Great Falls High School, in collaboration with our community, continues to provide an environment driven by rigorous curriculum and high expectations, enabling our students to challenge themselves to be productive, contributing citizens in a global society. We are helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by ensuring that our students meet the daily goal of being Better Today.
Our students continued to make many great strides academically this year. The graduating class of 2022 is the last class to have experienced a pre-Covid high school year. COVID-19 struck during their sophomore year and interrupted high school as they had known it. However, they stood the test of time, displayed resilience, and was able to bounce back this year to have an awesome senior year!
Academically, they’ve led the way in improving student achievement here at Great Falls. The projected graduation rate for this class is 95.7%, which is the highest ever for Great Falls High School over the past 15 years! Well over a third of the class participated in our dual enrollment program and have earned college credit to use as they continue on their academic journeys. Additionally, we’re very proud to share that one of our seniors has graduated with her associate’s degree from USCL by taking on the maximum number of credit hours in the dual enrollment program beginning the summer of her 10th grade year. We are sending our graduates into postsecondary endeavors, and over 75% of the class will be entering a two-year or four-year college or university in the fall, three will be joining the military, and others will be utilizing the certifications they’ve obtained from the Chester County Career Center as they enter the workforce. The combined monetary scholarships for all students in the Red Devil Class of 2022 is nearly $2.6 million dollars.
Athletically, they’ve raised the bar and competed at high levels on the courts and fields. We’ve had four senior scholar athletes and multiple all-region and all-state selections in various sports. Our football team, led by several members of this class, had a very successful season and made it to the 2nd Round of the 1A playoffs for the first time in eight years! Additionally, three of our seniors signed letters of intent to play college football next year! Our girls basketball team captured their first region win since 2018 and made the playoffs for the first time in over 10 years! Our boys basketball team captured its’ third consecutive Region Championship and made it to the Upper-State Championship! One of our seniors was named not only Region Player of the Year, but also received special recognition as an All-State Basketball Player for Class 1A. Additionally, we had a senior to be nominated and selected to compete in this year’s North-South All-Star Game following the season. Our softball team had an incredible season! After finishing 3rd in the region, the Lady Red Devils hosted the first round of playoffs and picked up their first playoff win since 1986. They went on to also compete in the district finals!
One of the highlights of our year was celebrating many awards at the state and national levels! Our Beta Club was selected this year as a National Beta School of Distinction by the National Beta Club, and as a result of superior work with our student-athletes, our athletic director Dr. Garrett Knight was named the Region 2-A Athletic Director of the Year, and our Principal Dr. Jamal Sanders was named the 2021-22 1A Principal of the Year!
Student achievement levels continued to improve this year, and we will continue to focus our efforts on improving in all areas. We will continue to work with our students, providing them the world class knowledge and skills that are needed to compete globally.
Dr. Jamal Sanders, Principal
Ms. Deshonia Cauthen, SIC Chair
