GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Students in Greenville County returned to class on Wednesday as Clemson welcomed its largest freshman class ever.

The school bell rang for the first time this school year at Cherrydale Elementary School in Greenville County, the state’s largest school district.

The school prides itself on its single-gender-classroom program for the fourth- and fifth-grade students. Educators say that the program takes into account the differences in how boys and girls learn and gives the students a sense of cohesiveness.

Officials said the program focuses on developing the students into respectful people.

“Part of a single gender program is to not only teach the curriculum but also character and life skills,” said Ryan Talty, a teacher of one of the single-gender classes. “They teach responsibility, friendship, honesty and things they might be getting at home but not practicing with their friends.”

More than 3,300 freshman at Clemson University reported to class for the first time this school year, as part of the school’s largest freshman class ever.

Robert Blakely, the school’s director of admissions, said that the university accepted more freshman and transfer students because of economic uncertainty. He said that the school was unsure how many students would accept their offer of admission.

Blakely said that with that in mind, the university offered admission to more than 4,400 students from South Carolina. He said that last year that number was less than 4,000.

“We’ve had the summer to make adjustments,” Blakely said. “We’ve got everyone housed and everyone has classes.”

Blakely said that the school is proud to have the vote of confidence from so many students.