Superintendent's Welcome Message

Dear Augusta Independent Families,

As we prepare to enter the 2024-2025 school year, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support of Augusta Independent School District. Our commitment to providing a close-knit, family oriented,  safe, and supportive learning environment for both students and staff remains stronger than ever.  Our district’s motto, “Small School, BIG Experience,” shines through in every aspect of the Augusta experience.

At Augusta Independent, we take great pride in offering a high-quality public education with the personal touch of a private school. Time and again, our students, parents, and staff rise to meet challenges and exceed expectations. We’ve made steady progress on accountability results and are proud to have achieved a 100% graduation rate, 98% enrollment in a college or technical career pathway, and 50% of students taking dual credit courses to earn college credits. Additionally, 90% of our students are deemed post-secondary ready, with 84% completing the FAFSA and 100% of students applying to at least one college. Our attendance rate stands at an impressive 93.7% post pandemic. 

As a proud GEAR UP KY school, Augusta Independent is focused on building a strong college and career-going culture.  Kentucky's Dual Credit Scholarship Program offers financial assistance to eligible high school students for dual credit courses. Through this program, students can receive scholarships for two general education courses per year during their junior and senior years, totaling up to four courses (12 college credit hours). Career and technical education (CTE) courses are available to students in grades 9-12, with scholarships covering up to eight CTE courses over four years. In addition to this state-supported funding, the Augusta Independent Board of Education provides funding for two additional dual credit courses for eligible students, meaning students can have up to 18 college credit hours paid for by graduation.  At Augusta Independent, we are committed to ensuring our students are well-prepared for both college and careers, implement a school-wide Work Ethic Seal program, and ample opportunities to gain valuable college credits while still in high school in partnerships with Maysville Community and Technical College, Northern Kentucky University, Morehead State University, Mason County Career Magnet School, and the Mason County STEAM Academy.

Our small size is one of our greatest strengths, allowing us to provide personalized, high-quality instruction tailored to each student’s unique needs. We welcome every student, meet them where they are, and guide them toward proficiency and post-secondary readiness. To support students needing remediation, we offer multiple intervention programs, with a focus on early childhood grades (K-3). These programs include Read to Achieve, Future Forward Reading Tutors, and, beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, we will implement Numeracy Counts, a comprehensive math program.  For students in middle and high school who need additional support, we provide dedicated class periods for intervention, credit-recovery, ACT prep courses, after-school tutoring options, and numerous online resources. The district is committed to ensuring all students reach proficiency. As part of this commitment, beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, we will be implementing a new K-12 highly qualified instruction reading program. This reading program will help us ensure continuity, consistency, and strong reading skills for success in all subject areas. A unified program provides a clear, cohesive framework for literacy instruction across all grade levels, allowing students to build upon a strong foundation year after year. This consistency will help prevent learning gaps and supports smoother transitions as students' progress through elementary, middle, and high school.

At Augusta Independent, we welcome every student, and our commitment goes far beyond academics. We are dedicated to supporting each learner’s emotional, social, and personal development while fostering strong character and self-confidence. We believe that when students believe in themselves, they unlock the foundation for academic success and lifelong achievement.  Our PS–12 structure allows us to walk alongside our students through every step of their educational journey, providing continuity, stability, and meaningful relationships. Through our whole child, whole community approach, we prioritize meeting students' academic, social, and emotional needs both inside and outside the classroom.  We are especially proud that Augusta Independent received the highest performance rating at all levels on the Quality of School Climate and Safety component of the state assessment and accountability system. This recognition is a reflection of our safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment where students feel seen, valued, and cared for.

To support our strong and positive school climate, Augusta Independent offers a comprehensive network of resources designed to help students grow in every area of their development. We provide programs that focus on building self-confidence, communication, interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, responsible decision-making, and a growth mindset.  We proactively utilize school-wide tools,  Terrace Metrics and Satchel Pulse to periodically assess students’ mental health and overall well-being. These tools allow us to proactively monitor social-emotional wellness, identify areas of need, and ensure that every student is supported and thriving. By regularly measuring key mental health indicators, we can provide timely, targeted support and maintain a safe, responsive, and student-centered learning environment. In addition to these programs, we are proud to have a full-time and part-time school-based mental health therapist, a full-time guidance counselor, a full-time Family Resource and Youth Service Coordinator, and a full-time GEAR UP school manager. Together, these dedicated professionals provide essential support that helps our students thrive academically, emotionally, and socially.

Thank you for being part of the Augusta Independent family. Your trust and partnership help us continue to be one of the BEST small school districts in the state. We are honored to serve this incredible community, and we look forward to another successful school year together!

Sincerely,

 

Ms. Lisa McCane

A.I.S.D. Superintendent