Charleston County School of the Arts is helping all students develop the world class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing focused Arts instruction and rigorous courses in Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and World Languages.
Our students spend 90 minutes daily honing their art skills in one of nine art majors: Band, Creative Writing, Dance, Fashion, Piano, Orchestra, Theatre, Vocal Music, and Visual Arts. They are recognized regionally and nationally for their talents and abilities, and our programs are touted as some of the most outstanding art programs in the country. Academically, our students score at the top of the state and nation. Over 90% of our middle school students scored met or exemplary on standardized tests, and 77% of 11th and 12th graders took at least one Advanced Placement course. We are tied for the #1 ranked high school in the state by US News and World Report in 2018 and placed in the top 2% of high schools nationwide.
Our staff focused on increasing readiness in two identified skill areas of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate: critical thinking and collaboration. To support critical thinking we implemented “Lunch and Learn” to bring students in contact with professionals and encourage discussion. Technology fostered critical thinking as students used the ALEKS program to address learning needs and Edgenuity to recover content knowledge. Math and science teachers used PreACT data to develop lessons to increase proficiency in specified areas. AP Potential reports were used to identify students whose scores indicated readiness for specific Advanced Placement classes.
To improve collaboration, faculty created digital opportunities through Google Docs and Slides. The acquisition of Chromebooks and iPads allowed students to work in the same “space” for research, synthesizing and presentations. Collaboration also took place through community service opportunities. This year we celebrated 10,781 service hours completed by our students. We developed a system for recognizing those who lead service projects and saw students gain valuable skills to create and facilitate collaborative initiatives. Projects included food and clothing drives, environmental improvement and art lessons for local students.
At Charleston County School of the Arts we are committed to challenging and supporting our students as they develop their artistic gifts and grow in their ability to learn, create, express, and positively impact the world.
Dr. Shannon Cook, Principal
Ms. Stefanie Prichard, SIC Chair
