It is the sincere and passionate desire of the faculty and staff of Fort Mill High School that our students graduate equipped for whatever comes next after high school, whether that is college or a career. We use the Profile of The South Carolina Graduate as a guiding framework, which helps define the essential characteristics, skills, and traits that we aspire to instill in every graduate. This is directly linked with our mission “to provide the necessary skills and knowledge needed to become life-long learners and responsible productive citizens in a democratic society.” We believe that the most successful preparation for college and career opportunities after high school comes from an education that emphasizes a rigorous, challenging foundation in mathematics and English; a well-rounded exposure to world languages, the arts, social sciences, and STEAM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics); character development; and soft skills. This multifaceted approach drives the decisions we make regarding the content, instructional methodologies, and the opportunities we provide to serve our students.
One of the most visible measurements of college readiness is the performance of our graduates on college admission tests. Our school routinely exceeds the state and national averages in national testing, such as the ACT and SAT. While we do not tie our academic identity to any one metric or standardized testing in general, we are proud to be recognized for the achievement of our scholars.
Recognizing that our school cannot afford to take a one-dimensional, college-centric approach to education, we continually emphasize career readiness and try to provide our students with numerous and diverse opportunities to explore career fields. One highlight of our school approach is the vast number of opportunities we provide for our students to gain experience and build connections with industry professionals through job shadowing, internships, and apprenticeships. Our work-based learning coordinator and career development facilitator work year-round to put our students in touch with industries and skilled professionals that many times lead to high-paying jobs after high school. Routinely, our students have opportunities to learn from industry professionals in the areas of health care, professional sports, manufacturing, local government, technology, 3-D printing, culinary arts, the military, and more.
Our school also boasts outstanding athletics, visual and performing arts, and extracurricular clubs and service organizations. We find that this helps augment the holistic, well-rounded approach we take with academics. Add to that the fact that our school has a vibrant, positive school culture and support from involved, dedicated parents and community members, and you find that our students are afforded an experience at Fort Mill High School that is second-to-none.
Zachary Beam, Principal
