Our school is focused on supporting all students to develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by prioritizing literacy and critical thinking in all classes. Our students develop connections to quality post-secondary opportunities, including two-year and four-year colleges, through participation and success in advanced coursework and dual enrollment opportunities through a continued partnership with Aiken Technical College and our district work-based learning initiative, Aiken Works.
Our staff encourages all students to attend college and develop 21st century job skills by completing internships and/or apprenticeships, enrollment at the Aiken County Career Center, and rigorous coursework. Through Individual Graduation Plan conferences with our students and parents, we focus on helping our students develop plans and access resources to achieve their dreams and reach their goals.
Our school gardens and farming partners provide our students opportunities to learn how to grow, maintain, market, and prepare produce for human consumption. Through our Business Education program, students develop the world class skills necessary to compete in the 21st century by learning essential business, finance, marketing, and technology skills. Additionally, students develop the necessary soft skills as identified in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. Health care and medical professions are in high demand and provide our society the support needed to live healthy lives. Our students have opportunities to receive preparation and develop skills leading to certification(s) in the the health care profession.
Our middle school teachers strive to provide an engaging learning environment to grow students' minds through critical thinking and problem-solving exercises embedded in classroom instruction. Teachers fostered creativity by providing opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning in different ways. Students were engaged in projects that encouraged them to be innovative: in Science and Math, students engaged in kinesthetic learning by creating their own models; in Social Studies, through challenging document based questions where students were able to interpret history utilizing primary source documents; and in English Language Arts, students expressed their creativity in poetry and narrative writing. Throughout their instruction, our students delved into analyzing sources, making connections, and supporting their arguments with evidence. Additionally, our Arts Program provided additional experiences for our students to express their creativity through art and band.
To increase student readiness, students with reading challenges were supported through Read 180 classes, which included targeted, individualized computer assisted instruction and small group instruction. Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) II funds was utilized to extend our after-school, Saturday, and summer programs to address student learning loss due to the pandemic.
Our vision is to prepare all our students for college, career, and life. Our students are developing the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by participating in real-world activities and authentic learning experiences focused on world class knowledge and skills, life and career characteristics, and soft skills that employers value and increases students' marketability and career choices.
