The faculty and staff of Fort Mill High School share a passion for equipping our students with the necessary skills and knowledge needed to become lifelong learners and responsible, productive citizens in our modern democratic society. That goal is encapsulated by our school’s mission statement, which is shared each morning with every student and adult in our building via the public announcement system as a reminder of our intended outcomes. We can clearly define the type of knowledgeable, well-prepared graduates we want to produce, but perhaps of greater importance is the fact that we believe we have identified the means of achieving those goals. We believe that the most successful preparation for college and career opportunities after high school comes from an education that emphasizes rigorous, challenging foundation in mathematics and English; a well-rounded exposure to world languages, the arts, social sciences, and STEM) disciplines (science, technology, engineering, 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.
On October 1st, 2018 the US Department of Education declared Fort Mill High School a National Blue Ribbon School. Of the more than 130,000 schools in the nation, Fort Mill High School was selected as an “Exemplary High Performing School” for our overall academic performance. Being selected as a National Blue Ribbon School affirmed the hard work of our students, teachers, families, and greater school community in creating a positive, welcoming school where students are pushed to master challenging and engaging content. While this award serves as validation of our academic achievement from the highest level of our government, we recognize that with or without an award our school is special because of our dedication to the unifying goals of providing each student with the opportunities to be prepared for their future no matter what it holds. We are also grateful to be supported by students, teachers, families, and a greater school community that are deeply invested in our mission and our successfulness.
One of the most visible measurements of college readiness is the performance of our graduates on college admission tests. This school year, it was announced that the Fort Mill School District once again exceeded the state and national averages in the ACT and SAT. Fort Mill High School’s composite average on the SAT—1150—set the pace for our district and exceeded the state’s average of 1064 and the national average of 1049. Fort Mill High School’s composite average on the ACT—21.6—was again good enough for best in the district honors and exceeded the state average of 18.3 and the national average of 21. 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 this year was our Bee Steam Driven day. The event kicked off with engineering and aeronautics in action, as the student body witnessed a medical evacuation helicopter landing on our lacrosse field. Then student groups broke out and traveled to different stations with demonstrations of how STEAM concepts correlated to various career fields. Students had opportunities to learn from and speak with industry professionals in the areas of health care, professional sports, manufacturing, local government, technology, 3-D printing, culinary arts, and the military.
Our school also boasts outstanding athletics, visual and performing arts, and extracurricular clubs and service organizations. We find that this helps augments 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.
Sharyn Lewis - SIC Chairperson
Gales Scroggs - Principal
