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BELVEDERE ELEMENTARY GROUNDBREAKING

What an exciting day for our Belvedere Bears! Today, we officially broke ground on the final major phase of Belvedere Elementary’s campus transformation made possible by the community’s support of the 2018 bond referendum.

 This project will replace the 1950s cafeteria with a modern dining space seating 400 students, a retractable stage, and a new kitchen with two serving lines to create safer, more efficient mealtimes. A new connected multipurpose room and gym will also bring all core school functions under one roof, adding more than 15,000 sq. ft. to the campus.

The old cafeteria will become administrative space, and improvements to the grounds will enhance safety and drainage. Together, these upgrades build on Belvedere’s century-long tradition of community support and its back-to-back “Excellent” School Report Card ratings.

Thank you to our Board of Education, staff, families, and the Belvedere community for continuing to invest in our students. This new space is for our Bears—where they will learn, perform, gather, and grow!

Aiken County Public School District’s Principal Meeting on Thursday, November 13, ended on a high note as we celebrated several schools for achieving outstanding proficiency ratings this year!

Congratulations to our dedicated educators, leaders, and students for their remarkable accomplishments.! We are thrilled to congratulate these schools for their incredible accomplishments that reflect the passion and perseverance happening in classrooms every single day.

 A shout out to Aiken Scholars Academy for being True Blue, North Augusta Middle for receiving an overall excellent rating while rising to among the top five percent of all middle schools in the state, and Belvedere Elementary with an overall excellent rating rising to the top five percent of elementary schools in the state.

 A special shout out to Ridge Spring Monetta Elementary for increasing two full proficiency categories; the largest jump among all ACPSD schools!

 Thank you to all our principals and school teams for the amazing work you do. The momentum is strong, and we are excited for what's ahead!

Attention students, parents, and guardians,

The application for the 2026 acGATEWAY Summer Arts Program is now available. This year, the application is available in a digital format and can be completed by clicking the link below.

acGATEWAY is a rigorous and immersive summer arts opportunity for students who submit an application and go through the audition process. Current 3rd-12th graders are eligible and may choose from dance, theater, visual art, music, or creative writing.

The deadline to submit applications (online) is Monday, December 12th. No late applications will be accepted due to planning purposes.

All information about the program is detailed in the application.

Elementary Application Link: https://forms.office.com/r/6DZV4FhqCJ
Middle/High Application Link: https://forms.office.com/r/bp5s85n6tS
Aplicación en español: https://forms.office.com/r/9qAELiN8NH

For further assistance, contact:
District Fine Arts Coordinator, Dr. Kimberly Fontanez at kfontanez@acpsd.net

AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, NOVEMBER 11 BOARD MEETING
The Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, beginning at 6:00 p.m.  Please visit https://www.acpsd.net/page/board-meeting-livestream to view the meeting agenda and access the livestream when the meeting begins. Board Meetings are open to the public, although seating is limited. Our School Board Representatives may be contacted for any questions from our community stakeholders. Their contact information is available from that link as well.

MOMENTUM CONTINUES FOR AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON 2024–25 STATE REPORT CARDS

Aiken County Public Schools continues to show strong forward momentum on the recently released 2024–2025 South Carolina School Report Cards. This year, 46% of ACPSD schools increased an entire proficiency category, seven schools earned an Excellent rating, and no schools received an Unsatisfactory rating — a significant improvement from last year, when two schools earned Excellent and one received Unsatisfactory.

District performance outpaced state trends in several key areas:
• 48% of ACPSD elementary schools increased a proficiency rating (25% statewide)
• 50% of ACPSD middle schools increased a proficiency rating (33% statewide)
• 88% of ACPSD high schools earned Good/Excellent College & Career Readiness ratings (75% statewide)
• Nearly 60% of ACPSD schools earned Good/Excellent Climate ratings
• The district’s overall school climate score exceeded the state average

These results reflect continued academic growth, strengthened culture, and meaningful progress toward ensuring success for every student.

“We are seeing consistent and encouraging progress across our schools,” said Superintendent Dr. Corey Murphy. “Our staff, students, and families are working together to build strong instruction and positive school environments. We are proud of these results and remain committed to continued growth and academic excellence for every child.”

