AIKEN --- Technology in the classroom was one of the winning innovations that helped Aiken Elementary School achieve a Palmetto's Finest designation as one of the state's best.
The elementary school was one of four South Carolina schools recognized Monday in Columbia.
"It's like the Academy Awards," Aiken Elementary Principal Sharon Cagle said. "It's hard to showcase what you do every day for their visits, but we tried harder to highlight community involvement and technology practices."
Aiken Elementary was a finalist for the award in 2007 and the only elementary school in the county to receive the highest state recognition, Mrs. Cagle said.
Carolina First Bank and the South Carolina Association of School Administrators sponsor the annual award. Lake Carolina Elementary in Blythewood, Waccamaw High School in Pawleys Island and Riverside Middle School in Pendleton also were honored.
The process begins with a 20-page application. Mrs. Cagle said the school started with 44 pages of material before turning in the final draft. Committees also visit schools several times throughout the process, questioning students, parents and teachers about how the school operates. Even the layout of classrooms and the school matters, Mrs. Cagle said.
"We have 55 classrooms, and they have a lot to visit and schedule," Mrs. Cagle said. "We want to make sure they're seeing what we reported."
Hallways are filled with student projects and photos from community events to give the committee an idea of the opportunities provided at Aiken Elementary.
"It's hard work -- if it was easy then everyone would do it," Mrs. Cagle said.
Reach Julia Sellers at (803) 648-1395, ext. 106, or julia.sellers@augustachronicle.com.
ABOUT THE SCHOOL
- Aiken Elementary was a Palmetto's Finest finalist in 2007.
- It is the only school in Aiken County to win Palmetto's Finest. The school last won in 1992.
- The school, founded in 1890 as a private school, serves 970 students.
- Student achievement has exceeded district and state scores on PACT in all areas and in all grades for the past five years.
ABOUT PALMETTO'S FINEST
The award judges schools on student achievement, faculty training, program goals, teaching quality, office practices and community involvement, among other criteria. On-site evaluations are used to determine finalists and winners.
Carolina First Bank and the South Carolina Association of School Administrators sponsor the award each year. Awards are presented each year to two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school.
Source: South Carolina Department of Education
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