In the report, College Ready, commissioned by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, we are reminded that “A high school diploma was once a ticket to the American Dream: a steady job that could launch a career, support a family, and raise a family’s living standard. Times have changed. In today’s world, a college diploma has become as important as a high school diploma used to be…higher education—whether a two- or four-year college, a technical school, or a certificate program---has emerged as the critical path to opportunity for students and the avenue to achieve their dreams.”
Our school, Berkeley County Middle College High School in partnership with Trident Technical College, is helping all students develop the world class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by blending high school and college course work to provide students with rigorous academic pathways, comprehensive guidance support and job shadowing, career information, access to technology, community mentors, and other resources essential for student success. Embedded in our school culture is the challenge to and support of students as they develop skills in: creativity and innovation; critical thinking and problem solving; collaboration and teamwork; communication, information, media and technology; and, knowing how to learn. We educate our students and their parents in the importance of life and career characteristics which include, but are not limited to: integrity; self-direction; global perspective; perseverance; strong work ethic; and, interpersonal skills.
We are the only magnet high school in Berkeley County School District and have just successfully completed our 9th year. In our Class of 2019, twelve of our seniors received Associate Degrees, five students received a Pre-Nursing certification three weeks prior to receiving their high school diplomas. Our US History EOC scores are among the highest in the district. The Class of 2018 (48 students) earned $1,990,750.00 in scholarships, and had seven Palmetto Fellows, 20 Life Scholarship recipients, 21 Hope Scholarship recipients, 9 honors certificates, five state honors awards, and a 100% graduation rate. One hundred percent of the graduating class was accepted into at least one college/university. Collectively, our students completed approximately 2,300 credit hours in college courses.
Student extra-curricular activities include Beta Club, National Honor Society, Student Advisory Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, various athletic teams, and various service learning/community service projects. These service projects include: Adopt-A-Highway, clothing and toy drive; Prom Promise event and food drive; school community garden project; and a school-wide recycling effort. Individual students participated in internship opportunities at local hospitals and at SPAWAR. Ninety percent of our junior class participated in job shadowing experiences. Our academic intervention program was a tremendous success in supporting our students as they achieved a 100% pass rate in all high school classes.
We are located on the Berkeley Campus of Trident Technical College and serve students from the district's seven comprehensive high schools. At Berkeley County Middle College High School, it continues to be our joy to help students begin their transitions into higher education and bright futures. We continue to work diligently to ensure that our students will be college and career ready.
Shelia Amerson, School Improvement Council Chair