The top reported proficiency rate is 63% in English language arts. The lowest is 29% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Highland Springs Middle
Highland Springs Middle is a regular public school in North Augusta, South Carolina, serving grades six through eight as part of the Aiken 01 school district. It is one of three middle schools serving this suburban city across the Savannah River from Augusta, Georgia. The school is located on Fountainhead Drive in a residential part of town, and its enrollment is of a size that makes it one of the smaller middle schools in the area for this grade band.
North Augusta itself is a residential city whose population grew sharply in the mid-20th century because of the nearby Savannah River Site, a major regional employer. The city has a historic downtown with wide boulevards and a riverfront that includes a baseball park, and it maintains a lengthy paved trail system that runs through neighborhoods. Housing in the ZIP code that includes the school has home values and rents that are below national and state benchmarks, and the estimated monthly housing costs are well within a typical household budget for the area, making this a comparatively affordable part of the broader Augusta metro.
The student body at Highland Springs Middle reflects a diverse mix. White students make up the largest share, followed by Black students, Hispanic students, and a smaller number of students who identify as two or more races. Very small numbers of Asian and American Indian students are also enrolled. Every student at the school qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, which is an important piece of context for understanding the community the school serves.
On the state’s SC Ready assessments, the school’s results present a clear picture. In English language arts, the school performs at levels that are a strength for a middle school serving this population. Across all three tested grades, a solid majority of students scored proficient or above, and the rates were consistent from grade to grade. This is a meaningful area of success. In science, about half of sixth graders reached the proficient benchmark, a result that falls between the stronger ELA scores and the weaker math outcomes. Math is the soft spot here. Proficiency rates in math declined from sixth to eighth grade, and the overall share of students meeting the bar is low across every grade. A parent considering this school would want to ask the school directly about math support and intervention, because this is the subject area where students struggle most.
Because the state’s assessment cut scores changed recently for ELA and science, the available testing data covers only a single year, so there is no trend to compare. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate. Data on chronic absenteeism, special education identification, and English learner services was not reported for this profile, so families should ask the school for those numbers directly. The comparison tool that would place Highland Springs Middle relative to other schools in Aiken County could not generate results because the cohort of comparable schools was too small; that means there is no easy local benchmark from this data set beyond the raw outcomes.
The district that operates this school, Aiken 01, is in a period of notable facility and policy change. Voters approved a bond referendum in late 2024 to build a new North Augusta High School and replace one of the other middle schools, Kennedy Middle, along with system-wide renovations and safety upgrades. This is a major capital investment that will increase property taxes. The school board also approved an elementary redistricting plan that takes effect soon, which will shift attendance zones for some families. Additionally, the district has adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum grounded in the science of reading. These changes signal a district that is actively reshaping its facilities and instruction, though the direct impact on Highland Springs Middle is less immediate than on the elementary schools and the high school.
For a family evaluating Highland Springs Middle, the central takeaway is this: the school produces solid literacy results and has a student body that is economically diverse, with every student on a meal assistance program. The math results are a concern and warrant a conversation with the school about what acceleration and remediation look like. The school sits in a stable, affordable suburban community that is part of a larger metropolitan area, and its district is investing heavily in new buildings and curriculum changes that may reshape the educational landscape in the coming years.
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