School Board representatives identified the attendance lines for the District’s newest campus last night, March 7, 2023.The Highland Springs school zone decision followed several opportunities for community input and was made with thoughtful consideration of the feedback received during the Town Hall Meetings held in February, as well as the input survey.
Overwhelmingly, feedback from the hundred or so families that attended the two Town Hall Meetings and the 300 plus respondents to the survey suggested that Highland Springs’ student body would be comprised of students from both Area 2, North Augusta, and Area 3, Midland Valley/Graniteville. The board’s decision last night of Scenario One reflects the feedback that was collected, and for the first time in district history, unifies students across area lines.
“I am so pleased to see the ACPSD Board decision which unifies areas 2 and 3, Paige Day, Highland Springs Middle School’s (HSMS) Principal stated. “This decision will allow HSMS to move forward with competitive programming and to serve the needs of all of the families surrounding our school. I look forward to meeting all of our new students and families as we work together to develop a culture and traditions that respect the values and histories of all our stakeholders.”
Option One was the favorite scenario among those who identified themselves as Area 2 North Augusta, with 41.9% of respondents selecting it as their preferred option. Option 6 carried 31.1% of the vote in North Augusta, followed by 15.6% for Option 2, and Option 5, which was least preferred, with just 11.5% selecting it as their preference.
Area 3, Midland Valley/Graniteville, respondents selected Option Five as their favorite, with 43.1% of the vote, Option One was a close second with 34.7% selecting it as their first choice. Option Two and Option Six, with 12.5% and 9.5%, respectively, were the least desirable among Area 3 survey participants.
“Scenario One involves both Area 2 and 3, and disrupts the least amount of students and families,” North Augusta Board Representative Dr. Patricia Hanks explained. “To me, one is the winner, it disrupts the least and will improve transportation and the time getting to those schools overall for students.”
Though not without counter positions raised, with support for Scenario Two from Mr. Dwight Smith, and five from Mr. Brian Silas, Dr. Hanks’ made a motion to adopt Scenario One, which Mrs. Patrice Rhinehart-Jackson seconded, and the motion passed with five in favor and two opposed.
Families in Area 2 and 3 who are zoned for the Highland Springs Middle School will receive a welcome letter from HSMS’ Principal Paige Day in the coming days, and will soon be invited to participate in selecting a school mascot, along with other engagement activities as construction schedules allow.
All feedback collected during this process is available on the District’s website by visiting, www.acpsd.net/HighlandSprings.That webpage also has a link to a School Zone Locator which allows families to type in their address and see the impact of this decision, if any, on their school zone.
Recognizing that some rising eighth grade students may wish to remain on their current campus for their final year of middle school, priority will be given to rising eighth graders requesting a school transfer to remain at their current middle school. Transfers in that circumstance should be requested through the regular school choice application, which will be extended for families impacted by Highland Springs zoning from the regular deadline of March 24 to March 31. School Choice applications are available online by visiting www.acpsd.net, I Am…>A Parent Guardian > School Choice. Please note that transportation is not provided for transfer students.
“We thank all of the parents, students, and employees who have participated in this process,” District Superintendent King Laurence commented. “It’s an exciting time in Aiken County Public Schools and we appreciate the passion and commitment to doing what’s best for students that has been evident.”
LINK TO DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE: PR TRUSTEES IDENTIFY HIGHLAND SPRINGS STUDENT ZONES FOLLOWING COMMUNITY INPUT