Carolina Forest High School
Encyclopedia
Carolina Forest High School is located in Horry County
, South Carolina
, in the Carolina Forest attendance area. The school is one of ten high schools within Horry County Schools
. The school serves parts of Myrtle Beach
and eastern Conway
. Approximately 1,843 students attend Carolina Forest High School (grades 9-12) each year. It is currently led by Principal Gaye Driggers.
Recent improvements to the school include full renovation of all science labs on the southwest side of campus and conversion of many of the auxiliary buildings into student amenity centers.
attendance areas. The middle school opened with grades 6-8, but the high school opened with grades 9-10 only. Wendell Shealy was principal over the entire complex. The school was not complete when it opened, as several buildings were still under construction, particularly on the high school side. There was little in the way of landscaping, grass, and amenities. Kimmie Tomlinson, also known as "Miss Kimmie" led the effort to bring unity to the school by initiating several efforts to instill spirit and pride in the new school. Many students still felt connected to the schools they came from. It took a couple of years for CFHS to establish its own identity. Eventually the "Education Center" concept was scrapped. In later years, Shealy was made principal of Carolina Forest Middle School and Ron Malone became principal of Carolina Forest High School, although his tenure was short. There were a series of interim principals for the high school which created instability and a lack of progress. Rick Maxey assumed the principalship of CFHS from 1998-2000. Eventually, Maxey left Carolina Forest High School to become principal of Conway High School. Velna Allen, who had served as assistant principal under Maxey, became principal and remains in that post presently. Under her leadership, the school has grown and established itself as one of the leading academic schools in the county. Allen had been a mathematics teacher at Conway High School for several years prior to her administrative positions at CFHS. At the end of the 2004-2005 school year Wendell Shealy retired after a long and distinguished career. His vision and leadership laid the foundation for many of the programs taken for granted at both schools. Cindy Thibodeau became principal of Carolina Forest Middle School
. At the end of the 2005-2006 school year Carolina Forest Middle School ceased to exist. Due to a population explosion in the Carolina Forest area, two new middle schools have been constructed: Ocean Bay Middle School and Blackwater Middle School. The old middle school section of the Carolina Forest Education Center has now been absorbed into the high school. The school now consists of 14 separate buildings: 7 Academic Hallways, a library building, an art studio, a journalism building, a fitness center, a drama building, an auxiliary building, and a central building containing the main offices, an auditorium, a cafeteria, two gymnasiums, and several classrooms.
The modern facility offers our students in grades 9–12 numerous advantages, including advanced technology, modern science laboratories, advanced placement courses, college credits, honors, college preparatory, and career academic assistance classes. The Carolina Forest High School Panther family is dedicated to providing students with the educational challenges and opportunities that will prepare them to compete successfully as life-long learners in global society.
Accreditation: Approved and accredited by the South Carolina Department of Education and the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Associating Colleges and Schools.
Graduating class of 2009: Size: 314; Percent attending: four-year college 49%, two-year college 32%, Military 3%, Employment 16%. Scholarship awards totaled $ 7,322,586.00
Testing:
Average SAT score for the graduating class of 2009–1048; national average – 1017. Average ACT score is 21.5; national average 21.1. AP passing test results with a 3 or better are as follows: AP Calculus AB 88%, AP World History 86%, AP English Language 83%, AP English Literature 69%, AP US History 46%, AP Biology 53%.
to oversee a phased in development plan for athletic facilities throughout the district. Under this plan, all Horry County Schools saw major improvements over the course of several years. Tennis
courts were built, baseball
and football
stadiums improved, including the construction of the long overdue Backyard at Conway High School
. Roach was eventually hired by Coastal Carolina University
as assistant athletic director. Mickey Wilson, Sr. took over for Roach and headed athletics until 2000 when Michael Morris took over. Coach Morris led several efforts to improve facilities and the quality of coaching at CFHS. He left in 2005. Bubba Lewis then became A.D. and held the position until 2008. Boe Rainbow was named interim Athletic Director and has held the position since.
in the lower state semi-finals. The team had a tough defense led by Lounzy Green ({Coastal Carolina University
}), Keith Sherman, Tyke Greene (Citadel
), and Jack Johnson (USC
transferred to South Carolina State.) At the end of that year, Williamson had an opportunity to work at Broome High School. It was a hard decision, but one that eventually led him to become even more heavily involved with the FCA Program. He now works for FCA in Atlanta
.
Michael "Doc" Davis was hired to replace Williamson. Davis came from Edisto High School in Orangeburg County. His first few teams had little success. The 2004 season was clearly going to be a good one with a highly talented senior class including QB Zach Cerny, TE/DL Drew Seay(CCU), RB/LB Tommy Fraser (CCU), OL/DL Jake Brown (UT), WR Jamel Green, and many other quality players. Coach Davis, who was a member of the South Carolina Army National Guard
, was called to duty in Iraq
. He missed the 2004 season and defensive coach Robbie Brown, a former Clemson
assistant, took over as interim head coach. The team had its best season in history going deep into the playoffs eventually losing at Manning
45-35 in the lower state semifinals. Davis returned to the sidelines the following season. The team, having lost a host of talented players, took a step back in 2005. Davis was replaced by North Augusta's Drew Hummel who went on to a undefeated season in 2006 winning the state championship. However, the team became the biggest surprise of the 2007 season when they went 8-4, including a surprise victory over Carver's Bay High.
