South Vermillion Community School Corporation was formed in the early 1960's under the 1959 School Consolidation Act. The corporation is a consolidation of the schools in Clinton, Hillsdale, Dana and St. Bernice. The South Vermillion Community School Corporation is composed of three public elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The total student enrollment is approximately 2000. The corporation employs approximately 150 certified staff members, and 130 non-certified staff members. The certified staff includes administrators, teachers, media specialists, counselors, nurses, and a social worker. Ninety percent of the certified staff has a master's degree or is engaged in continuing education.
South Vermillion High School, one of only two high schools in the county, is a 1961 consolidation of all the high schools in the southern part of Vermillion County. The name of Clinton High School was used until the present building was constructed in 1977. With 46 independent classrooms, the current high school facilities are quite adequate and diversified for the relatively small community. A two-room addition was built in 2001 to accommodate the severely emotional, mentally and physically handicapped students. South Vermillion High School has a computer lab dedicated to computer applications and graphic arts classes, as well as computers available in additional labs for research, classroom projects, and publishing.
South Vermillion Middle School is the only middle school serving the SVCSC, and is housed in a structure opened in 1995. This new facility was built around the teaming concept with one academic team per grade level. It is comprised of students in grades 6-8. The school boasts a state-of-the-art media center, television studio, large group instruction room, and 3 computer labs used for keyboarding and classroom technology integration.
Students from three elementary schools feed into SVMS; those students subsequently attend SVHS. Two of the elementary schools are rural, Van Duyn Elementary and Ernie Pyle Elementary, and Central Elementary is located in the town of Clinton. Ernie Pyle and Van Duyn Elementary recently underwent renovations to expand the facilities to include new classrooms, a media center that includes a computer lab, and a new cafeteria.
All South Vermillion schools are fully accredited by the Indiana Department of Education.
Corporation-wide the teachers continue to demonstrate a positive morale and are encouraged and empowered to make decisions. In turn the students feel positive toward school programs. Interdisciplinary units are encouraged. Progress reports are sent out midway through each grading period. The corporation uses the following methods of assessment for the effectiveness of its programs: attendance, standardized test scores, grades and discipline records. All schools at South Vermillion utilize Harmony, a web-based student management system which provides valuable opportunities for teachers and parents to communicate about student learning and performance.
