Rock Hill High School faculty and staff is facilitating the process for all students to develop the World Class Skills for Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by setting high expectations through rigorous coursework in all content areas. Rock Hill High has provided students the opportunity to be creative in academics, the arts, athletics, extra-curricular activities, character development, and community involvement this past year. We had 38 students graduate with highest honors, 37 with honors, and 127 received a gold seal diploma. One hundred and eighteen students were CATE completers, and 6 seniors attempted to earn an IB diploma. Out of 423 graduating seniors, 262 earned LIFE and 29 earned Palmetto Fellows scholarships. The grand total of all scholarships offered to graduates was over $14.4 million dollars. In the arts, the Rock Hill High School Band of Distinction was once again a SCBDA 4A State Finalist in the most competitive class in South Carolina. The band had 11 students selected to the SC Region Three Honor Band and two students selected for the SC All State Band. The Concert Band received Superior Rating with Distinction at the SCBDA Concert Band Festival and the Band program earned the SC Outstanding Performance Award which is the highest award given to a comprehensive band program. The band had one student receive scholarship recognition from the Rock Hill Music Club for outstanding musicianship. Rock Hill High’s Choral Program had 15 members named to the South Carolina All State Chorus. Nine members were named to the SC American Choral Directors' Association Honor Choir. The Concert Choir received the rating of "Superior with Distinction" at the state choral festival and placed 3rd in the 5A division of the Palmetto State Choral Competition. The Rock Hill High School Theatre Department received a Superior play rating at the Palmetto Dramatic Association/ South Carolina Thespian Festival. Two students received superior acting awards as well. Two students received superior acting awards and two students received special judges’ awards for their performance in "How to Kiss a Girl". Four students received superior ratings for their thespian individual events. Several art students won awards at the local, regional and state level in our Visual Arts Department this year. These art students received two awards at the Yorkville Art show. They received 1st and 3rd place in Mixed Media and three honorable mentions in various categories at the Teacher’s Choice awards. Rock Hill High’s art students were recognized as state winners in the “Read across America” design contest. These students also competed and were named champions in the first annual York County Art Throwdown. Rock Hill High’s students’ artwork were chosen as part of a Public Art Installation downtown in partnership with the Arts Council of York County. In Athletics, Rock Hill High had sixteen athletes sign scholarships, 56 senior scholar athletes, and 107 multisport athletes this year. Six of this year’s senior athletes went to all-star games, while 18 were all-state athletes. Sixteen individual athletes made state tournaments in Cross Country, Swim, Wrestling, and Track and Field. We had one state champion in Swim, three individual state champions in Wrestling, six in Track and Field, and an individual medalist in Golf. The Boys Golf team won the state championship, and the Boys Track team finished 3rd in the state while the Girls Track team finished 4th. Football, Wrestling, Boys and Girls Track, and Boys Golf took home region championships. Rock Hill High finished with 10 teams making the playoffs, 59 all-region athletes, three region players of the year, and four region coaches of the year. All faculty and staff continued to focus on improving students’ achievements on End of Course, ACT, and SAT testing. Graduation rate has improved, and we will continue to focus our efforts on improving in all areas. We will continue to work with students to provide the world class knowledge and skills needed to compete in a global society. The Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports program continued this year to improve school climate and character education at Rock Hill High School. Students were recognized with over 2,000 Bearcat Bucks for showing Bearcat PRIDE (Participation, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, & Excellence). We hope to have continued success with our positive intervention program.
Christina Farley, SIC Chair
Arthur W. Ahl, II, Principal