Kershaw County School District

KCSD is the only school district in the Midlands and one of only 10 in the state to be recognized as having a "high return on investment" in a 2014 productivity study by the Center for American Progress. Recent SAT scores rose 29 points with more students taking the test, and ACT scores were at an all-time for the district. Scholarships earned by Kershaw County graduates reached $11.6 million, another all-time high. The District received almost $2 million in competitive grant funding and direct services to students through grants awarded to community partners. KCSD's website was again recognized as one of the state's best by the SC chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (SC/NSPRA), receiving approximately 500,000 visits over the school year. Pine Tree Hill Elementary also honored with four SC/NSPRA Rewards in Excellence communications awards. Students from Lugoff-Elgin High and Camden High raised over $65,000 in one week for the United Way of Kershaw County. In the first year of competition, three KCSD teams (Camden Middle, Camden High and Lugoff-Elgin High) made the state Quiz Bowl Championships. The Blaney Elementary and Stover Middle Archery Teams reached the National Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky. The Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter at ATEC received a "Gold" rating, making it one of the nine best chapters in the state. The student newspapers of both Camden and Lugoff-Elgin high schools both received "Superior" ratings from the South Carolina Press Association in addition to numerous individual awards. The Kershaw County School Board was recognized by the South Carolina School Boards Association with an Advocacy Program of the Year award for its efforts to help employees register to vote. The Lugoff-Elgin High School yearbook was one of only four in South Carolina to receive a "Gallery of Excellence" award from Walsworth Publishing. Staff awards included: Doby's Mill Elementary Principal Ginger Catoe was named the South Carolina Association of School Librarians (SCASL) Administrator of the Year. Chief Financial Officer Donnie Wilson was named the South Carolina Association of School Business Officers (SCASBO) School Business Officer of the Year. Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Connie Graham received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA). Assessment Director Lavoy Carter received a District Technology Innovative Program (TIP) Award from the South Carolina Association for Educational Technology for his "PASS Analyzer" program. Lugoff-Elgin Middle was the first SC middle school to win a national "School to Watch" award and the first to be re-designated twice. Five schools (Camden High, Doby's Mill Elementary, Lugoff-Elgin Middle, Lugoff Elementary and Camden Primary) have been named Palmetto's Finest schools. Jackson School was the first LEED Gold K-12 school in South Carolina. Doby's Mill Elementary was named a 2013 National School of Character National Finalist. Three former District Teachers of the Year have been named State Teachers of the Year.