Laurens District 55 High School is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by offering opportunities for students to experience equitable college and career preparation throughout their high school years so they graduate ready to enter and succeed in higher education or the workplace.
Students enter the ninth grade from four separate feeder schools and become part of the Freshman Academy at Laurens High School. Staff in the Academy stress collaboration and teamwork. The Freshman Academy is contained within an area of the school which allows for social interaction among the four distinct groups from the feeder schools. Classes in the Academy are structured to meet the needs of each student and are leveled in rigor to challenge each student according to his or her academic performance levels. Students may enroll in college preparatory, honors, and advanced placement courses based on staff guidance and post-high school goals. The geographical closeness and structured schedule of the Freshman Academy allow for students to remain supervised while being guided to learn the skill of knowing how to learn (Profile of the South Carolina Graduate) in core classes as well as elective classes.
During the sophomore year, students at Laurens High School are given opportunities to learn methods of communication for the purpose of providing information (Profile of the South Carolina Graduate) through elective and core classes that emphasize the importance of presentation. Among these opportunities is the option to enroll in Middle College which allows students to graduate with an Associates Degree from a local technical school, as well as plan a course for a career in education through Teacher Cadet classes sponsored by a local college. These courses consist of technology-based applications that provide a vehicle to inform masses of stakeholders (Profile of the South Carolina Graduate). Furthermore, students begin to think critically and solve problems (Profile of the South Carolina Graduate) by enrolling in Career and Technology courses of study such as automotive mechanics, building construction, welding, health science, and other hands-on classes. Many of these students plan to go into dual enrollment classes as well as Career and Manufacturing classes at an off-site facility shared with a neighboring school district.
As students advance to junior and senior status, they are afforded opportunities to take dual enrollment classes and advanced placement courses which contain units of study that require students to be creative and innovative as well as collaborate with other students and business partners through internships and project-based learning.
In addition to coursework, Laurens District 55 High School offers a variety of sports (football, baseball, basketball, cheerleading, field and track, soccer, softball, and volleyball) and clubs (National Honor Society, BETA, Student Council, and Robotics) in which students learn world-class skills consisting of collaboration, teamwork, and communication (Profile of the South Carolina Graduate).
Dr. Tina Faulkner, Principal
