Annie Xu, a Junior STEM Honors Academic Magnet student, represented Dutch Fork High School at the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (Regeneron ISEF) in Phoenix, Arizona. Regeneron ISEF is the world’s largest global science competition for high school students, and Xu presented her research about exosome-mediated neuroregeneration toContinue Reading
Three District Five students were recognized for their artwork as the 2025-2026 Superintendent’s Choice Award. One award is given to an elementary, middle and high school student in the District. Their work will hang permanently in the District Office. Elementary School Level: Thera Piotrowski — Harbison West Elementary Gifted andContinue Reading
School District Five has recognized students who earned academic certificates from Midlands Technical College (MTC) through the district’s Dual Enrollment program during the 2025–2026 school year. The students successfully completed an 18-credit-hour sequence of college coursework while still in high school, earning credentials that carry full academic credit and areContinue Reading
Five School District Five students were graduated from Project SEARCH May 19. Project SEARCH is a one-year program where School District Five partners with Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge Hospital and allows students with special needs to gain job skills and solve work based problems as they rotate through different departmentsContinue Reading
Thirteen students in District Five have earned Firefighter I Certificates through the Fire & Rescue course at the Center for Advanced Technical Studies (The Center). The Fire & Rescue class is a year long course. In the first year, students earn the following certifications: FEMA; I-100; I-200; I-700; I-800; FirstContinue Reading
95 Lexington-Richland School District Five students have been named South Carolina Junior Scholars for the 2025-2026 school year. Developed by the South Carolina Department of Education during the 1985-1986 school year, the SC Junior Scholars program is designed to identify eighth grade students with exceptional academic talent based on PSATContinue Reading
Five District Five students have been awarded the South Carolina Teaching Fellowship. The students will receive up to $24,000 in yearly scholarships (up to $6000 a year for four years) to attend a Teaching Fellows Institution in South Carolina. Each Fellow agrees to teach in South Carolina one year forContinue Reading
Spring Hill High senior Mason Blevins signed a contract to work with Blanchard Machinery April 27. He is a senior in the Automotive Training program at the Center for Advanced Technical Studies. He applied for the Power Technician position in the Think Big program at Blanchard Machinery and was hired.Continue Reading
Two more students from School District Five have earned National Merit Scholarships. Vivian Garcia (Chapin High) and Hunter Taylor (Dutch Fork High) were named winners of this year’s National Merit $2,500 Scholarships. National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) finances most of these single-payment National Merit $2500 Scholarships. Corporations and company foundationsContinue Reading
School District Five has announced its new Teacher of the Year and Support Employee of the Year during a May 11 ceremony. Anna Maria Hinson, an English teacher at Spring Hill High School, was named School District Five’s 2026-2027 Teacher of the Year during the district’s Employee Recognition Program. JeannetteContinue Reading
Leaphart Elementary STEAM Magnet School fourth grade teacher Dr. Paul Duggan has been selected as a Spring 2026 recipient of the Coaching Teacher Award of Excellence from the University of South Carolina College of Education. The award recognizes outstanding educators who demonstrate excellence in mentoring and supporting future teachers throughContinue Reading
District Five student Chloe Coleman (Spring Hill High) has been named the Midlands Work-Based Learning (WBL) Student of the Year. The SC Work-Based Learning Student of the Year award recognizes a student who exemplifies sound work-based practices while applying academia to real-life, real-work, and real-world situations in the business/industry environment.Continue Reading
District Five Superintendent Dr. Akil E. Ross, Sr. was surprised April 20 at the School District Five School Board meeting with the South Carolina National School Public Relations Association (SC/NSPRA) Administrator of the Year Award. The announcement was made by Toni Chewning, President of SC/NSPRA. This award recognizes a superintendentContinue Reading
School District Five of Lexington & Richland Counties celebrated 72 first-year educators who participated in the district’s STARS (Supporting Teacher Advancement, Retention, and Success) induction program during a recognition ceremony held April 27, culminating with the announcement of the district’s Induction Teacher of the Year. The district recognized Kelsey Manning,Continue Reading
District Five will host a virtual Lunch & Learn event with Superintendent Dr. Akil E. Ross, Sr. and his administrative team regarding the district’s tool iBoss, a parent monitoring application that gives parents and guardians real-time information about students’ Chromebook usage. The event will be held virtually from noon toContinue Reading
Welding students at the Center for Advanced Technical Studies (The Center) recently participated in the annual Arclabs Welding Competition at the Arclabs Columbia campus and earned numerous awards. Chloe Coleman (Spring Hill High School) earned first place and a $22,500 scholarship. Boone Pinkstaff (Dutch Fork High School) placed fourth, andContinue Reading