"Our school is helping all students develop the world-class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the Graduate by continuously striving for excellence. T. L. Hanna, located in the growing community of Anderson, South Carolina, has a strong tradition of academic excellence. T. L. Hanna has been ranked in the U.S. News and World Report for schools in S.C. and the nation. With a clearly defined mission "to become globally-minded, ethical, and productive individuals who are prepared to enter college or the workforce.
This past year was exceptionally challenging as we dealt with students returning back to face-to-face instruction. Many of these students have not been in a traditional classroom since March of 2020. These students struggled with learning gaps as well as social and emotional issues associated with the isolation caused by the pandemic. Teachers and staff faced the challenge and found creative ways to meet the needs of our students. A strong partnership between home, school, and the Anderson community has been the driving force behind our students' academic achievement.
Instruction is at the forefront of T. L. Hanna. The faculty and staff at TL Hanna are focused on student-centered learning to meet the individual needs of each of our students. Our teachers understand that working as a team is imperative to student achievement. Teachers work collaboratively to plan and evaluate instruction to improve student learning. One of our school goals is to increase the number of students participating in Advanced Placement Courses. In 2016 we had 176 students taking 252 AP exams. Since 2016, we have had a steady increase in the number of students enrolled in AP classes. In the 21-22 school year 279 students took 384 AP exams. In the past five school years, we have seen a 59% increase in the number of students taking AP classes and a 52% increase in the number of exams taken.
The strengths of the school include a rigorous Advanced Placement Program; opportunity for dual credit course work at Anderson University and Tri-County Technical College, a high college acceptance rate; and high scholarship totals (the Class of 2022 earned in excess of $12.3 million). A large number of students at T.L. Hanna take dual-credit courses at Anderson University or Tri-County Technical College. This year 195 students took 266 dual-credit courses. At T. L. Hanna we are constantly working to improve our graduation rate. Our graduation rate has improved every year since 2018 from 86% to 89%. Looking at the 2022 graduation cohort we believe we will continue this trend and have a minimum graduation rate of 90%. The 2022 graduating class had 127 seniors receive the Honors Seal of Distinction, 272 seniors received the College-Ready Seal of Distinction, 60 seniors received the Career Seal of Distinction, 38 seniors received the STEM Seal of Distinction, 43 seniors received the World Language Seal of Distinction, 8 seniors received the Military Seal of Distinction, and 26 seniors receive the Arts Seal of Distinction. Students have an opportunity to attend The Anderson Institute of Technology and explore high-tech career pathways and CATE certifications to help prepare them for college and the workforce. This year's senior class had 60 seniors who completed a career pathway at AIT.
The diverse student body consists of approximately 1900 students. Our school continues to grow as people move into our attendance zone to ensure their children receive a first-class education Our challenge continues to be meeting the needs of all of our students. We have increasing numbers of students who live in poverty, who speak English as a second language, and who have physical and learning disabilities. T. L. Hanna has an abundance of extracurricular activities for students to participate in. Our Student Council, Beta Club, and the National Honor Society are very active in both the school and the community. This year our Beta Club, Student Council, and National Honor Society logged nearly 5,000 hours of community service. The athletic facilities are probably one of the best in the state. A state-of-the-art fieldhouse, Jumbotron, collegiate-level track, and turf fields provide exceptional playing venues for our student-athletes. The ROTC Program continually receives awards for competitions. The TLH 2022 NJROTC unit was recognized as a Distinguished Unit. The ROTC is utilized in the community on a regular basis. The T. L. Hanna Band has continued to grow in numbers and improve as performers. This year's marching band finished 2nd in the State and the Indoor Drumline World Championships advancing to the semifinals. It is with an outstanding faculty/staff, student body, and high parental/community support that T. L. Hanna continues to strive to be the "High School of Excellence."
Principal –Walter A. Mayfield
School Improvement Chair – Kathy Moore
