K-12 Public education
Lexington County has a proud tradition of offering outstanding K-12 education to its citizens. The County is home to five school districts which operate dozens of schools throughout the County. The following is a brief summary of each district:
Lexington County School District 1
www.lexington1.net
Lexington County School District One remains the largest school district in Lexington County — geographically and in student enrollment. Lexington County takes up 750 square miles. Lexington One occupies 360 square miles or 48 percent of the county. The district projects enrollment for 2005–2006 to be 19,140 students not including the three and four-year-old kindergarten programs. The District serves residents residing in the communities of Lexington, Gilbert, Lake Murray, Pelion and Red Bank and nearby areas.
Lexington County School District One continues to grow 500 new students on average each school year and remains one of the fastest growing school districts in the state (second only to Greenville County) from the 1992–1993 school year to the 2002–2003 school year growing by 6,158 children — an increase of 50.3 percent over 1992–1993.
The district has 20 schools: 10 elementary schools, one intermediate school, four middle schools, four high schools and one technology center.The district also has an Alternative Learning Center.
Lexington County School District One prides itself on leading the state academically. For the 14th consecutive year, our SAT scores exceeded both state and national SAT score averages. The District’s 2005 graduates were awarded more than $21 million dollars in scholarships based on their academic achievements. Lexington One eighth graders continue to earn spots as South Carolina Junior Scholars. In 2004–2005, 265 students earned this distinction. The district boasts state and national award winning marching and symphonic bands, choral and strings programs, and athletic programs. Foreign language is offered at all levels including elementary and middle school.
Lexington School District 2
http://www.lex2.org/home.asp
Lexington School District 2 is situated in the center of the County and is governed by a Board of Trustees. The School District encompasses a land area of 92 square miles and is separated by the Congaree River from the City of Columbia and is part of the Columbia metro area. Lexington County’s largest municipalities – the cities of West Columbia and Cayce are located within the School District. Also included in its boundaries are the towns of Springdale, South Congaree, and Pine Ridge.
Enrollment in Lexington School District 2 is more than 8,600 and the School District operates two high schools, three middle schools, eight elementary or grammar schools, and five specialty schools.
Lexington School District 3
http://lex3.groupfusion.net/
Lexington School District 3 is located in western Lexington County and also serves a small section of eastern Saluda County. Primarily serving the Town of Batesburg-Leesville, the School District operates one primary, one elementary, one middle, and one comprehensive high school. The District also operates a First Steps Early Childhood program and a Lifelong Learning Center for Adult Education programs.
More than 2,200 students attend K-4 through grade 12. Along with a standard educational curriculum, the District also offers academic programs for gifted and talented students, students with disabilities, and career and technology-minded students.
Within the past 10 years, the citizens of the District have approved measures to fund two new schools and a 1,000-seat fine arts center. All of the Districts facilities are state-of-the-art with high tech learning facilities and programs. More than 75 area businesses support the School District through its innovative business partnership program.
Lexington School District 4
www.lex4.k12.sc.us
Lexington School District Four includes Gaston and Swansea communities which cover approximately 87 square miles. The district has an estimated population of 15,350. It is within a 30-minute commute of 13 institutions of higher learning, including the University of South Carolina; five museums; two planetariums; four live theaters; nine parks; Lake Murray, with approximately 520 miles of shoreline; and the Columbia Metropolitan Airport with more daily arrivals and departures than any other airport in the state. Legal, accounting, and medical services, including Lexington Medical Center of Swansea, are available.
Lexington Four operates six schools—Swansea Primary and Frances Mack Primary, Sandhills Elementary, Sandhills Intermediate, Sandhills Middle, and Swansea High. All campuses have modern buildings. The schools’ student population is approximately 3,500. Approximately 55 percent of the district’s certified staff members have Master’s degrees and above.
Lexington District Four was recently recognized by the South Carolina Association for Educational Technology (SCAET) as having exhibited excellence in the integration of technology in education. Since 1991, Swansea High School has served as a pilot site in South Carolina for the Southern Region Education Board’s (SREB) High Schools-That-Work Program and was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education’s Award for outstanding Vocational/Technical Programs. Sandhills Middle School was selected as one of two pilot sites in South Carolina for the SREB’s Making Middle Grades Matter Project. Sandhills Middle School was also selected as a NASA Explorer School.
Extracurricular offerings include a full schedule of sports including varsity, JV, and B-teams in football; boys’ and girls’ basketball, track, and soccer; golf; wrestling; volleyball; softball; baseball; and academic clubs. Students may enroll in band in grades six through twelve. Band and choral concerts are presented annually for the community’s enjoyment by elementary and high school students.
Lexington School District 5
www.lex5.k12.sc.us
The legal name of the district is “School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties.” The School District Five of Lexington/Richland Counties is commonly referred to as District Five. The school district was organized by action of the Lexington County Board of Education in 1951 and the Richland County Board of Education in 1952. The action of the Boards of Education consolidated several smaller school districts in the Counties.
The District Five encompasses a land area of approximately 196 square miles, approximately one-half of which is situated in each of Lexington and Richland Counties. The school district consists of the northern portion of Lexington County lying north of Lake Murray and the Saluda River and the northwestern portion of Richland County lying south of the Broad River. The School District is primarily a residential suburb located to the northwest of the city of Columbia, the capital city of South Carolina.
Included in the District Five are the towns of Irmo and Chapin. The school district has three attendance areas: Chapin, Dutch Fork, and Irmo. District Five operates a total of 11 elementary schools, four middle schools, three high schools, and one alternative school. The total enrollment is more than 16,700 students.
All nineteen schools are fully accredited by the South Carolina State Department of Education and the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges. District Five offers an educational program that challenges and stimulates thinking and problem solving and fosters superior achievement. Our comprehensive educational program focuses on both academic and personal success for all students from early childhood education through grade 12 and including adult and community education programs. A variety of programs are offered to meet the diverse needs of our students.
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