Lights, camera... safety!
Our Communications team is proud to share some behind-the-scenes photos for our new video outlining our district's Standard Response Protocol (SRP) procedures.
This project would not have been possible without the support of our acGATEWAY students, Student Advisory Council members, and the many student volunteers who generously gave their time to participate. We also want to thank local law enforcement and emergency responders for their collaboration in making this video. They all played a role in bringing this important resource to life. Your partnership and commitment to the safety of our schools are truly appreciated.
Be sure to check back tomorrow, we will be sharing the finished video!
Before the school year officially began, we had the opportunity to welcome the newest members of the ACPSD family during IGNITE, our annual new teacher orientation.
Take a look back at some of the highlights as our newest educators connected with district leaders, met fellow colleagues, and began preparing for the year ahead. Watch the full highlight on YouTube!
To all of our new teachers joining Aiken County Public School District this year, we’re excited to have you with us and wish you a successful and rewarding first year. Welcome to ACPSD!
The Aiken County Public School District (ACPSD) is pleased to announce the appointment of Crystal Hadden as Principal of Highland Springs Middle School.
Hadden brings nearly 20 years of experience in education and a collaborative leadership style focused on student success, continuous growth, and strong school partnerships.
She began her career as an English teacher, serving students in Aiken County Public Schools and Lexington County School District One before moving into school administration. Most recently, Hadden served as Assistant Principal at Douglas Elementary School in Edgefield County School District. She previously served as Assistant Principal at Strom Thurmond High School from 2018 to 2025 and as Interim Assistant Principal at South Aiken High School in 2018.
"Returning to Aiken County, the community where I was once a student myself and where my family now makes our home, makes this opportunity profoundly special," Hadden said. "As a product of Aiken County schools, the wife of an Aiken County educator, and the parent of a current Highland Springs Riverhawk with two future Riverhawks close behind, my connection to this school and community is deeply rooted."
Hadden assumes her new role Monday, Aug. 3 and looks forward to partnering with students, families, staff, and the Highland Springs community.
AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, JULY 28 BOARD MEETING
The Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 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.
The first week of the 2026-27 school year is in the books! From smiling faces and new beginnings, take a look back at the excitement, energy, and memorable moments that kicked off another great year!
#WelcomeBackACPSD #FirstWeek
Congrats to our Summer Graduates!
Over the summer, several students across Aiken County Public Schools completed all their requirements to earn a diploma from their high schools. These students, who received their accredited SC diploma from Superintendent Dr. Corey Murphy, participated in a ceremony at Aiken High School on Tuesday, July 21st.
Their journey to this milestone reflects determination, resilience, and hard work. We are incredibly proud of all they have accomplished and look forward to seeing the impact they will make in the years ahead. Please join us in congratulating our Summer 2026 graduates!
#ACPSDCelebrates #ACPSD2026Grads #AikenCountyPublicSchools #2026Graduation
Today marked the first official day of the 2026-2027 school year, and we're already off to a great start! More than 22,000 new and returning students came back to classrooms and are ready for new memories and opportunities that await them.
These students will be supported by more than 1,500 teachers and 120 administrators who are committed to helping every child learn, grow, and succeed. To celebrate the start of the new year, Superintendent Dr. Corey Murphy, along with several other district leaders, visited schools throughout the district, connecting with students, teachers, and staff. Their visits highlighted the enthusiasm, commitment, and positive momentum already taking shape as schools begin another year of learning and growth.
Thank you to our teachers, administrators, support staff, and families for making such a memorable first day of school. We can't wait to see all that our students accomplish this year.
Here's to a fantastic school year, we're glad you're back!
#WelcomeBackACPSD #BackToSchool
ACPSD Families:
We hope you’ve enjoyed summer break and are looking forward to the start of the school year!
As you prepare for the first day of school tomorrow, please note the following:
Chef-created, healthy breakfasts and lunches are available for students in our cafeterias each school day. Student meals are offered at no cost to families through our participation in the USDA's Community Eligibility Provision. We invite you to skip lunch prep and try eating at school instead.
Be sure to download the Aiken County Public Schools SC app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Our district uses this app for school information, announcements, and two-way communication with families.
We also encourage families to review the Student Code of Conduct before the first day of school.
South Carolina law prohibits student cell phone use during the school day. Elementary students should not bring cell phones to school. Middle and high school students must keep their phones turned off and put away throughout the entire school day.
