Board extends Pillion Middle School third assistant principal pilot after school reports gains in attendance and achievement

The Lexington County School District One Board of Trustees voted Feb. 25 to sustain a pilot program that provides a third assistant principal at Pillion Middle School for the 2025–26 school year, following a presentation from school leaders that tied the extra administrative capacity to improvements in attendance, behavior and instructional support.

Pillion administrators and instructional leaders said the additional assistant principal enabled more frequent classroom observations, targeted professional learning, and faster responses to attendance and discipline concerns. Principal-level presenters said the school recorded a 46% decrease in truancy incidents and an 8.2% reduction in chronic absenteeism during the year the pilot was in place. The school also reported increased instructional observations and targeted support for students with individualized education plans.

School leaders credited the third AP with enabling the leadership team to shift from reactive discipline to proactive interventions — weekly grade-level meetings now include an AP representative, which, the presenters said, improved teacher access to timely administrative support. The board voted to sustain the position for another year to allow the school to continue the work and provide time for administrators to measure longer-term outcomes.

The vote sustains the pilot for 2025–26. Board members complimented the school’s leadership and noted the decision is an example of the district piloting a targeted staffing investment to address demonstrated needs.