Baptist Hill Middle High School provides opportunities for all students to develop the world class skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate which empowers each graduate to contribute and compete in a global, innovative economy. Our school supports students’ awareness of 21st century transformation and the importance of their ability to compete in a global society by offering programs and opportunities that foster critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity, media and technology, and life and career skills.
As a community school, Baptist Hill offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes English language arts, world languages, fine arts, math, science, economics, and social sciences. These programs allow all students to gain the skills and knowledge they need to succeed after high school. All students have access to technology and wireless access in the classroom through one-to-one Chromebook computers. Our ongoing professional development by our in-house instructional coaches helps guide our teachers in the proper use of technology in the classroom to build information and media technology skills. Students are challenged to develop critical thinking skills through the academic offerings in Dual Enrollment courses with Trident Technical College, Advanced Placement, AVID, differentiated instructional practices, and Personalized Learning.
Twenty-one 8th graders received high school credit for Honors Algebra 1. Eighteen 8th graders received high school credit for Honors English 1. Twenty-six students earned a “C” or above in college-level courses while twenty-nine students successfully completed Dual Enrollment courses. Students also developed key workplace skills such as adaptability, productivity, leadership and responsibility through a variety of Career and Technology Education Pathways. Twenty-two Baptist Hill students qualified as CTE Completers in one or more Career Clusters - Digital Art and Design, Barbering, Business Information Management, Administrative Services, Health Science, and Marketing Communications. Twenty-two Microburst Certifications were earned during the 2021-22 school year. For the first time in Baptist Hill history, four students received the OSHA 10 Hour Construction Industry Certification.
Baptist Hill offers career specialized training in Master Hair Care, Digital Art and Design, Early Childhood Development, Business Information Management, Engineering, Building Construction, and Biomedical Science. Our school-based enterprise is used to train students in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and social skills needed in the workplace. Through our school-based enterprise, we are able to offer products and services to students and staff, while partnering with local businesses to design logos and print advertisements. In the area of technology, our middle school students participate in Gateway to Technology, a Project Lead The Way Program designed to engage middle school students in computer science, coding, and robotics. Of our graduating class of 2023, 57% have earned level 3 or higher on all ACT WorkKeys skills assessments- Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents; 28% have earned level 4 or higher on those same skills.
Our Fine Arts Department offers a course of study in studio art, band, and dance. Students who engage in studio art collaborate and create original pieces which provide cross-cultural experiences. Our students typically compete in local competitions such as the James Island County Park Christmas Card Decorating Contest, the Coastal Carolina Fair Art Show, and in previous years Spoleto Festival. Additional academic competitions included the Middle School participation in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
In order to ensure students develop content knowledge, thinking skills and receive social and emotional support necessary to be effective, productive citizens, teachers receive ongoing professional development and extended practices in blended and personalized learning, engaging and motivating students, effective social emotional learning strategies, AVID strategies, and how to incorporate the latest technology into best teaching practices. Teachers also receive instruction and support from instructional coaches, outside agencies, and district personnel in order that they are able to continuously move students toward grade level proficiency in reading, writing, and math. This job-embedded, on-going professional development ensures teachers are equipped to develop students’ skills and knowledge they need in order to succeed in work and life. Each year as a school team, we move closer to realizing the vision of being a comprehensive, high performing community school that nurtures students, supports educators, and serves the community.
Brendan Glaze, Principal
Pamela Mungin, SIC Chair