Aiken Scholars Academy (ASA) has developed an academically focused instructional program to ensure that all students are prepared to graduate with world-class knowledge and skills, along with quality life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. ASA offers a rigorous course of study in a nurturing and supportive learning environment with strong beliefs and values focused on culture building, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, and community service.
The overall success of each Scholar is dependent on the school’s ability to develop a thriving culture in which we cultivate positive and long-lasting relationships, embrace diversity, communicate effectively, and provide support for the developmental and academic needs of our student body. We firmly believe in developing the whole child and preparing scholars for success in school, work, and life. From the start Scholars, parents, and faculty established and defined the Scholar Profile, which represents attributes valued by ASA that will foster positive character development and support life-long learning. They include Service, Curiosity, Honor, Ownership, Life-Long Learner, Advocacy, and Resilience. Throughout the 2020-2021 school year, the attributes have been a focus in everything we do from culture to academics.
Developing a positive school culture and climate maintains a priority within the school. We accomplish this by offering school sponsored extracurricular activities such as the Academic Team, Beta Club, Fine Arts Club, Science Team, Student Council, Yearbook and Visual Arts Club. The Academic Team had a great season finishing second in the county. The Beta Club inducted 25 members and the school was recognized as a 2021 Beta Club School of Merit. Science Team competed in the Science Olympiad, placing 4th in Forensics Competition; overall, the team won the Persistence Award. Despite the many restrictions due to Covid, Student Council was able to find ways to bring scholars together outside of the classroom and promote school spirit. They sponsored a modified Spirit Week, planned a school-wide fair, and sponsored a local children's organization where students made blankets and collected donations. They were recognized by the SC Student Association of Student Councils Honor Recognition Program, receiving the Gold Honor Award for their efforts to instill Phoenix Pride. Our Student Body Secretary was also inducted into the Terry McCoy Hall of Fame for being named Outstanding Student Council Member of the Year. The Visual Arts Club sponsored volunteered locally, along with sponsoring a school-wide "Canvas and Cookies" event as a way to relieve stress prior to AP exams. The school continues to gather feedback from stakeholders to promote improvement. The School Improvement Council maintains focus on goals surrounding recruitment and retention, building community relationships and providing increased opportunities for Scholars to engage in internships.
Student achievement is reliant upon providing access to meaningful and engaging learning experiences with a focus on academic excellence and preparation for future learning. Through the advanced course sequence and use of honors and Advanced Placement curriculum designed and delivered by experienced faculty, Scholars are engaged in critical thinking, problem solving and collaborative efforts daily. In 9th grade students take six honors and two Advanced Placement courses and in 10th grade students take 5 honors and four Advanced Placement courses. In 11th grade students were dual enrolled at UofSC Aiken, where they took a minimum of 12 hours of coursework.
With such an accelerated program comes the highest of expectations. Scholars rose to the challenge, evidenced by their performance on state assessments. In 2020-2021 Scholars earned a 100% pass rate on the Biology End of Course test (EOCT), with 11 students earning a perfect score and 96% earning an A, B or C. Additionally, there was a 100% pass rate on English 2 EOCT, with 8 students earning a perfect score and 100% earning an A, B or C. In U.S. History, 100% of students passed, with 10 perfect scores and 93% earning an A, B, or C.
Students participated in 282 AP Exams. Despite the interruption to face-to-face attendance, performance results indicate quality instruction and dedication from our students and faculty. Overall, 96% percent of students earned a qualifying score on an AP exam and 84% of all scores were a 3,4 or 5. The school's performance surpassed global performance in ALL content areas.
School is not the sole, or perhaps even primary, place of learning, but rather it is a point of departure for learning in all areas of life. The school facilitates the learning process and builds within Scholars the ability to make connections between their knowledge and its application to the world beyond the secondary classroom. We believe in working cohesively with our school family and local community, and our Scholars have a responsibility to support our local community through service learning projects. Despite the interruption of Covid-19, some Scholars were still able to give back to the local community. There were 337 documented hours of community service.
ASA continues to work diligently to provide scholars access to an accelerated course of study and challenging curriculum, highly qualified faculty and staff, up-to-date classroom technology, and a supportive environment. The future of ASA is bright! Fifty new Scholars will enter the door and our first Cohort will graduate next year! The School Leadership Team and School Improvement Council look forward to building new traditions and to ensuring that ASA students enjoy and reap the benefits of a high-quality educational experience.
Martha Messick, Principal
Dr. Tom Burns, SIC Chair