Gilbert High School is dedicated to helping all students develop the World-Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate.
A major part of our theme was to establish and forge positive relationships with all stakeholders. Completing my first year as principal at Gilbert High School, I am thrilled to reflect on an exciting and monumental time for our community. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Gilbert High School, a century-long journey of academic excellence and community building. From 1923 to 2023, our school has grown and evolved, and this milestone offers us a unique opportunity to honor our rich history while forging a path forward.
In alignment with our mission to elevate student success, the 2023–2024 academic year focused on honoring our traditions, embracing our culture and inspiring our students. We recommitted ourselves to instilling a sense of appreciation for the fundamental building blocks of learning, personal growth and community. Our “Back to Basics” theme served as a gentle reminder to reconnect with the essentials that form the backbone of our educational experience both inside and outside the classroom. This approach emphasized the importance of foundational skills, personal responsibility and community involvement.
Recognizing that partnerships with parents were crucial to ensuring students reach their top potential in academics, behaviors and extracurricular programs and teams, this collaborative effort is key to fostering a supportive and enriching educational environment.
As we continued to assess our school needs and academic gap areas, we stayed true to our “Back to Basics” approach by implementing a continuous improvement model known as the Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) to every classroom in the Spring semester. This systematic method is designed for purposeful and intentional instructional decision-making, aiming to improve learning processes, teaching methods and student outcomes. Here’s a brief overview of each phase:
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Plan: Identify a problem or set a goal, then plan the changes that need to be made to achieve the goal.
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Do: Implement the planned changes on a small scale. This step involves carrying out the plan.
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Study: Collect and analyze data to evaluate the results of the changes made during the “Do” phase. This step helps in understanding what worked and what didn’t, and it provides insights into the impact of the changes.
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Act: Based on the findings from the study phase, decide whether to standardize the changes, modify them or abandon them. If successful, the changes can be implemented on a larger scale. If not, adjustments can be made before trying again.
Through the use of the continuous improvement model, we saw significant gains across all our End-of-Course (EOC) scores, College- and Career-Readiness, and the percentage of parents satisfied with their child’s learning environment. Additionally, we are proud to announce a remarkable increase in scholarship awards, from $16.8 million in 2022–2023 to $28 million in 2023–2024.
As we move forward, we are confident that our recommitment to the essentials of education and our dedication to continuous improvement will lead to even greater achievements. This is a time of celebration, reflection and renewal for Gilbert High School. Together, we will honor our traditions, embrace our culture and inspire our students to reach new heights.
Here’s to a successful and memorable 100th year at Gilbert High School!
Warm regards,
David F. Dixon, Principal
Tina Price, SIC Chair
