Students were sent home early today in Ellicott School District 22 in eastern El Paso County. The sheriff's office says it was a precautionary move based on an unknown threat.

As schools face a widespread surge in violent threats, districts have rushed to respond through parent meetings, local press appearances, and videos of students urging their peers to be careful what they post online.

A spokesperson with Ellicott School District 22 confirmed to FOX21 News on Thursday morning, Sept. 19 that the district was on lockdown but that all students were safe. During an unrelated press briefing on Thursday,

The Beaufort-area student is one of 21 juveniles charged for the recent wave of school shooting threats in South Carolina, according to state police.

The threat, which was circulating social media Thursday night, is being investigated by the West Lampeter Police Department, the same department that locked down a school Thursday morning for a reported active shooter.

A Waccamaw High School student has been charged after making a social media post late Thursday night saying they were going to burn down the school, the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office said. This is the most recent in a string of threats against Georgetown County schools.