News Summary
Greenville County Schools introduces new makeup days to recover instructional time lost due to Hurricane Helene, with self-paced eLearning assignments.
Greenville, SC – Greenville County Schools (GCS) has announced significant updates to its calendar for the upcoming 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years, introducing three new makeup days targeted at recovering missed instructional time due to extreme weather events. This decision follows the closure of schools for eight days as a result of Hurricane Helene, which caused extensive power outages and disrupted internet access across the district, necessitating adjustment to the school calendar.
To comply with state requirements set by the South Carolina Department of Education, which mandates that all school districts must make up for three lost school days, GCS will implement self-paced asynchronous eLearning days. These makeup days have been scheduled for March 14, April 18, and May 10. Notably, students will not be required to be online during these designated days; instead, they will be given assignments that can be completed within five school days of returning to school.
Assignments for the makeup days will not include live instruction from teachers. Students can expect to work on tasks such as test reviews, preparation for future assignments, and previews of upcoming lessons. This approach is designed to ease the workload on both students and teachers while ensuring the necessary educational requirements are met.
Superintendent Burke Royster has stated that the aim of this strategy is to lessen the impact of missed classroom time on families, allowing children ample time—up to 15 days prior to the first makeup day on March 14—to complete their assignments effectively. This flexibility is especially important following the disruptions caused by Hurricane Helene.
The decision to add these makeup days was officially approved by the GCS Board of Trustees during a meeting held on February 25. Additionally, the board has indicated that a further excused day may be adopted if any school day is lost due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances before the school year concludes.
Hurricane Helene’s impact on the district prompted GCS to explore alternative solutions, as no eLearning or in-person instruction was feasible during the closure. In response to the challenges posed by the storm, this new plan aims to ensure that students remain on track with their education while accommodating the significant disruptions families experienced.
Families looking for more information regarding the updated school calendar and related changes prompted by Hurricane Helene can find details on the district’s official website. The updates aim not only to meet educational requirements but also to provide a supportive approach for students and educators as they navigate unforeseen disruptions in the school year.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Greenville Schools Prepare for Potential Snowfall
Fill the Cruisers Food Drive to Support Project Host
Winter Weather Advisory: Columbia, SC Prepares for Wintry Conditions
Greenville to Begin New Home Build in Nicholtown
Greenville County Schools Releases 2025-26 Academic Calendar
Greenville’s Cleveland Street to Undergo Temporary Closure
Greenville Announces Finalists for College Presidency
Greenville County Seeks Public Input on Bridge Repairs
Greenville Planning Commission Proposes Zoning Changes
AtWork Staffing Agency Expands to Greenville and Spartanburg
Additional Resources
- Fox Carolina: Makeup Days Added for Greenville County Schools
- WSPA: Greenville County Schools Set Makeup Days
- Greenville Journal: Plans for Hurricane Helene Makeup Days
- Wikipedia: Hurricane Helene
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Hurricane
Author: STAFF HERE GREENVILLE
The HERE Greenville Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Greenville community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Greenville Our team includes lifelong Greenville residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sales in the Heritage Historic District 17 , Greenville’s textile and railroad heritage 2 , and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Greenville Technical College programs) 27 . Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
