South Carolina S 817: Aiken Scholars Academy

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 817 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 15, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 817

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A concurrent RESOLUTION

TO CONGRATULATE Aiken Scholars Academy in aiken 
county FOR earning 2025 Blue Ribbon School honors and for being named in the 
top ten high schools in the united states.

Whereas, the South 
Carolina General Assembly is pleased to learn that Aiken Scholars Academy has earned 
2025 Blue Ribbon School honors from the U.S. Department of Education and has 
been named as one of the top ten high schools in the United States; and

Whereas, the U.S. 
Department of Education began the National Blue Ribbon Schools program more 
than forty years ago to recognize public and private schools for overall 
academic excellence or progress in closing achievement gaps; and

Whereas, public schools 
are nominated based on their overall performance by the South Carolina 
Department of Education, and independent schools are nominated by the Council 
for American Private Education. Schools are then selected and ranked based on 
their performance on tests, graduation rate, and other academic criteria; and

Whereas, six schools in 
South Carolina, including Aiken Scholars Academy, were selected for their 
leadership in academic excellence and for making measurable progress in closing 
achievement gaps among students; and

Whereas, this award 
recognizes Aiken Scholars Academy as one of the top ten high schools in the 
nation; and

Whereas, Aiken Scholars 
Academy values learning both inside and outside the classroom. The school is committed 
to creating a positive culture by building relationships among stakeholders, 
nurturing individual students, working towards meeting personal growth goals, 
and celebrating successes along the pathway to lifelong learning; and

Whereas, teachers and 
administrators at Aiken Scholars Academy work diligently to provide students access 
to the most challenging curriculum, the most accelerated course of study, the 
most qualified faculty and staff, the most up-to-date classroom technology, and 
the most supportive environment; and

Whereas, students of 
Aiken Scholars Academy attend courses at the University of South Carolina Aiken 
and finish high school with a portion of their college degrees completed. 
Additionally, the Advanced Placement course participation rate at Aiken 
Scholars Academy is 100%; and

Whereas, the South 
Carolina General Assembly is grateful for Aiken Scholars Academy's dedication 
its students and takes great pleasure in saluting the school for earning 2025 
Blue Ribbon School honors and for being named a top high school in the United 
States. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the 
Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the 
South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, congratulate Aiken 
Scholars Academy in Aiken County for earning 2025 Blue Ribbon School honors and 
for being named in the top ten high schools in the United States.

Be it further resolved 
that a copy of this resolution be presented to the principal of Aiken Scholars 
Academy, Martha Messick.

----XX---

This web page was last updated on January 15, 2026 at 11:18 AM