Batesburg-Leesville Middle School has been selected to partake in a new Palmetto AI Pathways robotics program. Nine other schools across South Carolina were chosen as well.

The other schools are Morningside Middle School, Cherokee Charter Academy, Oakbrook Middle School, Rosenwald Elementary School, Rosemary Middle School, Woodmont Middle School, Branchville High School, Summit Parkway Middle School and Kingstree Middle Magnet School of the Arts.

The South Carolina Council on Competitiveness (SC Competes), IT-oLogy and the University of South Carolina have partnered for this program, which will bring hands-on robotics and technology to the schools within the next school year, the press release read.

Students will interact with the SC Competes robotic dog Palmetto Automated Learner (PAL) and have lessons with IT-oLogy curriculum.

Students will learn about careers that will be impacted by technologies such as AI.

Representatives from USC will visit these students teaching them the importance of STEM education and career opportunities for those pursuing technology-related careers.

“We are excited to see the reaction from our schools across South Carolina,” Susie Shannon, president and CEO of SC Competes, stated in the press release. “We are ready to get to work on this first cohort of pilot schools and be able to bring the Palmetto AI Pathways program to many more schools in the coming years.”

More than 35 schools applied to this program and the first 10 schools were chosen based on recommendations from educators, industry partners and regional workforce advisors. All schools are also Title One schools.

“We know that AI and Robotics are powerful tools to ignite students' passion for STEM career pathways,” Stephen Cutler, vice president for economic development at the University of South Carolina, said in the press release. “By immersing students in hands-on curriculum and leveraging the 'wow factor' of PAL at the middle school level, we will not only captivate their interest but also inspire the next generation of lifelong learners and innovators.”

SC Competes, IT-oLogy and USC will visit these 10 schools during the 2025-26 school year and are hopeful they will expand the program to be accessible to more schools around the state.