The 2021-2022 school year marks another year of the Bobcat tradition of excellence.
Ranked number 24th out of 246 public high schools in the state of South Carolina according to the 2022 US News and World Report “Best High Schools in South Carolina”. Bluffton High School is committed to assuring that all students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to live as productive and informed citizens in an ever-changing society. Preparing students for academic and social success during as well as after high school is a pillar of our mission and purpose at Bluffton High School. As a top performer in the district, these ratings are a reflection and testament to the passion, strength, and determination of our school community.
Bluffton High School’s administration and faculty provides many opportunities to students by delivering an array of quality curriculum that serves the interests of a diverse population. Highlights of our offerings include twenty- six AP courses, AP Capstone, Project Lead the Way courses, JROTC, Fire Fighting, Teacher Cadet, Duel Enrollment courses through USCB and TCL, and a Visual and Performing Arts school choice program. Bluffton High School prides itself in affording opportunities for our students to grow themselves as students and as citizens by not only offering a wide array of courses, but a school rich in clubs, athletics, and extracurricular activities for our students.
Our school is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing the opportunities for world class knowledge, skills, and life and career characteristics.
When it comes to world class knowledge, Bluffton High School sets high academic standards for all students. We have rigorous standards in language arts and math when it comes to career and college readiness. Recent data shows that 88.9% of our graduates are college and career ready upon graduation.
In addition to testing, our scheduling ensures rigor and high standards. We offer a variety of honors and AP level courses. We had 260 students taking AP courses and 488 tests were administers. 75% of our AP students scored a 3 or better on the AP exam.
Further, our rigorous schedule options provide opportunities for honors classes in all levels of English, and social studies, most levels of math, and science, and many other subjects, including world languages, the arts, technology, engineering, and more. Compared to other schools in our district and state, Bluffton High School students perform as well or better than average. Our overall percentage of passing EOC scores for English 2, Biology 1, and Algebra 1 were the top in the district at 81.7%% while the district percentage of passing was 72.6%
Our 2022 graduation rate was 92.8%, our highest ever.
Many of our classes also provide opportunity for students to gain world class skills. Though many of the courses in our arts program, multimedia program, STEM courses, and more, students have the opportunity to increase their creativity and innovation. Students develop critical thinking and problem solving in course such as those offered in our Project Lead the Way (PLTW) programs. Students stretch the limits of critical thinking with the offering of AP Computer Science and AP Physics. While working in programs like Fire Fighters Academy, students learn they must learn to work together and rely on each other. They see that the collaboration and communication needed for teamwork in this program may actually be a matter of life or death. Our Sports Med students collaborate with the community as they accept internships. Here they learn the importance of a team in medical related fields. Our athletic programs epitomize teamwork. Student Athletes work with their coaches to work for a common goal – the win! We offer a wide variety of sports for men and women. Many of our extracurricular and co-curricular activities also provide opportunities for students to collaborate and work together as a team. Student Government, DECA , YIG (Youth in Government), and Rotary Club sponsor Interact allow students the opportunity to collaborate as they make important decisions which impact the school or a larger entity. These types of activities allow students to understand the significance of the skills they learn in high school. Other skills, such as communication, using information, and using media and technology are also imperative for success beyond high school. Many of the organizations and classes promote these skills, none more so than our Media and Technology class. In this class, students learn to take information and communicate it to an audience using media and technology. Students make public service announcements and many other projects where they showcase their unique skills through media and technology. Through many of these programs’ students learn how to apply their skills, but it is also important to understand the metacognition that goes with these skills. Each of these help students develop the world class skills they need to be successful in life in the 21st century.
Further, students need certain life and career characteristics These are the characteristics needed to be successful in life beyond high school. Colleges and employers expect students to come to them able to function in those settings. Students need a work ethic, interpersonal skills, perseverance, and Faculty and staff at Bluffton High School seek to set standards for integrity every day.
Bluffton High School’s dedication to community and positive school culture is on the forefront of our goals as we continue to achieve in the areas of academics, extra-curricular activities, and athletics. Our students are at the heart of Bluffton High School, where excellence is the state of mind.
On behalf of our School Improvement Council, we take pride in our school and in our community. “Bobcat Nation” has good reason to be proud!
It is Better to be a Bobcat!