Lexington High School is committed to our students achieving the World-Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate.
The 2022–2023 school year felt, in many ways, like a return to “normal” for our school community as we emerged from two years of pandemic. As we restarted traditions that had been disrupted and reinstated many former procedures and expectations, we also kept in mind that our students and our staff were different now. In many ways, we were smarter, more adaptable and better equipped to meet our students’ needs under any circumstances. We have grown. At the same time, we recognize that our students have not had a “normal” preparation for high school, which has initiated new efforts to examine where each child is thriving and where gaps must be addressed. We committed ourselves to a more personalized approach to serving each of our Wildcats.
With the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate as our starting point, we examined our hopes and goals for each of our students, and developed our own Profile of a Wildcat. Our Profile aligns with the state’s Profile in identifying the final outcomes for our students, allowing us to design backward for an intentional and meaningful 4-year experience. We design curriculum that leads students to essential knowledge and content through carefully selected resources across academic disciplines. Our curriculum also places students in situations where they must practice future-ready skills such as communication and collaboration. We include opportunities for self-discovery and self-advocacy in our lessons. Finally, we encourage our students to consider why their learning matters and how they will use their education to be stewards for a better world. The development of the LHS Profile strengthens our capacity to grow each student toward the Profile of a South Carolina Graduate.
As has been the tradition of LHS, our graduates thrived this year in academics, athletics, arts and service to their community. We have students who will move on to prestigious colleges and universities around the country, along with certified and licensed students entering the workforce with an amazing head start. We also proudly celebrated our students who have committed to serve in the Armed Forces after high school. This year, our graduates have earned more than $42 million in college scholarships and 82% qualified for the LIFE Scholarship.
In pursuit of the Profile of the Wildcat, our students’ experiences inside and outside of the classroom allow them to gain knowledge, skills, self-awareness and efficacy. Our curricular and extracurricular offerings involve students in various leadership roles, critical thinking and problem-solving, communication, and the pursuit of excellence while learning through their setbacks and challenges. With hundreds of student clubs, performance groups, teams and service organizations, our students are immersed in activities that extend their learning in authentic environments where skills become transferable to other settings.
Our diverse course offerings allow students to become Unified Champions or partners for our special Olympians, college students through dual enrollment and Advanced Placement courses, International Baccalaureate graduates, sculptors and composers, entrepreneurs and environmentalists. This year we added a dynamic and rigorous AVID program to support students who want to push themselves in academics and leadership.
As we proudly celebrate the 111th graduating class of Lexington High School this year, we will continue to challenge ourselves to apply what we have learned from the past, capture and address our students’ present needs, and prepare our school and our students for the ever-changing future. Hail to Thee, LHS!
Ryan Pool, Ed.D., Principal
Lisa Catalanotto, SIC Chair
