$204M school bond passes in Fort Mill

FORT MILL, S.C. — Voters said yes to a $204 million Fort Mill Schools bond referendum Tuesday night.

Julianna Sossa said one reason she moved to Fort Mill is to enroll her daughters in quality schools.

“My mom is a realtor and she suggested we move here because of the growth she’s seen here,” Sossa said.

That growth has also challenged district leaders to keep up.

Gold Hill and Springfield elementary schools and Gold Hill and Pleasant Knoll middle schools are on enrollment freezes.

“What that means is any new students in that area are not able to attend that school, because the school has reached capacity,” said Joe Burke, the chief communications officer with Fort Mill Schools.

Unofficial results show 64% of voters passed the school bond referendum.

The money will pay for a new middle school off Gold Hill Road in Fort Mill, which is next to a new elementary school already under construction.

It will also pay for land acquisition for future schools, new technology, such as laptops and tablets, large renovation projects, and an early childhood development center.

“This center is going to help us provide to more students than ever before,” Burke said. “We can only serve 200 kids with the handful of programs at schools.”

Sossa said she supports preparing more students for academic success.

“Every student deserves quality education,” she said. “They shouldn’t have to move away or search far and wide for it.”

Leaders said work on the new middle school will start once the election results are certified.

It is slated to open in the 2026-27 school year.

The new elementary school, which is under construction, is slated to open for the 2526 school year.

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VIDEO: Fort Mill School District considers ways to help with influx of students

Fort Mill School District considers ways to help with influx of students

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