Our school is helping all students develop World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by fostering a culture that promotes and supports collaboration, communication and critical thinking. Our faculty and staff take pride in developing the whole child and addressing the skills important to students’ success beyond high school. Aligning with that goal and our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports initiative, we continued with the premise of always displaying Griffin P.R.I.D.E.: Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Determination, and Excellence to ensure that Griffin Graduates are college and career ready. Additionally, Fairfield Central High School is an AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) school and embedded WICOR (Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, Reading) strategies throughout every classroom.
This year, our theme was “Rebuilding our Village, One Piece At a Time” through which we focused our attention on improved culture and climate in all aspects of our school. When students and staff feel safe, healthy, engaged, supported, and challenged, they are better equipped to promote high expectations and ensure academic growth and achievement. Our daily communications were intentional to message grace and consistency. By celebrating our growth and in challenging our areas of need, we worked to foster satisfaction in the learning environment, the social and physical environment, and home and school relations. All of our efforts remained grounded in ensuring collaboration, communication, and critical thinking as the hallmark to students’ success.
Critical thinking is a fundamental skill that supports our motto of “Quality Teaching and Learning, Every Day for Every Student”. To support and enhance the toolbox of our teachers and to support AVID school-wide, our professional development has focused on WICOR strategies to assist students with re-acclimation to campus life. Our previous professional development sessions were rooted in researching and implementing strategies to have students truly engaged in learning and utilizing critical thinking skills to delve deeper into the coursework while virtual or face to face. AVID continued to be our umbrella for best practices to help students succeed. Teachers have worked in departments to share ideas, lessons, assessments, and strategies that will promote critical thinking in a blended environment. The collaborative nature of the meetings prompted our teachers to critically think about the impact classroom instruction has on the achievement of the student. Our STEM/Dual Enrollment Coordinator continued as our resident Virtual Learning and Technology Coach to support our teachers.
Creativity is a hallmark in the actions and success of our students at Fairfield Central High School. Our creativity is often recognized and displayed through athletics and the visual and performing arts. Academically, our students continue to reach new heights and create avenues to display their creative academic talents. At the culmination of the 2022-2023 school year, Fairfield Central High School had its sixth group of students graduate with an Associates’ Degree or General Studies Certificate from Midlands Technical College, prior to receiving their high school diplomas. The creativity, innovation, communication, and collaboration required to complete college courses while in high school, are skills that epitomize the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. The success of these students has motivated other students to request unique, innovative scheduling options that will allow them to pursue and reap the benefits of the course offerings at Fairfield Central High School, Fairfield Career and Technology Center, and our collegiate partners. The number of students enrolled in dual credit classes has increased significantly within the past four years and we anticipate the demand to meet their creative academic needs.
Listed below are some of the accomplishments from the Class of 2023:
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18 students graduated from Midlands Technical College prior to High School Graduation
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80% of students in the class of 2023 were accepted to a 2 or 4-year college or university to include but not limited to: Clemson University, Morehouse College, University of South Carolina, Mercer University, Western Carolina University, Coastal Carolina, College of Charleston, Benedict College, University of South Carolina-Upstate, Francis Marion University, Midlands Technical College, Morris College, Newberry College, Columbia College, South Carolina State University, and Claflin University.
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54% of students in the Class of 2023 were completers with certifications at Fairfield Career and Technology Center
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5 graduates enlisted in the Armed Forces.
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4 Palmetto Fellows recipients
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14 Student-Athlete/Band/Dance/Orchestra Collegiate Scholarships
As members of our National Beta Club, National Honor Society and Academic Challenge Teams, students continued to have the opportunity to collaborate with students from around the state, nation, and even other countries. Our National Beta Club competed at the 2023 South Carolina State Convention and placed in the following categories: 2nd Place in Science 10th Grade, 1st Place in Science 12th Grade, 1st Place in Social Studies 11th Grade, 1st in Spanish 11th Grade, 3rd in Spanish 12th Grade, 2nd Place in Spanish 9th Grade, 3rd in French 11th Grade, 1st in Biomedical 11th Grade, 1st in Poetry Div II, 2nd Place in Drawing Division I & II, 3rd Place in Painting Division II, 3rd Place in Drawing Division I, 1st Place in Jewelry Division II, 3rd Place in Fiber Arts, 3rd Place in Solo and Campaign Skit, 2nd Place in Group Talent, 1st Place in Marketing and Communication, 1st Place in Show Choir, 2nd Place in Quiz Bowl, 1st Place in Robotics, and SC State Beta President is our very own Mr. Alvin Wilson. Our students continued to excel in athletics, clubs, and organizations, with our clubs and organizations increasing membership exponentially. Varsity football, volleyball, girls and boys cross-country, girls basketball, wrestling, girls and boys tennis, baseball, softball, track all qualified for playoff participation and 6 Championships were earned in Track and Field events. Fairfield Central High School strives to equip all students with world-class knowledge and skills while ensuring they leave high school college and/or career ready.
Dr. Tracie Swilley, Principal
Mrs. Sheila Pickett, SIC Chair
