South Lake Elementary opens for first school year in response to Lexington County’s population boom

In Lexington County, the community is celebrating the opening of South Lake Elementary School, which signifies a new era of education for the rapidly expanding district.

Newest Addition to Lexington District One

On August 7th families across the county, including the Hollingsworths, prepared to send their children to the newest educational facility in Lexington School District One. The Hollingsworth’s 7-year-old son, Tristan, started attending South Lake Elementary after previously attending Carolina Springs Elementary School. “I want to see him come out of his shell,” said his father, Shane. In total, around 455 students have been enrolled at the new school.

Built in response to Lexington County’s booming populace, South Lake Elementary has already seen an investment of $43 million as of May. This figure can be traced back to an overwhelmingly approved $365 million 2018 bond referendum made by voters in the district. The funds have also assisted in the construction of Centerville Elementary, Lakeside Middle, and a new Pelion Middle. Lexington School District One continues to experience an influx of students, reflecting the county’s population swell.

A Growing Community

Lexington County experienced a population increase of 12 percent between 2010 and 2020 in contrast to a nationwide increase of 10 percent. As a result, Lexington School District One now oversees over 27,300 students distributed across 32 schools, half of which are primary schools. This influx of students, in turn, has made it the sixth-largest district in South Carolina. To keep up with the growing community, the construction of South Lake Elementary was initiated to alleviate the pressure of overcrowding at Carolina Springs and Saxe Gotha elementary schools.

Guidance Under Principal Jennifer Stanley

South Lake Elementary is entrusted to Principal Jennifer Stanley, an education veteran with over two decades of experience. Stanley is dedicated to building an inviting environment for students to thrive. “It’s not just about the first day of school, it’s about the entire year,” Stanley said. “I want all our blue heelers to feel loved.”.

On the first day of school, Stanley greeted the new students and their parents warmly. Her attentive care extended to checking in on apprehensive parents, ensuring that the first day of school was as smooth as possible. With students settled into their classrooms and the school day under way, Stanley humorously pointed out that in all the excitement, they had forgotten to ring the bell to signal the start of their inaugural school year.

This new era of education tailored to the growing needs of Lexington County’s families promises a future of continued growth and educational development.