The faculty and staff at Lower Richland High School is committed to ensuring the academic, social, and emotional needs of students are met by providing them with skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. This is accomplished through the delivery of rigorous standards in each content area 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), and Arts in Basic Curriculum programs of study. Lower Richland currently offers two of the four International Baccalaureate programs of study, The IB Career Related Program (IBCP), and the IB Diploma Program (IBDP).
The IBCP is paired with programs in the Career and Technology Education (CATE) department to enhance career paths of study and certifications which give students real world career experiences matched with collegiate academic rigor. This program allows students to earn IB Career Certificates in the areas of Engineering with Project Lead the Way (PLTW), Health Science, Culinary Arts, Cosmetology, Firefighter, JROTC and Humanities, which includes Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment. Students can also earn IB Diplomas by enrolling and successfully completing a full course load of six IB courses and meeting additional requirements in community service and theory of knowledge.
The STEM program is nationally recognized as an AdvancED certified program. The Arts in Basic Curriculum promotes course offerings with an integration of arts and advanced courses moving 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, field study, 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 units if study 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 the implementation of approaches to teaching and learning skills. 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 through unit plans requiring students to employ twenty-first century skills to increase awareness of the learning process.
Lower Richland High School is a Professional Development Site (PDS) which partners with the University of South Carolina to ensure Professional Learning for staff members is on-going. The class of 2019 boasts the following accomplishments: $19.2 million in scholarships, 127 CATE Completers, 19 Honor graduates, 17 High School Scholars, 17 Academic All Stars, 66 Life Scholars, and 33 HOPE Scholars. Our track and field team has a consistent presence at the State Track and Field Meet annually this year athletics placed in the top 8 in nine events.
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), and Technology Student Association (TSA). Our chapters of FBLA, FCCLA, and HOSA chapters have consistent representation and winners competing at the state and national level.
Lower Richland High School has graduated distinguished alumnae to complete postsecondary education at West Point, The Citadel, Georgetown, Wofford and 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 student 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 support student success.
Ericka R. Hursey, Ed. D., Principal
Mrs. Tracee Walker, SIC Chairperson