Academic Growth & Climate

Elementary ELA and math results show continued growth, and middle school ELA results improved as well. School climate remains a strength, with 13 schools earning Excellent climate ratings, spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

Success Across School Levels

Elementary schools delivering standout results include Aiken Elementary, Belvedere Elementary, East Aiken School of the Arts, Hammond Hill Elementary, and Millbrook Elementary who all received Excellent ratings. Ridge Spring-Monetta Elementary advanced two full proficiency levels, one of the most substantial increases in the district.
At the middle level, 50% of schools improved a full rating, with North Augusta Middle School earning its first Excellent rating in more than a decade. Beginning this year, all middle schools transitioned to an expanded ELA and math block schedule to further support student success.

High school results reflect strong preparation for life after graduation. Aiken Scholars Academy earned its fourth consecutive Excellent rating. North Augusta High School, Midland Valley High School, South Aiken High School, and Ridge Spring-Monetta High School also earned strong College & Career Readiness results.

Multilingual Learner Progress

ACPSD again exceeded the state average in multilingual learner growth, with 33.3% meeting or exceeding progress targets versus 26.8% statewide. Millbrook Elementary earned an Excellent rating in this category.

Moving Forward

“We are proud of the gains our schools have made,” Dr. Murphy said. “We will continue strengthening instruction, expanding opportunities, and supporting our students and educators. There is more work ahead, and we remain deeply committed to ensuring every student thrives.”

Full results are available at SCReportCards.com.

To read the full press release and view a video from Superintendent Dr. Murphy, please visit www.acpsd.net/news.

PURPLE UP FOR MILITARY FAMILIES | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14

ACPSD encourages all students, staff, and families to wear PURPLE on Friday, November 14 as we celebrate the Month of the Military Family!

This special day is our way of showing appreciation and support for the incredible military families who sacrifice and serve alongside their loved ones.

THANK YOU to our military families for your dedication, resilience, and service to our nation.

Join us in honoring our heroes—both at home and abroad—by wearing purple with pride!

Throughout November, schools across the district are recognizing Veterans Day and the Month of the Military Family with special celebrations and activities to honor the veterans and active-duty heroes in our community and across the country.

Let’s turn our schools PURPLE Friday, November 14!

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for the Aiken County Career & Technology Center’s (ACCTC) Community Night on Tuesday, October 29.

In addition to an opportunity to learn about the career center’s offerings, it was an exciting evening as Principal David Harris and CTE Executive Director Kenny Lott unveiled ACCTC’s new logo, a powerful symbol of innovation, opportunity, and progress for Aiken County students.

The new logo reflects the future of Career and Technical Education in Aiken County where students gain the hands-on experience and advanced skills that prepare them for college, careers, and lifelong success.

We’re also looking ahead to next school year, when ACCTC will open its new, state-of-the-art facility on the campus of Aiken Technical College.

Thank you to our community, partners, and elected officials for helping make this vision a reality. Together, we’re building the future of Aiken County’s workforce.

To read more and watch the news highlight of the logo unveiling please visit the ACCTC Community Night page.

AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, OCTOBER 28 BOARD MEETING
The Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, beginning at 7:00 p.m.  Please visit https://www.acpsd.net/page/board-meeting-livestream to view the meeting agenda and access the livestream when the meeting begins. Board Meetings are open to the public, although seating is limited. Our School Board Representatives may be contacted for any questions from our community stakeholders. Their contact information is available from that link as well.

FAFSA Night – October 28, 2025

Hosted by: USC Aiken and Aiken Technical College Financial Aid Staff
Audience: High School Seniors and Parents

High school seniors and their parents are invited to attend FAFSA Night for hands-on help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Event Details
Date: Monday, October 28, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: Aiken Technical College
Building C – Dale Phelon Tech Center, 1st Floor

What to Bring

• A cell phone

• Your 2024 Federal Tax Return
  (This can be imported directly into the FAFSA with parental permission.)

Attendees will receive support from experienced financial aid professionals from both USC Aiken and Aiken Technical College. Take this opportunity to get your FAFSA completed early and correctly.

For more information, contact your school counselor!

Join us for Community Night at ACCTC
Tuesday, October 28 | 4:00 – 7:00 PM
Aiken County Career & Technology Center
2455 Jefferson Davis Highway, Warrenville, SC

We’re excited to welcome current students, future students, families, and community members for an evening of connection, fun, and exploration.

Don’t miss our SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT at 5:00 PM.

Highlights include:

• Food trucks

• Door prizes

• Industry partners

• Activities for all ages

For more information, visit www.acpsd.net/acctc or call (803) 593-7300.

Mark your calendar and join us!