The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities (SCGSAH) is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by offering a challenging curriculum in the arts and academics, along with other school-wide programming designed to support and engage students. Our theme for 2022-2023 was "Many Paths. One Community. Govie Unity" which spoke to the diverse backgrounds of our students and the equally rich opportunities that await them when they graduate. Students demonstrated and developed these World Class Skills in powerful and meaningful ways this year. 

The “four C’s” in this set of skills tie directly into our mission: pre-professional arts instruction and academic excellence. In 2022-23, students demonstrated creativity and innovation along with critical thinking and problem solving in work that was recognized nationally via the following awards and accomplishments:

• Creative Writing students had work recognized by YoungArts and Scholastics, and they have published in over a dozen literary journals, including So To Speak, The Ignatian Literary Magazine, Assignment Literary Journal, and in many other places. They have won or placed in writing contests at Ringling College, Skylark Poetry Contest, and Bennington Young Writers Award.

• Dance students earned recognition (and one upcoming publication) from the National Honor Society for Dance Arts, as well as regional and national awards from Youth America Grand Prix and the school’s own dance competition and festival, Grand Jeté. Graduates attended top-tier dance and exercise science programs, as well as pursuing a liberal arts degree. One dancer is entering a professional company next year to continue her career path.

• Drama students excelled as an ensemble with a fall production of Almost, Maine and the creation of their own devised work, Subliminal in the spring. They auditioned successfully at top-tier college programs via the Unified Theatre Auditions in Chicago and New York. One student won the Songbook Academy’s Emerging Artist Award for his vocal artistry, and another student was accepted in Juilliard’s prestigious and competitive Drama Division.  

• Music students placed in state, regional and national competitions including and performing with various ensembles including the Carolina Youth Symphony, Greenville County Young Artist Orchestra, South Carolina Youth Wind Symphony, South Carolina All State Orchestra and Band. After graduation, our music seniors will attend prestigious schools in the United States pursuing majors in music as well as in other areas of study. 

• Visual Arts students participated in significant competitions over the past two years, distinguishing our program regionally and nationally. These include the Scholastic Art Awards, a national competition with the highest level of participation from around the country, regional student art exhibitions at Greenville Technical College and Converse University, and ArtFields Jr, a noteworthy regional exhibition event. Additionally, this year, all of our seniors produced exhibitions for the Greenville office of Pacolet Milliken.

Collaboration and teamwork are also among the World Class Skills of the SC graduate, and the school’s film program continued to expand as the Creative Writing and Drama departments worked together to create, produce, and screen short films. A new social studies course proposal is currently under review with the SCDE: US History through Film. Progress toward the standalone film program includes: curriculum approved by the Board, budget request for an FTE faculty position starting 2023-2024, and successful recruiting and admissions for this summer’s launch of Introduction to Filmmaking for rising 8th- and 9th- graders from across the state. A collaborative production Boundless also got underway this year with students and faculty from Drama, Music, and Dance working with writer/producer/director Mary Fishburne on this project. 

As part of the Humanities curriculum, students explore how they can benefit their community and discuss global perspectives on important issues that help them develop communication skills and integrity both as artists and citizens. They are also encouraged to participate in service learning opportunities through the Connecting Arts Through Service (CATS) club. Students found creative ways to connect with the community in service projects this year, using the IPARD method for planning, implementing, and assessing the needs for and impact of their work.

Alongside these arts and humanities programs, several key data points demonstrate SCGSAH’s continued dedication to providing career and college readiness for every student. Their academic accomplishments include:

• Scores on SAT, ACT, and AP exams were higher than state and national averages

• 130 (of 215) students enrolled in an AP course and those students took 188 exams

• 17 students earned recognition in the SC Seal of Biliteracy program

  • 2 Gold in Spanish

  • 1 Gold in French

  • 5 Silver in Spanish

  • 2 Silver in French

  • 5 Bronze in Spanish

  • 1 Bronze in French

  • 1 Bronze in German

• The 84 seniors in the Class of 2023 earned significant academic achievements:

  • A 100% graduation rate

  • 8 of our graduates earned Academic Achievement Awards

  • SC Diploma Pathways Seals of Distinction

    • 100% of our graduates earned the specialization seal in the Arts.

    • 8 of our graduates qualified for the Honors pathway seal

    • 73 of our graduates earned the College Ready pathway seal

  • 31 were inducted into the National Honor Society

  • 18 were named Palmetto Fellows

  • 47 (additional) students met eligibility requirements for the LIFE Scholarship at four-year colleges (3.0 SC UGP GPA; 1100 SAT or 22 ACT score)

  • All graduates met eligibility requirements for the LIFE Scholarship at two-year colleges

In a review of the Profile, several of the Life and Career Characteristics also stand out as significant accomplishments. Our students showed remarkable integrity, self-direction, perseverance, and work ethic. They were often drawing on these characteristics and being reminded of their importance. Rather than "soft skills" the hope, engagement, and belonging we seek to build into our community are hallmarks of school success and student achievement.

This work, as is true from year to year, is a direct result of the high level of artistic and academic excellence that the Governor’s School’s faculty and staff bring to their jobs every day. They continuously provide innovative learning experiences for students while pursuing professional development and remaining active and productive members of their academic and arts communities. Our student life staff are critical members of the educational team here, and they work diligently and successfully to connect with and support their students. Our Care and Concern team connects these elements of the school to ensure individualized responses to student needs. 

In addition to these measurable successes, students showed a growth mindset characterized by resilience, resourcefulness, and drive. Their most notable and remarkable practice: creating and/or performing art daily. Through this discipline, they learn and demonstrate curiosity, compassion, and innovation.