Philip Simmons High School serves an ever-growing community of approximately 800 students in grades 9-12. We provide a comprehensive education by offering a robust selection of academic courses including Advanced Placement, dual-credit courses, and honors-level courses; additionally, our students are involved in Career and Technical Education courses which include, but are not limited to, Medical Terminology, Sports Medicine, Digital Desktop Publishing, Accounting, Introduction to Engineering Design, Business and Entrepreneurship, and Introduction to Engineering Design. Students at Philip Simmons High School can enroll in fine arts courses such as orchestra, art, drama, band, and chorus. The Air Force JROTC program, which began in 2020, continues to flourish, allowing for the enrolled cadets to develop their self-discipline, collaboration, and leadership skills. Along with our rigorous and challenging programs of study, Philip Simmons High School offers a variety of sports, clubs, and organizations led by dedicated coaches and sponsors. These various opportunities and activities develop well-rounded learners, set high expectations for students, teach valuable lessons in stewardship, volunteerism, sportsmanship, and teamwork, and help all of our students develop the skills associated with the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate.
Over the past several years, Philip Simmons High School’s graduating class has grown, earning millions of dollars in scholarships each year. Our 2024 graduates received just over 10 million dollars in scholarship offers, and 90% of the graduates plan to enter postsecondary programs to further their education. In addition to having one of the highest graduation rates in the Lowcountry, we also have one of the highest membership percentages for National Honor Society in the state.
Philip Simmons High School excels academically and athletically. Our ACT and SAT scores often exceed state averages, and of the over 500 AP exams taken by our juniors and seniors, 80% earned a score of 3 or higher. This year we again set records at the district and state level for AP Scores across content areas. The exams with the highest percentages of 5s earned were for 2-D Art and Design, Drawing, Calculus AB, and Psychology. Within our Fine Arts programs, Treble Choir earned a Superior rating at Choral Palmetto State Championships, Band earned an Excellent rating at CPA, Treble and Mixed Ensemble won two trophies from the South Carolina Music Education Association, and several students were chosen for the South Carolina All-State Choir. In Visual Arts, 8 students received the 2023 Scholastic Art and Writing Award, 2 of them “Gold Key” winners, and saw at least one 1st place entry in the National Art Honor Society Exhibition, the Berkeley County Courthouse Art Competition, and the Coastal Carolina Exchange Club Competition. Our Theatre program successfully put on two musicals in a single year, and we had our first ever winner at the Theatre Association competition. Our athletics program also continued to excel by winning 4th place in the Carlisle Cup in our first year of being a AAA school and the smallest. The Iron Horses claimed 3 State Championship Titles and along the way, we won 11 of a possible 18 region championships other region championships. Our school offers more athletic options than many of the larger 5A schools around us, and we continue to add teams each year, expanding scholarship opportunities for our athletes.
Philip Simmons High School continues to expand and grow while engaging, cultivating, and producing high levels of success among our students. Iron Horse pride lives in all of our students, parents, faculty, and community. The support from GameDay Club, Band Boosters, PTSA, and our community is beyond measure. The members of Philip Simmons High School continue in their endeavors to cultivate an enriching and welcoming environment for all students to achieve their utmost potential in preparation for their future success.
PSH continues to be the flagship school in Berkeley County School District, we continue to set high expectations for our students and look forward to their continued success.
