At Chesnee High School, we are committed to boldly embracing the challenge of being the very best high school in the state of South Carolina. Our standard is excellence in Academics, the Arts, and Athletics. We challenge ourselves each day to #BEtheSTANDARD.
Our faculty and staff are committed to ensuring every student graduates with the world-class knowledge, skills, and life and career characteristics outlined in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. Every decision we make is centered on providing meaningful learning experiences that prepare students for success after high school, whether their path leads to college, the military, or the workforce.
Our teachers collaborate through Teacher Learning Teams (TLTs) to analyze student data, identify each student's individual needs, and implement high-impact instructional strategies aligned with the South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Standards. By focusing on every student's name and need, we personalize learning, reduce instructional loss, and provide targeted support to help every student succeed. Students also have access to academic recovery opportunities through hour-long lunch interventions, Student Learning Time (SLT), and Saturday learning sessions, ensuring they have multiple opportunities to master essential skills.
Visible Learning is at the heart of our instructional framework as we continue expanding rigorous opportunities for every student. Through an increasing number of Dual Credit and Advanced Placement courses, students can earn college credit while still in high school. Students also explore career pathways through Swofford Career Center, JROTC, Work-Based Learning, Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG), Senior Project, job shadowing experiences, and book clubs. Our Response to Intervention (RTI) program pairs students with mentor teachers for additional academic support, while our ESOL program provides targeted instruction and ongoing professional learning to ensure English learners thrive.
Every Wednesday during Early Release, our teachers engage in professional learning through our High Impact Process. Grounded in Visible Learning and Teacher Clarity, they develop clear learning intentions, success criteria, and common formative assessments that empower students to understand what they are learning, why they are learning it, how they will know they have learned it, and what their next steps are. This commitment to continuous improvement has led to Chesnee High School being recognized by Corwin as a Globally Certified Visible Learning School.
The impact of this work is evident. During the 2025–2026 school year, Chesnee High School graduated 151 students prepared for college, careers, or military service. Collectively, the Class of 2026 earned more than $11 million in scholarships. Beyond the classroom, our students also excelled in the Arts and Athletics, earning state championships and statewide recognition that reflect our commitment to developing well-rounded graduates.
We are incredibly proud of what our students and staff continue to accomplish. While we celebrate these successes, we know excellence is not a destination—it is a commitment. To truly #BEtheSTANDARD, we must continue learning, growing, and improving every day as we strive to ensure every Chesnee High School graduate leaves our halls ready to make a positive impact on their community and the world.
Steven Fusaro, Principal
Holly Barrett, SIC Chairperson
