New Ellenton Middle STEAM Magnet School is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing a safe, caring, and academically challenging learning environment. As a Cognia STEM accredited institution, our students are challenged to excel in a global society with the support of parents, highly qualified professional educators, support staff, and the community.
We uphold a culture of high expectations by employing instructional best practices and ensuring continuous professional development for our teachers. Our educators use effective, research-based programs and strategies such as STEAM, Advisor/Advisee Program, acceleration program, Reading Counts, Read180, MAP, IXL, Dreambox, differentiation, and small group instruction to support student learning and classroom instruction. Teachers collaborate weekly in Professional Learning Communities to plan interdisciplinary STEAM projects, address students’ academic and behavioral needs, review grade-level technology guarantees, evaluate instructional practices, and plan professional development. Quarterly, teachers meet by content with administrators and district content specialist to disaggregate data, plan, and review common formative assessments, standards, and pacing guides. Furthermore, our students have multiple opportunities to work collaboratively in groups in a flexibly scheduled environment that enables them to engage in student-led learning experiences with their peers from different classes.
Our students engage in collaborative, student-led learning experiences in a flexible environment, working with peers from different classes. We are proud of our faculty and staff's dedication, which has earned New Ellenton an “Excellent” rating on the South Carolina State Report Cards for 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023! All faculty members are highly qualified, and our Algebra I instructor has maintained a 100% passing rate on the state End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP). Our students excel in academic and extracurricular activities, participating in events like the Aiken County Spelling Bee, Junior Scholar Program, and various band competitions. The New Ellenton Middle Band received Outstanding Performance Awards from the South Carolina Band Directors Association in 2023 and 2024. This year, New Ellenton Middle STEAM Magnet earned its initial designation as a Schools to Watch.
Despite the challenges of being a small community school, NEMS maintains strong connections with parents, community organizations, and businesses to help students achieve their goals. We have partnered with community agencies, area businesses, and local churches to provide on-site tutoring, college and career exploration opportunities, and character-building programs. Our “Catch-up Café” allows students to complete overdue assignments during lunch. We strive to offer a sound educational experience and foster positive relationships with our studen
Thank you for investing in the future of South Carolina graduates and future world leaders!
Shunte Dugar, Principal