If you have not yet registered your student, please do so immediately. Students who are not registered cannot be assigned to a teacher or class schedule. Visit www.acpsd.net/register to complete the registration process.
Finally, during the first few days of school, please allow extra time for morning drop-off and afternoon pickup. Car lines may take longer than usual as students and families become familiar with school routines. We appreciate your patience, ask that you use extra caution, and follow the directions of school staff to help keep everyone safe.
Thank you for choosing Aiken County Public Schools. We look forward to a wonderful school year and will see everyone in the morning!
On Monday, more than 23,000 students will return to classrooms across Aiken County Public Schools, marking the beginning of the 2026–27 school year.
The start of a new school year brings fresh opportunities, new experiences, and exciting possibilities for students, families, and employees alike. Throughout the summer, our teachers, staff, and school leaders have prepared safe, welcoming, and engaging learning environments where every student can learn, grow, and thrive.
Aiken County Public Schools is grateful for the incredible support of our community throughout the back-to-school season. From school supply drives to partnerships like United Way of Aiken County's Stuff the Bus campaign, your generosity has helped ensure students begin the school year equipped for success.
We are excited to welcome everyone back on Monday and look forward to another outstanding year of teaching, learning, and achievement across Aiken County Public Schools.
#AikenCountyPublicSchools #BackToSchool #MeetYourTeacher #WalkYourSchedule
READY, SET, TEACH!
More than 1,700 Aiken County Public Schools educators came together today for Ready, Set, Teach!, our districtwide Professional Development Day designed to prepare teachers for a successful 2026-27 school year.
Throughout the day, educators participated in four 75-minute learning sessions focused on updated curriculum, instructional strategies, and best practices to strengthen teaching and learning from day one. Training was tailored by grade level and subject area, with specialized learning opportunities for Career & Technical Education, JROTC, Fine Arts, Media Specialists, School Counselors, Multilingual Learners, and Special Education staff. At the same time, educators at J.D. Lever Elementary, Millbrook Elementary, and Silver Bluff High School participated in Capturing Kids' Hearts training on their campuses.
The day featured more than 340 unique professional development sessions, resulting in over 5,000 session registrations and more than 8,000 recertification credits earned by our dedicated educators.
One of the greatest strengths of Ready, Set, Teach! is that many of the sessions were developed and led by our own outstanding teachers, instructional coaches, and district leaders, highlighting the expertise that exists within Aiken County Public Schools.
A special thank you to our valued partners, including outside presenters, instructional technology and textbook providers, and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), for helping make today's learning possible.
We also appreciate our host sites: Aiken Technical College, Aiken High School, Highland Springs Middle School, Kennedy Middle School, Leavelle McCampbell Middle School, Midland Valley High School, and North Augusta High School.
By investing in our educators, we are investing in the success of every student. Here's to a great 2026-27 school year!
AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, JULY 14 BOARD MEETING
The Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, 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.
The 2026–27 school year is almost here, and this week has been all about preparing for an incredible first day.
We were thrilled to welcome 192 new teachers to Aiken County Public School District during IGNITE, our annual new teacher orientation. From an enthusiastic welcome by student cheerleaders to breakfast with school leaders, our newest educators experienced the warmth, support, and pride that make ACPSD such a special place. Throughout IGNITE, they built connections, explored district expectations, and participated in professional learning designed to set them up for success from day one.
As always the event highlight was the "Fashion Show!" From business casual to classroom ready, our school and district leaders showed how to dress for success while keeping it professional and dress-code appropriate. Big thank you to our leadership for walking in style.
At the same time, our new and returning principals and assistant principals came together for ASCEND: A Leadership Summit for Excellence, where they collaborated, sharpened their leadership skills, and prepared to welcome students, staff, and families for another outstanding year.
Thank you to our speakers, session leaders, generous sponsors, and community vendors for helping make this events such a success!
There is nothing quite like the excitement of a new school year, and we can't wait to welcome our students back on Monday, July 20!
Let's make it our best year yet!
Aiken County Public Schools will be closed Thursday, July 2, and Friday, July 3, in observance of the Independence Day holiday. School district offices will reopen on Monday, July 6. Wishing you and your family a safe and joyful Fourth of July! #ACPSDcelebrates #FourthOfJuly #IndependenceDay
5K Families: Don't Forget About Staggered Start!
