The integration of World Class Skills is exemplified through South Pointe's designation as a STEAM school of choice. STEAM at South Pointe provides students with awareness, exposure, and college and career preparation in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. South Pointe High School’s design process allows students to collaboratively assess, research, create, design, solve, and apply critical thinking through our STEAM Immersion and STEAM Pathways. STEAM pathways, including over 10 new courses, such as aerospace, clean energy, cybersecurity, and biomedical, in the areas of Engineering, Clean Energy, Computer Science, Health Science, and Convergence Media, were successfully implemented during the 2019-2020 school year. The faculty and staff continue to participate in planning and professional development to support the design process and STEAM Immersion and Pathway philosophy. Teachers are committed to incorporating challenging project-based learning and STEAM experiences that allow students opportunities to gain knowledge through hands-on, real-world, inquiry-based activities. These experiences allow students to be assessed in a non-traditional manner. Finished projects are the result of authentic learning that requires research, collaboration, and creative presentation. Students engage in unique learning opportunities that provide an emphasis on college and career readiness. Our new college and career partnership with Winthrop University was uniquely designed to engage, support, and provide college and career preparation and readiness knowledge for students, and it has been highly successful.
Despite of the many challenges we faced through the pandemic school year, South Pointe High School continued to excel and inspire our students toward successful futures. We are proud of the many enhancements we implemented during the 2020-2021 school year. Five new modern learning spaces were added. These spaces complement the school’s state-of-the-art makerspace that fosters a collaborative and creative environment where students can engage in STEAM-related learning activities through hands-on experiences. A new aerospace flight simulator became apart of the Aerospace Engineering class. The world’s first and only Anatomage virtual dissection table will be incorporated in our Heath Science pathway. Additionally, we partnered with Founders Federal Credit Union to open the one of a kind school store, “The Point.”, which further facilitates college and career readiness.
As a Rock Hill Schools, STEAM school of choice, South Pointe High School is in its second year of its distinct Health Science, Engineering, Computer Science, Clean Energy, and Media Convergence STEAM pathways. In an effort to assist students in developing World Class Knowledge, South Pointe challenges students to enroll in rigorous courses that will engage, empower, inspire, and maximize their potential. Our rigorous course offerings include a variety of honors-level, Advanced Placement (AP), and dual credit (college level) courses, in addition to courses within the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. The distinguished South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM), housed on South Pointe’s campus, graduated its second South Pointe High School graduating class this school year. South Pointe High School GSSM is in its fifth year for students who desire an elite high school academic experience. GSSM at South Pointe offers up to 49 college credit hours toward an engineering degree at a designated state university.
All students, in collaboration with their counselors and parents, may select a career path with an individualized program of study. Furthermore, the district's Applied Technology Center offers a variety of specialized courses to enhance students’ academic trajectories and support the STEAM program offerings. South Pointe offers Spanish, French, and Chinese and encourages all students to enroll in a world language for a minimum of three consecutive years. Students have the opportunity to explore the social sciences by taking courses, such as AP Psychology, Sociology, and Criminal Justice. Students continue to excel within the Fine Arts program through our award winning Chorus, Band, Visual Arts, and Theatre Arts programs. South Pointe students and faculty are proud of their continued development and recognition of the implementation of its Convergence Media suite of teaching and learning provided through our South Pointe in the News Television morning show, print news magazine, online newspaper, yearbook, and literary magazine.
As a part of the district's ongoing one to one technology initiative, each student has a personal laptop for his/her use at school or home. With the evolution of virtual and remote learning, South Pointe has lead the way in continuing to provide high quality teaching and learning.
South Pointe completed the eight year of our Living the South Pointe Way initiative, emphasizing and rewarding the quality characteristics indicated on our school’s seal: Integrity, Community, and Excellence (ICE). As a part of our Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) program, students are routinely recognized and celebrated for exhibiting positive actions within each of those areas. In addition, we have continued to implement the On Pointe! program, which recognizes graduating seniors who have documented their efforts to exemplify the ICE characteristics during each of their four years at South Pointe.
We are proud to offer over 40 clubs, programs, and athletic teams that allow every South Pointe High School student to become involved in academic, extracurricular, and community service opportunities beyond the classroom. Student life and school spirit is evident by the SPHS Student Council receiving the SC Student Council Gold Award for outstanding student council for the second straight year and by the receipt of the SC Association of Student Council Administrator of the Year which was awarded to Principal Dr. Conner recognized. The Robotics Club placed first in the SC robotics competition, the Academic Challenge placed nationally, and one student placed sixth in the prestigious Blumey Awards. Furthermore, South Pointe has a rich tradition of outstanding athletics. Our motto is Where Champions Are Made, and therefore, we believe in the development and success of student-athletes on and off the field. The 2021 boys’ basketball state champion, and two state individual champions in track and wrestling, and forty-nine scholar athletics awards, are examples of the consistent success of South Pointe athletics. Additionally, student groups, clubs, and individual students continue to demonstrate excellence by the many local, regional, state, and national awards and accolades received, while the P.R.O.G.E.N.Y. Multicultural Club engages students from all walks of life to recognize and celebrate diversity and inclusion.
Moreover, South Pointe's work-based internships, job shadowing opportunities, and college and career activities expose students to various career fields and post-secondary options. These offerings are a viable part of preparing our students for college, career, or the military. South Pointe has many practices in place to recognize students for characteristics of team work and collaboration, perseverance, integrity, and global perspective, which are all integral components of the Profile of the SC Graduate, such as, our newly created Senior Summit that provides college and career awareness and preparation for all juniors. South Pointe hosted its fifth annual College and Military Signing Day, during which well-deserved recognition was given to students who made life-transforming commitments to continue their formal education.
South Pointe possesses a strong, supportive, and collaborative school community and parent engagement. With over twenty school-community and parent partnerships, South Pointe stakeholders are committed to the vision of South Pointe High School. We look forward to continuing positive relationships with our school community for years to come.
It’s truly a great day to be a Stallion! We will continue to Live the South Pointe Way as we Engage, Empower, Inspire, and Maximize the Potential of Every Student, Every Day for a Successful Future. This is South Pointe!
Dr. Marty S. Conner, Sr., Principal
Steve DiStasio, SIC Chairperson
