Northwestern prides itself in providing opportunities for all students to be successful academically, artistically, and athletically while developing world class skills described by the college and career characteristics identified in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. Our faculty and staff effectively provide targeted instruction to a diverse group of young adults. Their dedication to instructional delivery has earned our faculty members local, state, and national honors and awards. This past year we were honored to have Ms. Susan Snyder represent our faculty, staff, and district as a finalist for the South Carolina State Teacher of the Year. She is the fourth state finalist in ten years named from our faculty, with two finalists being selected as the state’s best teacher. The expectations of our faculty for high levels of instructional delivery is embedded in the culture of our school. Programs of studies at Northwestern include CATE, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and Project Lead the Way. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the High Schools That Work Technical Assistance Visit team, Northwestern aims to be recognized annually as a state recipient for academic excellence. To help enhance instructional delivery, a built in remediation period we call PEAK has been established to afford students and staff increased opportunities to meet the needs of our students. We also enhance our advisor and advisee program we call “Trojan Way” by embedding positive behavioral intervention strategies (PBIS) we call “TORCH”, an acronym for Tenacity, Ownership, Respect, Community, and Honor, all important traits needed to be successful in life.
In the 2018 graduating class, seniors completing their course of study finishing with statuses and accolades of Highest Honors were 45, with Honors were 33, with an International Baccalaureate Diploma were 17, with Advanced Placement Scholars status were 30, with a Gold Seal diploma were 155, with a SC Academic Achievement Honors Diploma were 11, with Career and Technical Completer status were 185, and as a Palmetto Fellows were 29. Due to the hard work of our 2018 graduates and staff, our combined monetary value of all scholarships awarded exceeded $11 million.
Northwestern High School’s performing and visual arts program produces many South Carolina All-State performers. Our students exhibited artwork in local and state competitions with many pieces receiving top honors. One of our student’s artwork currently hangs in the United States Capitol as a representation of the talents fostered at Northwestern. Our school’s orchestra program gains state and regional recognition by scoring superior ratings on the highest level of performed music in the South Carolina Music Educators Association competition. The students of our choral program entertained our community with winter and spring concerts, and performed very well, finishing third in the state festival competition. Our theater department performs multiple shows for the school and community as well, gaining honors and recognition at the 2018 Blumey Awards. The band program consisting of over two hundred students who are involved in marching band, concert band, jazz band, or winter guard, advances through state and regional competitions, helping our total band program secure The Outstanding Performance Award given by the South Carolina Band Director’s Association for the 27th consecutive year.
As a result of the competitive spirit of our six hundred plus student athletes and twenty varsity teams, Northwestern strives to positively represent our community in the SCHSL Director’s Cup competition, which recognizes the classification’s most competitive athletic programs. Over half of our varsity teams were successful in gaining a berth in post-season play. Northwestern finished the school year with four region championships (girls golf, football, baseball, and boys track). The SC High School League awards Northwestern athletes and coaches with 58 Scholar Athletic certificates, 30 All-Region and Region Coaches of the Year awards, 9 All-State certificates and medallions, 8 North-South All-Star and 1 Shrine Bowl selections. Seventeen seniors graduated with scholarship opportunities to compete at the collegiate level.
It is Northwestern High School's mission to provide the greatest educational experience for its students, staff, and community.
James Blake II – Principal Kathryn Castillo - SIC Chair