White Knoll High School helps all students develop the World-Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate while “Empowering ALL students to be productive global citizens in the 21st century by fostering accountability, lifelong learning and respect.” We focused on our Student Growth Area: to implement strategies that improve academic performance through asset-based thinking and growth mindset, including progress tracking and personalized learning experiences, believing that when students and staff take ownership of their learning, they feel a greater sense of belonging to the WKHS family. Our faculty’s work and our students’ academic success resulted in U.S. News & World Report naming our school as “One of America’s Best Schools” two years in a row.
Highlights this past school year include senior Joshua Ridley recognized as a National Merit Finalist; senior Austin Vestal interned with Bankair, while working toward his commercial pilot license; senior Ty Bennett interned with the S.C. Department of Administration in IT; senior Hayden Carter interned with Lexington Medical Center; and senior Cierra Pray interned with Sun Solutions in West Columbia, working with screen printing and embroidery.
Twenty-two WKHS Chorus students qualified for the SCMEA Region Choir, 11 students performed in the Lexington One District Honor Choir, 1 student earned the distinction of All-State Choir, with more than $250,000.00 offered in college music scholarships for students. WKHS Chorus accepted the opportunity to sing with Foreigner during their Concert Farewell Tour at the Carolina Opry pre-show, as well as the 9/11 Day of Remembrance at the Columbia Convention Center. The WKHS Orchestra had 10 students accepted to All-Region Orchestra Clinic at USC Aiken; 20 students were accepted to the Lexington One Honor Orchestra Clinic; six students auditioned for All-State Orchestra, with one alternate accepted; 32 students competed in the SCMEA Solo and Ensemble competition on April 12. The WKHS Chamber Orchestra defended their 2023 “Superior with Distinction” rating at the 2024 Concert Performance Assessment at Irmo High School on March 26. The WKHS Combined Orchestras traveled to Carowinds on April 13 to compete in the Carowinds Festival of Music.
In the Visual Arts departments, 26 students’ art juried into the S.C. State Fair. Jenna Tunison won an Honorable Mention for 12th grade 2D Art. The department hosted an Honors Art Show open to families and the public. Senior Jael Hodges was accepted into Winthrop’s art program. WKHS Theatre department TADA attended the Palmetto Dramatic Association High School Festival where Isabel Blevins and Azaria Cassells won all-star acting awards at the South Carolina Theatre Association’s High School Speech & Theatre Festival, and Logan Cahill was recognized for achievement in Technical Theatre, winning a Golden Flashlight Award from the judges. Six students received awards for Superior Acting or Outstanding Contribution, and won Excellent Overall Play Production Ranking for the cast, crew and leadership of “Tracks.”
WKHS Senior Sports Medicine students prepared for the next phase of their lives; most are already accepted to colleges; some anticipate taking the Physical Therapy Aide Technician exam. Student athletes accepted offers to play at the college level, in and out of state. Students performing at high levels include: Girls Tennis, Emma Cash, All-Region; Volleyball, Taylor O'Neill, All-Region; Girls Basketball, Sidney White and Shaelyn Hayes, All-Region; Boys Basketball, Devin Geronomi and McCoy Bell, All-Region; Wrestling, Dane Dillon, Jason Albano and Carlos Ponce, All-Region; Logan Taylor, All-State; Kyle Kimrey was named Co-Region Wrestling Coach of the Year; and the Timberwolves were the Lower State Champions and State Runner-Ups in Football.
Our NJROTC continues to make WKHS proud. Austin Thacker and Dean Cherry were awarded NROTC scholarships. WKHS cadets completed 2,063 hours of volunteer work supporting the school and the local community. Our competitive teams excelled, with our drill team placing 3rd overall at the NJROTC Area 6 (NC and SC) drill, academic and physical fitness competition, out of more than 60 schools in the area. Our CyberPatriot (computer network defense) team qualified for the platinum tier (top third platinum/gold/silver) after two rounds of competition. Our Air Rifle team finished 8th out of 40 teams at the Area 6 Air Rifle Championship. Our Academic team took home trophies from almost every competition this year, and earned first place trophies at several drill, academic and physical fitness competitions.
Academically, our school offered 15 dual enrollment courses, enrolling 103 students. One of our VEX Robotics teams won the Judges Award at a Pickens County competition. The World Language Department had 15 students qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy. French Teacher Caver Mudzonga presented at ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) this year. Our staff recognized Dr. Craig Wheatley as our Teacher of the Year.
The Center for Public Health and Advanced Medical Studies’ 3-year program gives students from all five district high schools the opportunity to explore careers in public health and medical fields, preparing students for advanced degrees in these areas. This program relies heavily on the scientific processes behind the medical and public health fields while examining various less-common careers, exposing students to options they may not have considered (epidemiologist, forensic science, bioengineering, hospital administration, etc.). The Project-Lead-the-Way (PLTW) Biomedical Science curriculum offers students four classes (Principles of Biomedical Science, Human Body Systems, Medical Interventions and Biomedical Innovations). Two Public Health courses taken within the Center (Public Health Seminar and Advanced Public Health) have been used as the template for the state Public Health pathways, helping students prepare for courses at the college level, honing time management, study techniques and metacognition as everyday skills.
WKHS began working with the National Blue Ribbon organization to gather data to be analyzed to determine our areas of strength and areas in which we can grow. This data will be used to qualify for National Blue Ribbon status in the next few years.
WKHS’s AVID implementation officially began in the 2021–2022 school year, with a student cohort of 25 AVID Scholars and an AVID Site Team of eight teachers, counselors and administrators trained by AVID Center. The Scholar cohort has grown to more than 60 students in grades nine through 11; the AVID Site Team now features 17 trained staff members in all core subject areas, as well as special education, ESOL, instructional support and administration. AVID schoolwide certification in the next several years supports AVID’s mission of closing the opportunity gap, helping prepare all students for college- and career-readiness, and success in a global society.
The 492 graduates in the class of 2024 included 17 Palmetto Fellows, 292 LIFE/HOPE scholarship-eligible recipients and earnings of $41,643,309 in scholarship money. According to our School Counseling End-of-Year Survey for 12th graders, seniors self-reported that 66.8% will attend college (2- or 4-year), 22.3% will enter the workforce, trade school or undecided comprise 5.3%, and 5.6% will join the military.
As we approach our 25th year of successfully preparing students for their future, our introspective look at building systems of support for our students, faculty and families continues to let our motto “Believe, Achieve, Succeed” drive our work.
Nicholas Pearson, Principal
Elizabeth Timmerman, SIC Chair
