In the midst of recently released data from the South Carolina’s State Department of Education, many schools in Aiken County have reported significant progress in student performance and college readiness.
According to 2022-23 School Report Card Ratings, which highlights student performance information in addition to other elements of school quality and effectiveness, Aiken schools experienced a more than 36% increase over the previous year in the number of top-rated schools. This included six schools rated among the elite group named “Excellent” overall.
Additionally, as stated by a press release from the Aiken County School System, 35% of the county’s schools advanced at least one entire Report Card Proficiency Rating, with four schools increasing two proficiency ratings and one increasing three whole levels.
The six schools categorized as “Excellent” included: Belvedere, Gloverville and Oakwood-Windsor Elementary schools, New Ellenton STEAM Middle Magnet and Paul Knox Middle and Aiken Scholars Academy. New Ellenton has maintained its “Excellent” rating for four consecutive years, while Aiken Scholars Academy has qualified for the elite status since becoming eligible two years ago.
“The impact of the supportive student and family-centered climate at Belvedere Elementary cannot be underestimated with the increase of three entire proficiency categories in one years, from its 2022 rating of ‘Below Average,’ past ‘Average’ and ‘Good,’ with a 2023 rating ‘Excellent,’” stated a press release from the Aiken County School System.
With the “Excellent” rating of New Ellenton STEAM Middle Magnet and Paul Knox Middle, both schools were placed in the top 11% of middle schools statewide.
No schools within the county were labeled as “Unsatisfactory” and 90% landed ratings of “Average,” “Good” and “Excellent” overall.
At the elementary level, 38% of the county’s schools are rated “Excellent” or “Good.” Greendale and Warrenville elementary schools both increased their overall rating by two categories, from “Below Average” to “Good.”
“The ‘Good’ rating for Greendale marks the highest rating to date for the school. Other overall rating improvements at the elementary level were seen at Aiken Elementary, Byrd Elementary and Chukker Creek Elementary, which moved up to a category to ‘Good,’” according to a press release from the county.
The state’s accountability system includes performance indicators at the elementary and middle school levels Academic Achievement, Preparing for Success, Student Progress/Growth, School Climate and Multilingual Learners’ Proficiency. Two additional indicators at the high school level include Graduation Rate and College and Career Readiness.
Each indicator reflects the schools’ proficiency in preparing all students to meet the criteria outlined in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate, ensuring each graduate possesses the world class knowledge, skills, and life and career characteristics necessary for future success.
“There is a nice trend in Aiken County,” said Aiken County’s Chief Instructional Officer Amy Edwards in comparing year-over-year results for the District’s schools and 2023 highlights. “Whenever you look at Report Card data across the state of South Carolina, these (highlights) rate right up there with being some of the best. This upward trend in overall performance indicates that we are on the right track.”
For 2023’s Report Card, South Aiken High and Aiken High both maintained their overall rating of “Good,” while Aiken Scholars Academy has earned back-to-back “Excellent” ratings and is once again ranked in the top five of 242 high schools in the state. As one of only four high schools in South Carolina with 100% of students meeting college and career readiness indicators, Aiken Scholars Academy is ranked in the top 2% of all public high schools in South Carolina.
Other highlights shared about the county’s high schools included the District’s 89% graduation rate, which outperformed the state average of 84% and is among the best in the state, according to a press release from the county.
“The teaching and learning momentum is quite impressive. Our intention is to keep moving in this positive direction,” said Edwards.
Despite the upward trajectory across the school district, and marked improvement by the handful of schools rated as “Below Average” for 2022, which each progressed one to three categories, Edwards also acknowledged challenges.
“We have our work cut out for us moving forward,” said Edwards. “We know that and are prepared to address it through an action plan for continuous growth.”
