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Aiken County Public School District, July 29 BOARD MEETING - The Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, July 29, 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.

Celebrating the First Week Back to School Here’s a glimpse into our first week of the 2025–26 school year, as district leaders visited schools across Aiken County and students and teachers began settling into their routines. We’re excited for the year ahead and all the meaningful learning to come! #ACPSDcelebrates #BackToSchool

This summer, Aiken County’s most talented young artists immersed themselves in the acGATEWAY experience, which is an intensive, high-level arts program designed to challenge and inspire! From vibrant visual art displays to moving theatrical performances, students demonstrated what passion, focus, and creativity can achieve in just a few short weeks! Want to see what makes acGATEWAY so special? Watch our behind-the-scenes student videos and discover why this program has been a beloved part of Aiken County since 1992 and keep an eye out for 2026 acGATEWAY audition information for our summer 2026 opportunity. #acGATEWAY #AikenArts #GiftedAndTalented #ArtsEducation #StudentShowcase #VisualAndPerformingArts #ACPSD https://www.acpsd.net/page/gateway

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL 2025-26

It’s officially back to school in Aiken County, and excitement filled the district today!

Superintendent Dr. Corey Murphy and district leaders visited schools across the county to personally welcome students, teachers, and staff. With smiling faces, cheerful greetings, and engaging classroom visits, the 2025–26 school year is off to a fantastic start.

Expectations were set, lunch routines practiced, and learning picked up without missing a beat. The future is bright, and we’re ready to make this the best year yet!

#ACPSDcelebrates #FirstDayOfSchool #BackToSchool

SHINE is Back!

After a summer break, SHINE—our weekly spotlight on outstanding ACPSD employees—is ready to light up your feed again!

We’re kicking off the 2025-2026 school year by celebrating 7 incredible team members who went above and beyond to ensure a smooth start for our students and staff. From behind-the-scenes prep to front-line support, their dedication sets the tone for an amazing year ahead!

Let’s celebrate the brilliance that powers our district—every Sunday, all year long!

If you know a staff member who deserves special recognition, give them a shout-out! www.acpsd.net/shine

Stay connected with Aiken County Public Schools anytime, anywhere with the official ACPSD App. With the app, parents can access teacher messages, school and district events, important documents, class information, and real-time notifications all in one place. Scan the QR code on the flyer to download today and stay informed.

Aiken County Public School District, July 15 BOARD MEETING - The Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, July 15, 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.

THANK YOU to The United Way of Aiken County and everyone who came out to "Stuff the Bus" and donate school supplies at yesterday's School Tools drive. Your generosity will help ensure all students have the supplies needed for a successful start to the new school year! For more information on how you can help, visit https://www.uwaiken.org/school-tools

IGNITE 2025 | NEW TO DISTRICT PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENT

On Tuesday morning, Aiken County Public Schools welcomed more than 210 new educators to our district! With the vibrant energy of high school cheerleaders from across ACPSD and the powerful beats of the North Augusta High School Drumline, we kicked off Ignite — our signature orientation event designed to spark success as we prepare to welcome students for the 2025–26 school year.

First-year teachers and veteran educators new to Aiken County had the opportunity to connect with their teams, enjoy breakfast with their principals, and engage in a variety of meaningful professional learning sessions and training designed to support their growth throughout this year and beyond.

An event highlight – the “Fashion Show!” Our school and district leaders brought the style and the standards as they walked the runway during Ignite Orientation to model dress code-appropriate attire for our newest educators! From business casual to classroom-ready, they showed how to dress for success while keeping it professional and approachable. Big thanks to our leadership team for stepping up—and stepping out in style.

A huge thank you to our speakers, session leaders, generous sponsors, and community vendors for helping make this event such a success!

We’re thrilled to welcome these passionate educators to the ACPSD family and can’t wait to see the difference they’ll make in classrooms across the district!

#ACPSDcelebrates #BackToSchool #Ignite25

Aiken County Public Schools will be closed Thursday, July 3, and Friday, July 4, in observance of the Independence Day holiday. School district offices will reopen on Monday, July 7. Wishing you and your family a safe and joyful Fourth of July! #ACPSDcelebrates #FourthOfJuly #IndependenceDay

Parents and Guardians now is the time to schedule a well-visit or vaccine appointment with your child’s healthcare provider to avoid the back-to-school rush before the 2025-26 school year begins on July 21! The SC Department of Public Health is also offering a vaccine clinic for students in grades 5K–12 on July 8 from 9–11:30 a.m. and 1–3:30 p.m. at the Aiken County Health Department (222 Beaufort Street NE, Aiken). Call (803) 642-7543 to make an appointment and bring vaccination and insurance records; a parent or guardian must accompany children under 16. No-cost vaccines may be available, though administration fees may apply. Don’t forget to submit your child’s updated SC Immunization Certificate to their school and note that all rising 7th graders must have a Tdap booster given at age 10 or older. Contact your child’s healthcare provider or school nurse with any questions and visit acpsd.net/page/nursing-services for more information.

