Our school is steeped in tradition, and as we worked through our plan to meet students at their level of need, we adapted and overcame several obstacles throughout the year. Our faculty's expectations for high levels of instructional delivery are embedded in the culture of our school. With high standards as our goal, Northwestern forged forward to serve over 1800 students throughout the year.
As our focus shifted slightly from the pandemic, a return to normalcy this year allowed students to re-engage with their teachers and peers on campus. Northwestern prides itself in creating environments where students can be successful and achieve excellence as this remains our standard and expectation! This year certainly proved that our instructional, extra and co-curricular programs aligned with the vision as highlighted by our senior class.
In the 2022 graduating class, 45 seniors graduated with Highest Honors, and 30 graduated with Honors. Five seniors earned the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma. Twenty-one seniors graduated with the esteemed status of AP Scholar candidates. The number of Gold Seal Diploma students totaled 120, and the number of students graduating with seals of distinction totaled 221. Due to our 2022 graduates' hard work, our combined monetary value of all scholarships awarded exceeded ten million dollars.
Our athletic and fine arts programs were back in full swing as things returned to normal this school year. As expected our programs excelled in several areas and were competitive at the state and district level. Academically, Northwestern High School continued to shine, and in spite of the tumultuous COVID times the class of 2022 seniors had experienced in prior years, this group of seniors truly exceeded expectations.
Northwestern takes extreme pride in helping all students develop the world-class skills identified in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. Dedication to targeted instruction has earned our faculty members local, state, and national honors and awards. Our Programs of Studies include CATE, Dual Credit, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and Project Lead the Way.
As an accredited institution and flag-ship school, Northwestern continues to meet learners at their levels of need. Northwestern's approach to creating a Multi-Tiered Support System (MTSS) affords students remediation and enrichment opportunities that address both academic and social/emotional needs. Additionally, we have created PLCs to focus on student achievement and success. Our Senior Success PLC involves counselors, administrators, teachers, and other support staff who monitor progress and guide seniors through their march towards graduation and obtainment of 24 Carnegie units of credit. Our Freshman Focus PLC consists of students, teachers, community mentors, support staff, and administrators who all work tirelessly to provide a seamless transition for our 9th-grade students even before they arrive on our campus. Doing things the "Trojan Way," we have embedded an MTSS system, using the acronym of "TORCH," representing the five tenants of our school culture. Tenacity, Ownership, Respect, Community, and Honor represent traits we have identified as key for students' success in life and at Northwestern.
Our school prides itself on the relationships students build outside of the classroom and their connections through our various extracurricular programs. Northwestern High School's performing and visual arts program produces many South Carolina All-State performers. Our students routinely exhibit artwork in local and state competitions, with many pieces receiving top honors as well.
Northwestern High School's numerous student-athletes and 20 varsity teams set the bar high for competition on the field, with All-Region, All-Area, and All-State recognition. Not only do our students succeed on the athletics fields, but they also experience success in the classroom and are recognized as Scholar-Athletes.
A key part of Northwestern High School's mission is to provide an excellent educational experience for its students. It is evident from our students' accomplishments that they have met that mark!
Hezekiah Massey III, Principal