Lower Richland High School is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. This is accomplished through the delivery of rigorous standards in all content areas as provided by the state of South Carolina, accompanied with the rigor of Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs of study. Lower Richland also offers International Baccalaureate Career Related Program (IBCP). The IB program has partnered with the Career and Technology Education (CATE) department to create career paths of study and certifications to give students real world career experiences. Students can also earn IB Diplomas or IB Career Certificates. STEM is nationally recognized as an AdvancED certified program. The rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program is partnered with Project Lead the Way (PLTW), Health Science, Culinary Arts, Cosmetology, Firefighter, Humanities, which includes Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment as well as JROTC to offer students a career focused course of study. Lower Richland is also an Arts in Basic Curriculum Site which allows for courses to be offered through an integration of arts and advanced courses from STEM to STEAM curriculum approaches. Lower Richland has student representation in all areas of the arts to include, dance, drama, music and chorus in the district’s honors programs.
Additionally, Lower Richland High School also focuses on life and career characteristics by providing students an opportunity for real-world experiences through entrepreneurship, career shadowing, fieldtrips, and academic assignments that are project-based and problem-based projects.
To ensure our students have world class knowledge and skills, all teachers plan and implement lesson through a collaborative process which promotes creativity and innovation through inquiry and project based learning. Critical thinking and problem solving are accomplished by utilizing authentic assessment resulting from unit plans. Teachers use approaches to learning and teaching strategies for the purpose of enhancing student’s abilities to collaborate, communicate, and perform research using information and media technology. The approaches to learning skills are integrated throughout unit plans aiding students in employing the skills, increasing awareness of the learning process.
Professional Learning for staff members is on-going as Lower Richland is Professional Development Site (PDS) partnering with the University of South Carolina. The class of 2018 boasts the following accomplishments: $25.1 in scholarships, 154 CATE Completers, 23 Honor graduates, 19 High School Scholars, 8 Academic All Stars, 3 Palmetto Fellows, 79 Life Scholars, and 24 HOPE Scholars. Our football team was region champions in 2017 for the first time since 1972.
The school’s extra-/co-curricular activities include Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), National Technical Honor Society (NTHS), Health Occupations of America (HOSA), Skills USA, Robotics, BETA, Drill Team, National Honor Society (NHS), Technology Student Association (TSA). Our chapters of FBLA, FCCLA, and HOSA has consistent representation and winners competing at the state and national level.
Lower Richland High School has graduated distinguished alumnae to include doctors, politicians, news anchors, educators, and professional athletes. As “An Institution of Excellence” for the southeast communities of Richland County, our mission is to engage students in a positive, productive, and innovative learning environment leading students towards becoming successful, responsible, and competitive in a global and technological society. Through the community, manufacturing and retail businesses have built a relationship with the school by providing support, scholarships, and engagement through the School Improvement Council to help drive student success.
Ericka R. Hursey, Ed. D., Principal
Mrs. Tracee Walker, SIC Chairperson
