to the school, and the student–teacher ratio is about 12:1. This means that classes are small and students get more one-on-one attention. The school focuses on helping students at different academic levels with programs that promote literacy, STEM learning, and small-group interventions. The students at Theodore Lester Elementary come from many different backgrounds. About 69% are African American, 14% are White, 10% are multiracial, and 6% are Hispanic or Latino. A lot of students can get free or reduced-price lunch, which shows how important the school is to the community. Data on student performance shows that about 30% of students are good at both Math and English Language Arts, which is below the state average. This shows where the school needs to improve. The cost of each student is about $19,200, which goes toward educational resources and programs. The average home value in the area is about $165,500, and the school is known for creating a welcoming learning environment. Theodore Lester Elementary has small classes, a variety of programs, and gets the community involved, all of which help students do better in school.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 27%

Reading 22%

State average proficiency is 27% in Math and 22% in Reading.

29

Full-time Teachers

13 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

375

Total Students

$60476

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 14.3%

Asian 1%

Hispanic 6.4%

Black 68.7%

Two+ Races 9.8%

Native Am. 1%

White

14.3%

Asian

1%

Hispanic

6.4%

Black

68.7%

Two+ Races

9.8%

Native Am.

1%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 375

49.8%

187 Female

50.2%

188 Male

Student Population

375 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 13 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

372 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Theodore Lester Elementary School Contact Information

Address

3501 EAST PALMETTO ST, FLORENCE, SC 29506

View on Map

Phone

(843) 664-8459

Call Now

Website

https://lester.f1s.org/

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 7:45 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

The South Carolina Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance awarded Theodore Lester Elementary School the "Pee Dee Winner" award in October 2025. People praised Coach William Richburg, the school's physical education teacher, and the rest of the staff for making a place where "students learn and thrive through movement." The school also said that the grades of its students got better from one year to the next. The percentage of students who met or exceeded the state's SC for the 2024–25 school year The percentage of students who passed or did better on the state's ELA test within its district peer group went up by 6 points, and the percentage of students who passed or did better on the state's Math test went up by 6 points. The district is making these changes as part of a bigger plan to make the school better for students' health, the atmosphere, and academic support. The award shows that Theodore Lester cares about his students' health and education, which is good news for parents and the community. The school's proficiency rates are still lower than the state average, but the recent gains and recognition show that the school is on the right track and will keep getting better.

FAQ

Q1. What kinds of activities do students at Theodore Lester Elementary School do outside of school?

Ans. The school has clubs for art, music, and basic coding, as well as seasonal sports and academic competitions.

Q2. Does Theodore Lester Elementary School offer special education services?

Ans. Yes, the school has programs for students with special needs, such as individualized education plans (IEPs) and staff who are there to help.

Q3. What kinds of technology can students use?

Ans. Students can use computers, tablets, and interactive learning tools in the classroom to help them learn how to use technology.

Q4. Can parents get involved?

Ans. Parents can join the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), go to school events, and help out with volunteer programs.

Q5. What steps does the school take to keep students safe?

Ans. Theodore Lester Elementary has safe entry points, a way for visitors to check in, and regular safety drills for students.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

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What Parents Say