The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities (SCGSAH) is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by offering a challenging curriculum in the arts and academics, along with other school-wide programming geared to support and engage students. In the unique challenges of the 2020-21 school year, when the COVID-19 pandemic required numerous shifts from virtual to hybrid to in-person instruction, students demonstrated and developed these World Class Skills in powerful new ways as a response to unprecedented challenges.
The “four C’s” in this set of skills tie directly into our curriculum in pre-professional arts instruction and academic excellence. In 2020-21 students demonstrated creativity and innovation along with critical thinking and problem solving, work that was recognized nationally via the following awards and accomplishments:
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Creative Writing students earned recognition at the Scholastic Writing Awards Region-at-Large Competition, winning over 140 keys. A senior was also one of eight Gold Key Portfolio Winners in the national Scholastic competition, earning a well-deserved $10,000 scholarship. Students also earned recognition from YoungArts this year, and published widely, winning writing contests at Bennington College and Ringling College.
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Dance seniors (only twelve) received 46 acceptances from recognized university dance programs, trainee programs, and summer intensives. All twelve students were inducted into the National Honor Society for Dance Arts. Although dance performances and competitions were limited this year, our students earned scholarships and accolades at Grand Jete, including first, second, and third place in Senior Ballet, and first place in Modern/Contemporary Dance.
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Drama seniors excelled in the YoungArts competition, with two earning finalist recognition (only 19 nationally) and one receiving a Merit Award. The two finalists were also nominated as US Presidential Scholars in the Arts. They also auditioned successfully at top-tier college theatre programs.
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Music students placed in regional and national competitions throughout the year. One student was the SC winner and the Division Alternate in the Music Teachers National Association’s Senior Performance Competitions. A senior cellist won the Carolina Youth Symphony’s Concerto Competition. Six vocalists were regional and SC Honors Recital winners in the competition sponsored by the National Association for the Teachers of Singing. Two of these singers won the NATS Spotlight on Women Composers Award, and one student was a finalist in the nation William Warfield Competition for High School Singers. Even with reduced performance opportunities due to safety restrictions, students in residency gave chamber and solo concerts, a stunning senior showcase concert, recorded audition materials, and played with local organizations including the Carolina Youth Symphony and the Greenville County Youth Orchestra.
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Visual Arts students earned significant recognition in the Scholastic Art Awards, winning a total of 41 Region-at-Large keys and honorable mentions, along with 2 Gold Medals and 1 Silver Medal in the national competition. A senior also won a Gold Medal American Visions Award in the national competition, and two students had worked selected for the exhibition in the Artfields Junior competition. One student was a 2021 Merit Award winner in the YoungArts competition. Students also had juried exhibitions and won awards at the 31st Annual Upstate High School Art Exhibition.
Collaboration and teamwork are also among the World Class Skills of the SC graduate, and a new film project launched in the Creative Writing and Drama departments provides a good example of this preparation at the Governor’s School. The spring semester brought the pilot project to fruition on April 28, 2021 in a live performance of Screenplay Concert Readings. Despite the many challenges of virtual and in-person (and hybrid) instruction. This workshop, rehearsal, and performance provided a powerful start to this program. Students in creative writing and drama were in Sakas Theater for the performance, which was broadcast live (and is archived) on YouTube.
As part of the Humanities curriculum, students explore how they can benefit their community and discuss global perspectives on important issues that help them develop communication skills and integrity both as artists and citizens. They are also encouraged to participate in service learning opportunities through the Connecting Arts Through Service (CATS) club. Students found creative ways to connect with the community in service projects this year, using the IPARD method for planning, implementing, and assessing the needs for and impact of their work.
Alongside these arts and humanities programs, several key data points demonstrate SCGSAH’s continued dedication to providing career and college readiness for every student. Their academic accomplishments include:
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Scores on SAT, ACT, and AP exams were higher than state and national averages.
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158 of 227 students enrolled in an AP course
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47 of our 112 graduates were inducted into the National Honor Society
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Recognition of academic achievement for:
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16 students named AP Scholars
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14 students named AP Scholars with Honors
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5 students named AP Scholars with Distinction
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23 students named Palmetto Fellows
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66 (additional) students who met eligibility requirements for the Life Scholarship
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1 National Merit Finalist
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24 students were named Academic Achievement Award Scholars
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A 100% graduation rate, with 109 of 112 seniors applying successfully to a college, university, or professional dance program
This year, the Governor’s School participated for a second time in the Gallup Poll of Student Engagement in a research project sponsored by Palmetto State Arts Education, the SC Arts Commission, and the Arts in Basic Curriculum project. The Arts Commission is investigating Hope and Engagement levels in arts-rich schools as compared to other schools who participated in the poll. For two years, including the mid-pandemic December 2020 results, SCGSAH students ranked their engagement levels significantly higher than those from other schools and districts in our state and nation-wide. These results have also guided meaningful reflection in our school on the priorities for reopening fully next year. Gallup data shows a strong correlation between engagement, academic achievement, and college/career readiness.
In a review of the Profile, several of the Life and Career Characteristics also stand out as significant accomplishments in this challenging year. Our students showed remarkable integrity, self-direction, perseverance, and work ethic. As a 1:1 iPad school, each student had a device at home, and our LMS Schoology was already a regular part of their instruction. Unlike many schools and districts, we did not lose a student during this instructional period. They overcame challenges, as staff and faculty worked tirelessly to continue to connect and engage students. The Class of 2021 graduated in-person at the Peace Center.
This work, as is true from year to year, is a direct result of the high level of artistic and academic excellence that the Governor’s School’s faculty and staff bring to their jobs every day. They continuously provide innovative learning experiences for students while pursuing professional development and remaining active and productive members of their academic and arts communities. Our student life staff are critical members of the educational team here, and they worked diligently and successfully to connect with and support their students, even when the students were not in residence. The accomplishments we highlight in this report card are all the more remarkable given these circumstances.