About
Dutch Fork Elementary - Academy of Environmental Sciences
Dutch Fork Elementary School, Academy of Environmental Sciences, located at 7900 Broad River Road in Irmo, SC offers a comprehensive program which includes inquiry-based, hands-on studies of the environment all around us. The program immerses children in an environment that emphasizes discovery and exploration, collaborative study, scientific research, use of scientific tools and technology, and a strong sense of community. In addition, students have the opportunity to integrate and apply the environmental sciences in reading, math, social studies, writing, and the arts.
Funding for this grant provided by the Magnet Schools Assistance Program Competitive Discretionary Grant through the United States Department of Education.
Our History
Rich in history, Dutch Fork Elementary has been a part of the community long before it had its name. In 1918, a Rosenwald School was built on two acres of land given by St. Peters Baptist Church which is adjacent to the school. Funds were provided by the Rosenwald Fund, state, county and area black communities. This school was a two room wooden building to be used to educate black children from area black communities.
In 1953, Rosenwald School was given the name Richlex and additions were made to accommodate the five area black community schools that were consolidated in Richland and Lexington Counties. These communities were Pleasant Spring, Irmo, Chapin, Piney Grove, and Harbison.
During the Spring of 1953, Mr. Robert Lee Floyd was elected to serve as Principal of Richlex High School. Mr. Floyd was the former Vice Principal, basketball coach and classroom teacher at John Ford High School in Calhoun County Board of Education.
Richlex was originally built for 140 students: additions were made in 1957, 1960, 1962, and 1967 such as a library and classrooms. It provided both elementary and high school programs for some 530 black students from 1953 to 1968.
In 1968, Richlex was closed because of desegregation and renamed Irmo Junior High School serving grades seven through nine for both black and white students. Students that attended Richlex were assigned to different schools in the Chapin, Irmo, and Columbia area school districts.
In 1971, the school was changed to an elementary school and given the name of Dutch Fork Elementary.