The profile of the South Carolina graduate is a comprehensive list of qualities and characteristics which reflect what we as educators and potential employers believe to be the ideal high school alumnus. These features are vital to the future success of graduates when assessing employability potential and higher education opportunities far beyond the senior year. At Lancaster High School we believe in the responsibility of formulating and executing opportunities for our students to continually demonstrate world class knowledge, world class skills, and both life and career characteristics. These include but are not limited to the use of rigorous standards in both language arts and mathematics classrooms, extensive exposure to multiple languages, sciences, fine arts, technology and the social sciences, the application of creativity, innovation, problem solving skills, extensive peer collaboration and team work, as well as the execution of exceptional integrity, remarkable personal skills and sound work ethic. All of these qualities, combined with the efforts of our 1,365 students, 78 certified teachers, 29 classified staff members, six administrators, five counselors, two media specialists, two resource officers, two nurses, two transition-to-work coaches, and two instructional support coaches make Lancaster High School a thriving institution of higher learning.
Within the walls of our sprawling campus, we institute standards based curricula which emphasizes content area literacy and higher order thinking. Understanding the necessity of growing students within each of our course offerings through the vein of reading, writing, thinking, listening and speaking, allows us to prepare our students for both post-secondary education as well as impending employment.
Lancaster High School is fortunate to have the Lancaster County Career Center adjacent to the main building of the campus. The Career Center functions as part of the comprehensive high school, and works in concert with traditional coursework to prepare students not only for college but also for the work place. Courses are offered in areas of business, mechatronics, auto mechanics, auto-body repair, culinary arts, child development, family and consumer sciences, nursing, law enforcement, fire protection services, welding, machine tools, engineering, architectural design and cosmetology. Each of these programs has the potential to provide services to the community and to substantially broaden learning opportunities for students.
Developing students beyond the demands of the academic setting is an essential part of the high school experience as well. Lancaster High School has a number of teams, groups, clubs and organizations for learners to partake in these personal and professional growth experiences. From Jr. Civitans and Civinettes to ROTC, Learn TV, High School 101, Relay for Life, and 28 athletic teams, our students have an extensive number of opportunities to prepare for life as an active member of a community or city. Students also have chances to work collaboratively with peers through our journalism cluster (magazine, newspaper and yearbook), Academic Challenge, and Honors Day competition. These opportunities provide students with opportunities to think critically, to communicate effectively and to showcase acquired skills and knowledge. In addition, we have a college graduate on staff who functions as a college advisor. She helps our students and our parents navigate the admissions pathway to post-secondary institutions.
One of the greatest strengths of Lancaster High School is the diversity of the student body. Our staff works diligently to support the needs of our students academically, socially, and emotionally. From our JAG (Jobs for America’s Graduates) program, Advanced Placement program (AP) and Individual Graduation Plans (IGPs) to the onsite mental health counselor, our students are provided services to help them both individually and as future productive community members. We continue to use these opportunities as a means to close the achievement gap between students who struggle and those who thrive.
It is imperative, both for our school and our community that we produce competent, prepared students. We embrace the belief that the essential factor in determining a student’s level of academic achievement is the effectiveness of instruction that each student receives. We continue to seek this excellence in teaching by focusing on professional development opportunities, by providing endorsement coursework to meet the Read to Succeed initiative requirements, by focusing on literacy, and by using data to target achievement gaps and to drive instruction. We are currently training our teachers in the Workshop Model. This model is focused on instructional differentiation via small group and individualized instruction. Teachers are honing their skill in the Workshop Model through participation in professional development with the Teacher’s College at Columbia University in New York City as well as participating in onsite professional learning.
Lancaster High School is an educational beacon that authentically prepares students for life well beyond their high school years.
