Purple Star School District

The Purple Star Schools Program celebrates schools and districts that make a significant commitment to welcome and support military families

In August 2019, Richland Two earned the designation of Purple Star School District by the South Carolina State Department of Education and members of the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) for the creation of the District’s Military Community Liaison. The position has been filled by Kelsie Carter, a US Air Force spouse.  

 SC Department of Education Criteria for Purple Star

• Assign a designated liaison to be a single point of contact for military families and military-connected students who is trained to support issues that face military families, including relocation, deployment, loss and academic training
• Create a website specifically for military families to provide current information about schools and the district
• Adhere to the Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission to ensure that students receive transfer credit from previous schools so they will not have to retake classes
• Ensure that transfer students can participate in sports, clubs and other school enrichment programs
• Provide specialized training for school counselors, staff and administrators.

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Over 3,500 of the district’s more than 28,000 students are military connected, with either a parent/guardian serving actively in the armed forces or working for the military. Since 2011, Richland Two has received $3.2 million from the Department of Defense Education Activity to fund the “Victory Initiative.” The funds will impact 2,379 military connected students at Spears Creek Road Child Development Center, Anna Boyd School, Center for Achievement, Bookman Road, Bridge Creek, Catawba Trail, Lake Carolina, Polo Road, Pontiac, Rice Creek and Sandlapper elementary schools; Blythewood, Kelly Mill, Longleaf, and Summit Parkway middle schools; and Richland Northeast and Ridge View high schools.

The money will be used to create or bolster existing Student-2-Student activities, after-school and summer school programs for military students, a military handbook to help military children and their families transition into school culture and other programs. The District is bordered by schools in Fairfield County, Kershaw County and Richland School District One.

The district serves Fort Jackson, the nation’s largest military training facility.