Camden High School’s “Commitment to Excellence” in Academics, Athletics, and Extracurricular Activities allows many opportunities for our students to demonstrate the characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. The mission of our school is to provide an environment where students feel inspired to become active, successful, productive and confident members of society. The strong commitment of faculty, staff, students, and community are the foundations of our success.
One of our key goals was to increase the percentage of students deemed College and Career Ready. Initiatives to encourage career exploration and simulation were Reality Town, Be Pro/Be Proud and Greenwood Genetics mobile labs, Teacher Cadet and Student Mentors in feeder schools. Lunch and Learn events allowed students to meet with representatives from colleges. We successfully met this goal by increasing the percentage of students who are College and Career Ready.
Faculty in all curriculum areas plan rigorous instructional lessons based on the South Carolina State Curriculum Standards. All faculty participate in professional development opportunities offered by the school district and by the South Carolina Department of Education. One of the key initiatives to promote staff unity was the formation of focus teams. One of the highlighted achievements of these teams was the creation of a clothes closet where students have access to a washer and dryer, as well as other clothing and personal needs. Technology support for teachers is ongoing throughout the school year.
The administration and staff continue to focus on improvements in test scores and on increased graduate rate. Our school offers programs to assist students who do not achieve mastery. Students are provided extra assistance during our daily Bulldog Enrichment and credit recovery and validation are designed to help students achieve on-time graduation. Our Special Services Department’s dedication is one of the foundations of academic success with students who need additional academic, emotional and social support.
In partnership with Central Carolina Technical College, students can earn college credits toward an associate degree while simultaneously achieving credits toward a high school diploma. Advancement Placement offerings include Human Geography, U.S. History, Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Literature, Language, and Computer Science.
We are extremely proud of our academic achievements particularly in our Fine Arts Department. Our Dance students held a Dance Concert in the spring which showcased the phenomenal strides made in only the second year of the program. Our Theater students performed productions that involved more students than ever. Dozens of students had their artwork displayed in the district’s “Celebration of the Visual Arts”. Our Scarlet Regiment band was invited to perform in the 2026 Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC. One of our band students was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall. Another band student was selected to the SCBDA Region Band. A third student received a full scholarship to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Several of our students were recognized in the annual Junior Welfare League Poetry Event. JROTC Academic and Leadership Teams earned superior ratings in competitions and received national awards. Twelve seniors qualified as Palmetto Fellows; sixty-two seniors were Distinguished Honor graduates; thirty-eight seniors were Honor graduates; nine graduates earned the South Carolina Academic Honors Medal. Twelve of our seniors committed to join a branch of the military.
Our Student Council Leadership team sponsors a host of activities to develop a positive school culture that aims to include all students. Some of these activities include freshman orientation, pep rallies, spirit weeks, school dances and the prom, volleyball and flag football games, and food drives. Our Student Council raised over $5,000 in the United Way Student Campaign.
Several other organizations that perform community service are Beta Club, DeSaussure, and National Honor Society. These student groups support community organizations such as the United Way of Kershaw County, Food for the Soul, the Mobile Nutrition Center, and the American Red Cross, and the Kershaw County Humane Society. The Library program at our school serves as the literacy “hub” of our school by sponsoring many literacy initiatives such as Bulldogs Read at our elementary schools, Book Hooks, Read Your Heart Out, March Madness for Books, and the Literary Luncheon. Appreciation for cultural diversity and respect for all students is promoted with Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, and Women’s History Month, and Unified Spirit Week.
We are very proud that our Palmetto Leaf newspaper staff collaborated with our town newspaper on monthly features. Our Volleyball program raised over $4,000 during its annual Dig Pink event to assist local families struggling with cancer.
Athletics continued to be a key component of unifying our student body and promoting community connections. Camden High School was elevated to 4A status this year and our athletic teams met the challenge. Two of our teams were region champions. One team advanced to the district championship. One of our swimmers won the state’s championship in the breaststroke event. Nineteen of our athletes signed to play at the collegiate level. Four senior athletes were in the Top Ten of our graduating class and forty-nine seniors were recognized as South Carolina High School League Scholar Athletes. Our athletic director was named the 4A Athletic Director of the Year.
The motto “One Team, One Town, One Goal” describes the essence of our school and community. Events that encourage parent and community participation are Parent University and Open House.
Camden High is fortunate to have the support of active parent support groups. The School Improvement Council establishes improvement goals by evaluating school data. The SIC also hosts the Camden High School Hall of Fame to recognize individuals who have made exemplary contributions to our school and community. The Academic Booster Club sponsors honor roll recognitions and staff luncheons and awards multiple scholarships at the annual Academic Awards Night. The Camden Bulldog Club sponsors the annual athletic awards banquet and funds team needs. The CamBand Club supports our band program by funding equipment and competitions.
Local businesses support our school in many ways. Some examples are the sponsorship of Student of the Month award, Honor Roll celebrations and Teacher Appreciation Week recognitions. The Bulldogs At Their Best program, for recognizing good character and for being positive role models, was revived this year.
All stakeholders operate with a growth mindset and a desire to improve in all areas of school life. A comprehensive plan for improved academic achievement through data analysis, for improving extracurricular opportunities and for increased parent and community involvement will be our focus as we continue on our path to “Commitment to Excellence.”
