The 2022-2023 school year was one of transitions at St. James High School. More students walked through our doors than at any other point in the school's twenty year history. We welcomed a new principal. Students who were only freshmen as we embraced a "new normal" at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic earned their diplomas, walked across the graduation stage, and entered the world as Shark alumni. As the school enters its third decade, the St. James family looks to embrace to best parts of our past while embracing changes that will allow our school to continue moving forward.
Over the last year St. James High School continued to strengthen its reputation as on of the finest secondary schools in the state of South Carolina. Since being awarded the prestigious Palmetto’s Finest award in the spring of 2016, the Shark family has been further recognized by for eight consecutive years as one of the top high schools in the nation. Over the last three years, we have also been honored to be chosen by readers of The Sun News as The Best of the Beach, cementing our reputation as the premiere public high school in Horry County. Now, more than ever, it is a tremendous time to be a St. James Shark!
Over the last several years, our school has seen a steady increases in virtually all notable measures of student achievement. Results from end-of-course examinations once again outpaced district and state averages. Such exceptional results have become a part of the school's reputation, and our teachers and students worked hard to overcome the numerous obstacles and gaps in student learning that the pandemic presented. Student success on Advanced Placement exams reached the highest level in the school's history. More Shark students demonstrated career-readiness than in any previous school year. These achievements are a testament to the culture of unwavering high expectations that has been embraced by all members of the St. James family.
To ensure that the school continues to enjoy such outstanding results, St. James faculty and staff have undertaken a number of initiatives intended to provide students with the individualized attention necessary to realize their full academic potential. One example includes an ongoing commitment to serving our most at-risk students, including minorities and students with special needs. A committee of teachers and administrators are working diligently to provide these students with personalized attention and, more importantly, recognition for hard-earned success. We are also working to expand our curriculum offerings. In 2023-2024, we will introduce English and mathematics courses tailored to build career-readiness skills, providing another pathway for success to students who might otherwise struggle in a traditional, college-preparatory classroom. By examining and acting on relevant student performance data at a personalized level, we can ensure that all students leave our building with the knowledge and skills required in the Profile of a South Carolina Graduate.
As local, national, and global economies continue to evolve in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, students and parents understand the increasing importance of post-secondary training and learning. In addition to a solid college-preparatory curriculum, in the fall of 2016 St. James launched the Advanced Placement Institute, a program intended to provide our most motivated students with the incentive to pursue the most rigorous course of study the school can provide. In the fall of 2023, St. James High School will offer its students no fewer than two dozen Advanced Placement courses, including many that will appeal to non-traditional AP students, such as Music Theory, Studio Art, and Computer Science Principles. The 2021 graduating class included our school’s first cohort of AP Capstone Diploma candidates. These students were the first at our school to complete this highly rigorous, nationally-recognized program, which includes extensive coursework in college-level research and writing. This program is foundational to our school's vision of graduating students with world-class skills.
Our district's ongoing focus on providing students with college and career-like experiences in the STEM fields will also impact St. James students during the upcoming school year. In the fall of 2023, Shark students will have the opportunity to enroll in several courses offered through the Project Lead the Way initiative. Our school now offers PLTW coursework in the areas of Computer Science, Engineering, and Biomedical Science. We are also expanding our Career and Technical Education course offerings to introduce students to new, high-interest learning pathways. Specifically, during the next school year, we will offer courses in our new Agriculture program, which will focus on Environmental and Natural Resource Management. Most importantly, students who successfully complete these CTE programs will have an opportunity to earn a industry-recognized workplace credential and improve their post-secondary prospects.
St. James High's students also continue to demonstrate tremendous efforts away from the classroom. The Sharks' many athletic programs provide our students with an outlet for their competitive energies and foster a positive spirit within the community. St. James athletes and coaches had a remarkable year, leading to region championships, state playoff appearances, and an individual state championship in Track and Field. Away from the playing field, a number of our clubs and organizations also demonstrated the value of hard work and dedication. The Shark Academic Team, for example, finished 2nd in the annual Horry County Schools Academic Olympics. Members of the SJHS Chapter of FCCLA advanced to national competitions after winning at the state-level. This spring we also inducted over 60 new members into the National Honor Society. From sports to robotics, the St. James family prides itself on helping each student who enters our school find a sense of purpose and belonging.
Ultimately, we understand that the rising test scores, academic accomplishments, and extracurricular achievements we continue to experience are not possible without the backing of dedicated parents and community partners. Remember, as a valued stakeholder in our school, your opinions are critical to our ongoing improvement, and we encourage you to get involved in our Shark Family to help us with our most important work - doing what is best for students. Working together, we can ensure that, like true Sharks, our school continues to move in only one direction - FORWARD!