BACK TO SCHOOL BASH Please join your community at Roy Warner Park in Wagener on Friday, July 19, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This community event will feature a back-to-school giveaway including free backpacks, gift cards, clothing, and more. In addition to these great giveaways, there will be free music, haircuts, hair braiding, a bounce house, and a variety of fun activities for the whole family. Don’t miss this opportunity to get ready for the school year and enjoy a day of community celebration. Please see the flyer for more details.

Join us at the Aiken High School Auditorium for the acGateway Showcases! -Elementary Showcase: Tonight at 7:00 PM -Middle/High School Showcase: Thursday at 7:00 PM Come celebrate our talented students as they present their hard work in visual art, creative writing, theater, music, and dance! acGATEWAY stands for “Aiken County’s Gifted and Talented Education with Artistic Youth”. The program was established in 1992 and aims to provide visual and performing arts students with an experience beyond what is possible in a regular classroom setting. Small class sizes, individual instruction, access to specialized materials, and highly knowledgeable instructors are only some of the ways students benefit from being part of this collaborative arts community. The winning t-shirt design was created by rising 11th grade student at Aiken High School, Alexandra Bennett.

We’re proud to share some exciting news from the national stage! 🎉 Aiken County Public School District was one of only eight districts chosen to present as an Innovative District at the Model Schools Conference in Washington, D.C. this week! Kathy Langston, Director of Elementary Teaching and Learning, and Erica Millwood, Coordinator of Elementary Teaching and Learning, had the incredible opportunity to represent ACPSD with excellence on the national platform, inspiring educators from across the country! ✨ #LeadersInACPSD #ACPSDproud #InnovativeLearning #MODELschools2025 #StudentSuccess #ProjectBasedLearning #EducationLeadership

Aiken County Public School District, June 24 BOARD MEETING - The Board of Education will hold a Special called meeting on Tuesday, June 24, 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.

CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH | JUNE 19 Juneteenth, short for “June Nineteenth,” is a special day that honors the end of slavery in the United States. On this day in 1865, news of freedom finally reached the last enslaved African Americans in Texas—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Juneteenth is a time to celebrate freedom, reflect on our shared history, and continue learning together. To explore more about the meaning and history of Juneteenth, families and students can visit the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture:: 🔗 https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/moments/juneteenth #ACPSDcelebrates #Juneteenth

Aiken iNNOVATE is a virtual learning option offered by Aiken County Public School District for students entering grades 6 through 12. Seats are available now for your child to begin their virtual learning journey this July! To apply, simply search “Aiken iNNOVATE application” online or contact us at ai@acpsd.net. If virtual learning is the right fit for your family, don’t wait—apply today and take control of your education! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8uv00kBT3Q

Aiken County Public School District, June 10 BOARD MEETING - The Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, June 10, 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.

Congratulations to Ashley Watson, this year’s AMP THE APPRECIATION door prize winner! Ashley shared a photo from our district’s annual employee celebration event in The Alley, capturing the spirit of AMP THE APPRECIATION with the hashtag #acpsdAMP25. Thank you to High Country Olive Oil, Inc. for generously donating the door prize and supporting our efforts to recognize the amazing work of ACPSD employees. Wishing everyone a relaxing and refreshing summer break!

As part of our district’s efforts to ensure consistency across all schools and areas, standardized school start and end times for elementary, middle, and high school students have long been a goal. We are pleased to share that Wagener-area schools including Busbee Elementary, Corbett Middle, and Wagener-Salley High School will transition to the standard student arrival and dismissal times already implemented at schools in Aiken, North Augusta, Midland Valley, and the Jackson/New Ellenton areas. Standard arrival and dismissal times in Aiken County Schools are as follows: • Elementary Schools: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. • Middle Schools: 8 a.m. - 3:10 p.m. • High Schools: 8:20 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Student bus riders in the Wagener area should anticipate transportation arriving approximately 15 minutes earlier in the mornings and a drastic improvement in afternoon travel times. Bus transportation will deliver all elementary students home immediately after dismissal at 2:30 p.m., then begin middle and high school student pickup and drop off. While Ridge Spring-Monetta students will remain on their slightly altered arrival/dismissal schedule as we begin the 2025-26 school year, efforts are underway to further review routes for efficiencies and determine if a shift to the county’s standardized student day is possible given the availability of bus drivers and distance of some stops in the rural community which extend near Edgefield and into Saluda County.