The integration of World Class Skills are exemplified through South Pointe's designation as a STEAM school of choice. STEAM at South Pointe provides students awareness, exposure, and college and career preparation in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. South Pointe High School’s Design Process allows students to collaboratively assess, research, create, design, solve problems, and apply critical thinking and analytical concepts through our STEAM Immersion and STEAM Pathways. STEAM pathways in the area of Engineering, Clean Energy, Computer Science, Health Science, and Convergence Media will be a part of our new STEAM offerings beginning the 2019-2020 school year. The faculty and staff continue to participate in planning and professional development to support the design process and STEAM Immersion and Pathway philosophy. Teachers are committed to incorporating and challenging project-based learning and STEAM experiences that allow students the opportunity to gain knowledge through hands-on, real-world, inquiry based activities. These experience allow students to be assessed in a non-traditional manner, resulting in finished project and authentic learning that require research, collaboration, and a creative presentation. Students engage in unique learning opportunities that provide an emphasis on college and career readiness. Opportunities such as our new Drone curriculum introduced to students this year and our water treatment and testing partnership with the City of Rock Hill, provide students with job and college readiness knowledge and skills.
Our STEAM Makerspace provides a State-of-the-Art area for students to become actively engaged in STEAM-related learning activities, while our One Button Studio enabled students to create hands on learning through media convergence.
In an effort to assist students in developing World Class Knowledge, South Pointe challenges students to enroll in rigorous courses that will engage, empower, inspire, and maximize their potential. Our rigorous course offering include a variety of honors-level, Advanced Placement (AP), and dual credit (college level) courses, in addition to courses within the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. The distinguished South Carolina Governor’s School for Math and Science is housed on South Pointe’s campus for students desiring an elite high school academic experience. GSSM at South Pointe offer up to forty-nine college credit hours toward an engineering degree at a designated state university.
All students, in collaboration with their counselors and parents, may select a career path with an individualized program of study. The district's Applied Technology Center offers a variety of specialized courses to enhance students’ academic trajectory and support the STEAM program offerings. South Pointe offers Spanish, French, and Chinese and encourages all students to enroll in a foreign language for a minimum of three consecutive years. Students have the opportunity to explore the social sciences by taking courses such as psychology, and sociology. Students continue to excel within the fine arts program through our award wining chorus, band, visual arts, and theatre arts programs.
As a part of the district’s ongoing one-to-one technology initiative, each student has a laptop for his/her personal use at home and at school. South Pointe students and faculty are proud of their continued development and recognition of the implementation of its’ convergence media suite of teaching and learning that is provided through our television morning show, print news magazine, online newspaper, yearbook, and literary magazine.
South Pointe completed the sixth year of our “Living the South Pointe Way” initiative, emphasizing and rewarding the quality characteristics indicated on our school’s seal - Integrity, Community, and Excellence (ICE). As a part of our Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) program, students are routinely recognized and celebrated for exhibiting positive actions within each of those areas. In addition, we have continued to implement the “On Pointe!” program which recognizes graduating seniors who have documented their efforts to exemplify the ICE characteristics during each of their four years at South Pointe.
We are proud to offer over forty clubs, programs, and and athletic teams that allow every South Pointe High School student to become involved in academic, extracurricular, and community service opportunities beyond the classroom. Examples include the Progeny Club that brings students together from all walks of life to recognize and celebrate diversity, and the Beta Club through which students come together to volunteer throughout the school and within the community.
South Pointe's work-based internships, job shadowing opportunities, and college and career activities to expose students to various job fields and post-secondary options is a viable part of preparing our students for college, career, or the military. South Pointe has many practices in place to recognize students for exemplifying 21st Century Life and Career Characteristics such as self-direction, perseverance, and work ethic. Each year, pictures of the previous year’s graduating seniors are prominently displayed in the main gallery, indicating the college they are attending. In addition, South Pointe hosted its fourth annual College and Military Signing Day, during which well-deserved recognition was given to students who made those life-transforming commitments to continue their formal education.
South Pointe have a strong, supportive, and collaborative school community and parental involvement who are committed to the vision of South Pointe High School. We look forward to continuing the positive relationship for years to come.
It’s truly a Great Day to be a Stallion! We will continue to "Live the South Pointe Way" as Engage, Empower, Inspire, and Maximize the Potential of Every Student, Every Day for a Successful Future!
Dr. Marty S. Conner, Sr. Principal
Mr. Daniel Ballou, SIC Chair