The Orangeburg-Wilkinson High 2019 Fall School Report Card Rating was Below Average (48)--two points shy of Average. The faculty, staff, and student body began the 2019-2020 school year with the theme "Creating an Academic Mind-set” to reach a rating of Average or Above by spring of 2020. In July of 2019, Orangeburg County consolidated three school districts for the first time ever in the history of the county. This created a county school system with over 14,000 students and 1800 employees, making Orangeburg County School District the 19th largest school district in the State of South Carolina. Orangeburg-Wilkinson High has always been a significant part of not only the educational and economical future of the county, but also vital to the community as an emergency shelter and host to numerous events for the county throughout the year. The school is centrally located in the county and in close proximity to three institutions of Higher Education (South Carolina State University, Claflin University, and Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College) providing collaborative educational opportunities for decades.
During this first year of county consolidation, there has been a focus on equality and equalization of opportunities and services across the county. Many of the changes for other schools have been based on the advanced academic and related arts opportunities and experiences provided at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. Our Visual Art Instructor, Mr. Damion Johnson, during the Fall of 2019 was inducted into the Claflin University Alumni Hall of Fame for his exemplary work in the visual arts field.
Throughout this year, the O-W staff has worked to refine our school level Professional Learning Communities to focus on strategies to increase student success in the areas of Career Readiness, EOCEP Testing, and the graduation rate. Also, during our February 2020 Black History Month Celebration, “From Here to Now,” we featured O-W Graduates of several professions (medical surgeon, professional sports, education, military, law, business, and entertainment). Our fall 2019 Homecoming Celebration was the largest attended school event in the history of the school. The School Improvement Council, parents, teachers, and student organizations discussed expanding and renewing collaborative ventures with S.C.S.U. and Claflin University. Meanwhile, as the devastation of COVID-19 impacted our school year, the Class of 2020 (Class of Perfect Vision) finished the year online (e-learning). O-W lead teachers collaborated with other teachers across the district to update curriculum and pacing guides for future use.
We are excited to be part of the improvements that have been made as a school community and look forward to working together to make Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School an awesome place to work and learn for the remaining 80 years of the 21st Century.
Mr. J. Preston Threatt, Principal
Rev. Gary Robinson, PTSA/SIC President