As we get ready to welcome our youngest learners back to school, our kindergarten students will be using a staggered start for the first days of the school year. Your child's assigned start date and other important details will come directly from your child's school.
Be sure to check your:
Email
Parent Portal
School's Website
School's Social Media
If you haven't received any information, it's possible your student's registration is not yet complete. Please complete your student's registration as soon as possible so you don't miss important back-to-school updates. Contact your child's school for any questions.
We can't wait to welcome students back for a great school year!
Congratulations to Sharon Morton of Highland Springs Middle School!
Sharon is an exceptional custodian who takes genuine pride in her work. She is consistently thorough, reliable, and attentive to the details that help keep her school clean, welcoming, and well cared for.
Her positive attitude and strong work ethic make a noticeable difference each day. Sharon is truly a valued asset and a pleasure to work with.
Thank you, Sharon, for your dedication and for the care you bring to your work every day!
AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, JUNE 30th SPECIALLY CALLED BOARD MEETING
The Board of Education will hold a specially called meeting on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Please visit www.acpsd.net/board-live 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.
We invite newly enrolled families who speak a non-English language at home to attend one of our Multilingual Learner Registration & Language Screening Events.
This event is designed to help identify students who may qualify for language support services before the start of the school year. At this event, newly enrolled students will complete a 30–60-minute language screening before meeting the Multilingual Learners (ML) Teacher Team and learn about available school supports.
Interpreters will be available to assist families throughout the event.
Events at Six Points:
Monday, July 6th | 1:00pm - 7:00pm
Tuesday, July 7th | 1:00pm - 7:00pm
Thursday, July 9th | 1:00pm - 7:00pm
Event at Ridge-Spring Monnetta Middle/High:
Wednesday, July 8th | 1:00pm - 7:00pm
Registration help will be available; returning students should bring two proofs of residency and their parent portal login info. New students should bring two proofs of residency, a copy of their birth certificate, and their immunization records. Our goal is to ensure every multilingual learner begins the school year with the services, resources, and support they need to succeed from day one.
Have questions? Please contact the Director of Multilingual Learners, Dr. Elisabeth Hardy, at ehardy@acpsd.net or (803) 641-2428.
We look forward to seeing you there!
#ACPSDRegistration #ACPSDMultilanguageLearners #MultilingualLearners
On Thursday, June 25th, we proudly celebrated the graduation of this year’s Junior Leadership class at the North Augusta Municipal Building.
This program is designed for rising ninth graders and takes place each June. Throughout seven sessions, students explore their leadership styles and strengths, meet community and industry leaders, and gain insight into careers that may interest them.
We are incredibly proud of these students!
#ACPSDCelebrates #ACPSD #AikenCountyPublicSchools
Mark your calendars for this year's completely free Back to School Bash, hosted by community organizer Victoria Paloma!
This exciting event will take place on July 18th, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Roy Warner Park (6021 Roy Warner Park LN, Wagener, SC 29164) to help students kick off the school year with confidence.
Available on a first-come, first-served basis, children can receive free bookbags, school supplies, brand-new outfits, shoes, gift cards, fresh haircuts, professional hair braiding, food, and much more.
Please see the attached flyer for more information.
Don’t Forget to Register Your Student for the 2026-27 School Year!
This is an important reminder to complete registration for the upcoming school year. While we need all new and returning students registered as soon as possible, we are issuing a special call to action for our incoming 5K (Kindergarten) families. Registering your rising kindergartener right now is essential for classroom planning and ensuring our littlest learners have a perfect start on Day One!
New and Returning Student Registration is underway for the upcoming 2026-27 School Year.
Please take a few minutes to review the registration information at www.acpsd.net/register or go directly to your parent portal in PowerSchool at http://aiken.powerschool.com/public.
For returning students, registration takes just a few minutes through your parent portal account as the student’s existing registration information will pre-populate. Please review and change any information that needs updating and ensure that up-to-date emergency contact information is included for each student.
Registering your student now helps us get ready to welcome your student back after the summer and ensure a smooth start to next school year, allowing teachers and classrooms to be assigned to serve your student on day one.
We thank you, as always, for your partnership in an excellent educational experience.
#ACPSDRegistration #ACPSD5K #KindergartenRegistration #ReturningStudentRegistration #SouthCarolinaSchoolRegistration #AikenK-12SchoolRegistration
