As Aiken County Public Schools prepares to open its newest state-of-the-art campus, the public is invited to share their input on demographer recommendations for the school’s attendance lines.
Representatives from MGT Consulting will present four proposed options for zoning Highland Springs Middle School next week at two Town Hall Meetings. The first will be held Wednesday, February 8, in Midland Valley High School’s auditorium, followed by a meeting the following evening (Thursday, February 9) at North Augusta High School’s gymnasium. Both will begin at 6:30 p.m., and offer students, parents, faculty, staff and other school stakeholders an opportunity to look closely at the demographers proposed options and share their insight.
Demographers presented a number of zoning options to Aiken County’s Board of Education at their January 17 Workshop and at the January 24 regularly-scheduled meeting. Representatives from MGT Consulting shared student demographics, enrollment numbers, and other considerations of each proposed option as trustees discussed and determined which options were best to bring to the public during Town Hall Meetings.
Maps and student enrollment details are currently available on the website, www.acpsd.net/HighlandSprings.
Options being considered include (Option 1) moving some students who were previously zoned for Leavelle-McCampbell, Langley-Bath-Clearwater, Paul Knox, and North Augusta Middle School into Highland Springs; (Option 2) shifting attendance lines in the North Augusta area and dividing students among three schools, Paul Knox, North Augusta and Highland Springs; (Option 5) shifting attendance lines in both the North Augusta and Midland Valley/Graniteville areas, some students would move from their currently-zoned school to the other existing middle school in their area or to the new Highland Springs; (Option 6) similar to Option 2 in that the option shifts attendance lines in the North Augusta area and divides students among three schools, Paul Knox, North Augusta and Highland Springs, this option (Option 6) makes North Augusta Middle’s zone contiguous (connected) and Option 2 makes North Augusta Middle’s zone non-contiguous (not connected). Two other options (Options 3 and 4) were eliminated from consideration during Board discussion.
Town Hall Meeting attendees will be invited to share their input electronically by scanning a QR code on their smart phone at the meeting. In addition, feedback may also be shared via email to communications@acpsd.net with “Highland Springs” in the subject line.
After reviewing community input and considering any alterations, a determination is expected for the Highland Springs school zone in early March.
LINK TO DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE: PR TOWN HALL MEETINGS SCHEDULED AS DISTRICT SEEKS COMMUNITY INPUT FOR HIGHLAND SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL ZONING