Charleston County School of the Arts is helping all students develop the world class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing focused arts instruction and rigorous courses in math, language arts, science, social studies, and world languages.
Our students spend 90 minutes daily honing their skills in Band, Creative Writing, Dance, Fashion, Piano, Orchestra, Theatre, Vocal Music, or Visual Arts. They are recognized regionally and nationally for their performance, and our programs are touted as some of the most outstanding in the country.
During the 2018-2019 school year, we focused on two of the four C’s identified in the profile of skills of a SC graduate: critical thinking and collaboration. To support critical thinking, an emphasis was placed on providing rigorous instruction to prepare students for standardized tests as well as in college classes. We began measuring progress with quarterly assessments and weekly progress reports to identify areas and students for intervention. In addition, Advanced Placement Potential Reports were used to identify AP course readiness and maximize enrollment. State assessments revealed that 85% of our middle school students scored Met or Exceeds; we are also proud to report that 62% of our upperclassmen took at least one AP course. We are consistently ranked among the top two high schools in the state by US News and World Report and this year placed in the top 1% of high schools nationwide.
To improve collaboration, faculty met regularly to identify and support students. Additional Chromebooks enabled greater numbers of students to work collaboratively for research, analysis, and presentations. Collaboration also took place through community service opportunities; this year we celebrated 9,091 service hours logged in by high school students. Projects included food and clothing drives, environmental improvement and art lessons for local students.
At Charleston County School of the Arts we are committed to challenging and supporting our students as they develop their artistic gifts and grow in their ability to learn, create, express, and positively impact the world.
Dr. Shannon Cook, Principal
Mr. Alexander Fox, SIC Chair
