The faculty and staff of Rock Hill High School prepare students to embody the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by developing world-class skills and setting high expectations through rigorous coursework in all content areas. Rock Hill High provides students with opportunities to excel in academics, the arts, athletics, extracurricular activities, character development, and community involvement.
This year, 74 students graduated with Highest Honors and 31 students with Honors. One hundred seventy students were CATE completers, and five seniors attempted to earn an IB diploma. Thirty-one seniors were recognized as Advanced Placement Scholars, and three seniors were named Advanced Placement Scholar Candidates by the College Board. Of the 428 graduating seniors, 247 earned the LIFE Scholarship, and 29 earned the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship. The South Carolina Department of Education recognizes eligible students with Seals of Distinction; this year, 266 students qualified for one or more seals. The total monetary value of scholarships offered to graduates exceeded $19 million.
The Rock Hill High School Band of Distinction earned several recognitions this year. The Marching Band received a Superior rating at the SCBDA 5A State Championship and placed in the top 10 for the first time since 2018. Eighteen students earned chairs in the SC Region Three Honor Bands, and two students earned chairs in the SC All-State Band. The Winter Guard earned the Gold Medal at the Carolina Winter Ensemble Association (CWEA) Championships in the Scholastic Regional 3A class. For the first time in school history, the Indoor Percussion Ensemble competed in the WGI World Championship in Dayton, Ohio, ending their season nationally ranked 23rd in the Open Class Percussion Ensemble. The Symphonic Band performed at the Concert Performance Assessment and earned a Superior with Distinction rating—the highest possible rating. The band program also earned the SCBDA Outstanding Performance Award, the highest honor bestowed by the state association.
Rock Hill High School’s Choral Program also achieved notable success. Four members were selected for the South Carolina American Choral Directors Association Honor Choir. Two students were named to the South Carolina All-State Chorus, and one student was selected for the American Choral Directors' Association National Southern Division Honor Choir. The choir earned a Superior rating at the South Carolina Concert Performance Assessment.
The Rock Hill High School Orchestras had six students selected by audition for the SC Music Educators Association’s Region 1 Honors Orchestras, with two students advancing to the All-State Honors Orchestra. The ensembles participated in the SCMEA Orchestra Division’s Region 1 Concert Performance Assessment, earning a Superior rating for Grade 4 and an Excellent rating for Grade 5 performances. Of the 23 Rock Hill High performances submitted to the SCMEA Solo and Ensemble Festival, 22 received Superior ratings, including four with perfect scores (Superior with Distinction), and one received an Excellent rating. The orchestras were awarded the Outstanding Performance Award (OPA) for the 2024–2025 school year—the highest achievement for orchestra programs in South Carolina.
The Rock Hill High School Theatre Department competed at the Palmetto Dramatic Association/South Carolina Thespian Festival in February with a production of Small Actors. The production earned a Superior rating, and nine students received individual Superior Acting awards.
Visual Art students also experienced a successful year. They received an Honorable Mention at the York County High School Art Show. At the Teacher’s Choice Show, students earned 1st and 2nd Place and an Honorable Mention in Painting, 1st and 2nd Place in Mixed Media, 1st Place in Drawing, and 1st and 2nd Place in 3D Art.
In athletics, 573 Rock Hill High students participated in sports this year, including 107 multi-sport athletes. Thirteen athletes signed scholarships to compete at the collegiate level. Sixty-nine students qualified as Senior Scholar-Athletes with a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Three athletes participated in all-star games, and 18 students were named All-State athletes. Sixty-two individuals qualified for state tournaments in swimming, wrestling, and track and field.
The Girls Wrestling team won their third SCHSL Sanctioned Girls Wrestling State Championship and made history by winning the first-ever SCHSL Dual Championship. Three wrestlers—two females and one male—won individual state championships. Twelve swimmers qualified for state competition. In Track and Field, 35 athletes were state qualifiers, and seven were named Upper State Champions. The Girls Track Team won State Championships in the 4x100 relay, 100m, and 200m events.
In golf, one Girls Golf athlete qualified for the Upper State Championship, and the Boys Golf team qualified for both the Upper State and State Championships. Boys Tennis reached the second round of the playoffs for the first time in ten years. Nineteen of Rock Hill High’s 21 teams qualified for the playoffs this year. The school also celebrated 38 All-Region athletes and one Region Coach of the Year. The Girls Basketball coach was selected to coach in the North-South All-Star Game.
Rock Hill High School’s faculty and staff continue to focus on improving student achievement on End-of-Course, ACT, and SAT assessments. The school’s graduation rate has shown improvement, and we remain committed to equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in a global society. The School Improvement Council and the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program contribute to a positive school climate. This year, more than 2,000 Bearcat Bucks were awarded to students for demonstrating Bearcat PRIDE (Participation, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Excellence). We look forward to continued success with our positive intervention programs.
As we reflect on our accomplishments, we recognize that ongoing professional growth is essential to sustaining excellence. Our instructional leadership team is actively working to incorporate research-based best practices across all content areas. Through collaborative planning, job-embedded professional development, and targeted instructional coaching, we are committed to building teacher efficacy and ensuring that every educator is equipped to meet the diverse needs of our students.
Beauregard King, V., Principal
