Our school is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate through a variety of programmatic opportunities to grow students to success. The integration of World Class Skills is exemplified through South Pointe's designation as a STEAM school of choice. STEAM at South Pointe provides students with awareness, exposure, and college and career preparation in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. South Pointe High School’s design process allows students to collaboratively assess, research, create, design, solve, and apply critical thinking through our STEAM Immersion and STEAM Pathways. STEAM pathways, including course options, such as aerospace, clean energy, cybersecurity, and biomedical, in the areas of Engineering, Clean Energy, Computer Science, Health Science, and Convergence Media are available to all students to pursue. The faculty and staff continue to participate in planning and professional development to support the design process and STEAM Immersion and Pathway philosophy. Teachers are committed to incorporating challenging project-based learning and STEAM experiences that allow students opportunities to gain knowledge through hands-on, real-world, inquiry-based activities. These experiences allow students to be assessed in a non-traditional manner. Finished projects are the result of authentic learning that requires research, collaboration, and creative presentation. Students engage in unique learning opportunities that provide an emphasis on college and career readiness. Our college and career partnership with Winthrop University was uniquely designed to engage, support, and provide college and career preparation and readiness knowledge for students, and it has been highly successful.
Despite the many challenges we faced throughout the pandemic, South Pointe High School continued to excel and inspire our students toward successful futures. We are proud of the many enhancements we implemented during the 2021-2022 school year. To enhance the outcomes of our courses and further support the STEAM experiences modern learning spaces were added. These spaces complement the school’s state-of-the-art makerspace that fosters a collaborative and creative environment where students can engage in STEAM-related learning activities through hands-on experiences. Some technology enhancements include an aerospace flight simulator that became a part of the Aerospace Engineering class. An Anatomage virtual dissection table incorporated in our Health Science pathway and many of our science course offerings. Additionally, we partnered with Founders Federal Credit Union to open the one of a kind school store, “The Pointe.”, which further facilitates college and career readiness.
In an effort to assist students in developing World Class Knowledge, South Pointe challenges students to enroll in rigorous courses that will engage, empower, inspire, and maximize their potential. Our rigorous course offerings include a variety of honors-level, Advanced Placement (AP), and dual credit (college level) courses, in addition to courses within the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. The distinguished South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM), housed on South Pointe’s campus, graduated its fourth South Pointe High School graduating class this school year. South Pointe High School GSSM is in its fifth year for students who desire a select high school academic experience. GSSM at South Pointe offers up to 49 college credit hours toward an engineering degree at a designated state university.
All students, in collaboration with their counselors and parents, may select a career path with an individualized program of study. Furthermore, the district's Applied Technology Center offers a variety of specialized courses to enhance students’ academic trajectories and support the STEAM program offerings. South Pointe offers Spanish, French, and Chinese and encourages all students to enroll in a world language for three consecutive years. Students have the opportunity to explore the social sciences by taking courses, such as AP Psychology, Sociology, and Criminal Justice. Students continue to excel within the Fine Arts program through our award winning Chorus, Band, Visual Arts, and Theater Arts programs. South Pointe students and faculty are proud of their continued development and recognition of the implementation of its Convergence Media suite of teaching and learning provided through our South Pointe in the News Television morning show, print news magazine, online newspaper, yearbook, and literary magazine.
As a part of the district's ongoing one to one technology initiative, each student has a personal laptop for his/her use at school or home. South Pointe continues to emphasize our Living the South Pointe Way initiative, highlighting and rewarding the quality characteristics indicated on our school’s seal: Integrity, Community, and Excellence (ICE). As a part of our Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) program, students are routinely recognized and celebrated for exhibiting positive actions within each of those areas. In addition, we have continued to implement the On Pointe! program, which recognizes graduating seniors who have documented their efforts to exemplify the ICE characteristics during each of their four years at South Pointe.
We are proud to offer over 40 clubs, programs, and athletic teams that allow every South Pointe High School student to become involved in academic, extracurricular, and community service opportunities beyond the classroom. Student life and school spirit is evident by the SPHS Student Council community service, spirit weeks, and support of school events as well as teams. The Robotics Club reached the state semifinals earning first place in the design award, second place in the compass award and third place overall in the SC Robotics competition. Our Academic Challenge team continues to be competitive in state and region challenges. We have also had many great things happening in the arts. Our band competed in 4A for the first time at the SCBDA upper state and finished 6th place and advanced on to the State for the 14th consecutive year finishing 10th with a Superior rating. The symphonic band earned a Superior with Distinction in grade 4 which is the highest possible rating. Three SPHS seniors were selected to exhibit in a southeastern regional juried art show that featured high school to professional level artists. The exhibit was also published in a catalog. Furthermore, South Pointe has a rich tradition of outstanding athletics. Our motto is Where Champions Are Made, and therefore, we believe in the development and success of student-athletes on and off the field. The 2022 varsity football team won the 4A state championship for the 7th time in school history. We have one state individual champion in track, three teams that have won region championships, and thirty five scholar athletics awards and 25 student-athletes who have signed letters of intent to play in college which are all examples of the consistent success of South Pointe athletics. Additionally, student groups, clubs, and individual students continue to demonstrate excellence by the many local, regional, state, and national awards and accolades received.
Moreover, South Pointe's work-based internships, job shadowing opportunities, and college and career activities expose students to various career fields and post-secondary options. These offerings are a viable part of preparing our students for college, career, or the military. South Pointe has many practices in place to recognize students for characteristics of teamwork and collaboration, perseverance, integrity, and global perspective, which are all integral components of the Profile of the SC Graduate, such as, our college and career readiness course that provides college and career awareness and preparation for sophomores through seniors. South Pointe hosted its annual College and Military Signing Day, during which well-deserved recognition was given to students who made life-transforming commitments to continue their formal education.
South Pointe possesses a strong, supportive, and collaborative school community and parent engagement. With over twenty school-community and parent partnerships, South Pointe stakeholders are committed to the vision of South Pointe High School investing over 300 hours of their personal time. We look forward to continuing positive relationships with our school community for years to come.
It’s truly a great time to be a Stallion! We will continue to Live the South Pointe Way as we Engage, Empower, Inspire, and Maximize the Potential of Every Student, Every Day for a Successful Future. This is South Pointe!
Dr. Valarie Williams, Principal
Dr, Kiwanna Brackett, SIC Chairperson
