Welcome to the start of another great school year in the Columbia County School District. It has been a busy summer and we are ready for students and what will be our best year yet.
Each new school year brings with it a sense of excitement and optimism. And this year is no different. In fact, the promise of this new school term brings with it experiences and opportunities never seen before. Among those are expanded opportunities for advanced learning; building improvements at three high schools − Lakeside, Evans, and Harlem − as well as a new safety reporting app. And, we also are launching ParentSquare, a new all-in-one communication platform to make it easier for families and our schools to stay in touch.
state award for behind-the-scenes impact
This year, we are focused on another important opportunity: our work to invest in our students and their future, celebrating their success and delivering on The Promise of CCSD. That phrase, “The Promise of CCSD,” is one you will hear repeatedly and enthusiastically throughout the new school year.
Over the summer, we launched a year-long campaign that focuses on the promise of every student who enters our schools, and on the promises we make to educate them in a manner that engages, enriches, and inspires them. The Promise of CCSD also speaks to our employees and the work they do, as well as the promises we make and deliver upon for our community.
Chief among the promises we make to our community is that our schools will remain places where students and staff thrive, succeed, and feel secure every day. And our students are thriving. Recently, we shared the 2026 Advanced Placement results that show that students are engaging in rigorous coursework at unprecedented levels. Over the past four years, the percentage of tests taken by students earning a qualifying AP score has continually increased from 55% to 81%, while participation has grown significantly, by almost 2,000 more exams taken during that time, to more than 5,200 AP exams taken this year. Surpassing the 80% threshold is an incredible accomplishment for districts of our size.
New AP courses, an SAT preparatory incentive program, the new Construction Equipment Operator Pathway, our NexGen Cyber initiative, ongoing safety improvements, a focus on communication, and additional professional development for teachers and staff will be in place this year to help us deliver on our promises to our students and staff.
At its heart, “The Promise of CCSD” is found in the collective talents, will, passion, and dedication of all who make up our Columbia County community. We are all partners in the promise, and all are needed to bring it to life. On behalf of the Columbia County School District and all of our schools, I extend a warm welcome to the new school year and an invitation for you to join us this school year in celebrating “The Promise of CCSD.” As partners − employees, parents, and community members alike − we can work together to ensure that our students have a great year and face a future full of promise.
− Dr. Steve Flynt is the superintendent of schools in Columbia County.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Columbia County schools launch 'The Promise of CCSD' campaign | Column