The team moved to AAAA in 2008 and had a difficult transition. In 2010, however, the team finished 7-4 including a thrilling 46-42 victory over rival Conway in the final game of the season. That game was significant because it was the first victory over Conway in school history and came just two days after the unexpected death of assistant coach Allen Armstrong. Quarterback Danny Daly threw 6 touchdown passes and ran for another. Jarvez Holmes had 4 touchdown receptions and two interceptions in the first half. Despite the win the team missed out on a playoff spot by one point.
In year 2001-02 the band won its first ever Grand Championship during this season at the Tabor City competition. It repeated this success, the following year. After the conclusion of the 2002-03 school year, the marching band represented the state of South Carolina in the national Independence Day
parade in Washington, D.C.
. Under the direction of Jay Harward, the Marching Panthers recently competed in 2010 at SCBDA 4AAAa State Championships for the first time in school history with their marching show, named "Destination Unknown," and earned "Superior" in in every category at concert festival, as well as earning the Outstanding Performance Award (OPA) for the first time in the school's history..In 2011, the Marching Panthers also qualified for State Championships, earning a "Superior" rating, as well as the distinction as the number 6 4A marching band in South Carolina, beating out band more than twice their size. You can learn more about the Carolina Forest bands by visiting their website at www.cfhsband.com
, to race against their swim team. They had won Regionals in 2009, and is hoping to this year. The season lasts from the beginning of august to the middle of November, which ends with states. The CFHS Swim Team is now currently run under the direction of coaches Larry Blue, Michelle Rutherberg, and Amanda Lane.
Horry County, South Carolina
Horry County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. This name honored Revolutionary War Hero, Peter Horry. Brigadier General Horry was born in South Carolina sometime around 1743 and started his distinguished military career in 1775 as one of 20 captains the Provincial Congress...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, in the Carolina Forest attendance area. The school is one of ten high schools within Horry County Schools
Horry County Schools
Horry County Schools is a public school district serving Horry County, South Carolina and is the third-largest school district in South Carolina. It serves nearly 38,000 students in 46 schools around the county in nine attendance areas...
. The school serves parts of Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach is a coastal city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is situated on the center of a large and continuous stretch of beach known as the Grand Strand in northeastern South Carolina. It is considered to be a major tourist destination in the...
and eastern Conway
Conway, South Carolina
Conway is a city in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 16,317 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Horry County and is part of the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area. It is the home of Coastal Carolina University....
. Approximately 1,843 students attend Carolina Forest High School (grades 9-12) each year. It is currently led by Principal Gaye Driggers.
Construction Overview
Carolina Forest High School was designed by LS3P Associates, Ltd. The school was built by Hay Construction Company, and construction was nearly complete when the school opened on August 25, 1997. The school opened as Carolina Forest Education Center and was originally designed and intended to serve grades 6-12. Although the combined middle school/high school idea has long since been abandoned, the 352078 square feet (32,709.1 m²), sixty acre facility is now used as a high school. The basic structure of this facility is based on an 1876 schoolhouse.Recent improvements to the school include full renovation of all science labs on the southwest side of campus and conversion of many of the auxiliary buildings into student amenity centers.
History
In 1997, Carolina Forest Education Center opened and welcomed students from the Conway, Myrtle Beach, and SocasteeSocastee, South Carolina
Socastee is a census-designated place in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 14,295 at the 2000 census.-History:...
attendance areas. The middle school opened with grades 6-8, but the high school opened with grades 9-10 only. Wendell Shealy was principal over the entire complex. The school was not complete when it opened, as several buildings were still under construction, particularly on the high school side. There was little in the way of landscaping, grass, and amenities. Kimmie Tomlinson, also known as "Miss Kimmie" led the effort to bring unity to the school by initiating several efforts to instill spirit and pride in the new school. Many students still felt connected to the schools they came from. It took a couple of years for CFHS to establish its own identity. Eventually the "Education Center" concept was scrapped. In later years, Shealy was made principal of Carolina Forest Middle School and Ron Malone became principal of Carolina Forest High School, although his tenure was short. There were a series of interim principals for the high school which created instability and a lack of progress. Rick Maxey assumed the principalship of CFHS from 1998-2000. Eventually, Maxey left Carolina Forest High School to become principal of Conway High School. Velna Allen, who had served as assistant principal under Maxey, became principal and remains in that post presently. Under her leadership, the school has grown and established itself as one of the leading academic schools in the county. Allen had been a mathematics teacher at Conway High School for several years prior to her administrative positions at CFHS. At the end of the 2004-2005 school year Wendell Shealy retired after a long and distinguished career. His vision and leadership laid the foundation for many of the programs taken for granted at both schools. Cindy Thibodeau became principal of Carolina Forest Middle School
Carolina Forest Middle School
Carolina Forest Middle School was located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in the neighborhood of Carolina Forest. The school began its operations in 1997 and continued to grow until its closure in 2007. Horry County Schools addressed the overgrowth problem in 2004, and as a result, two new schools...
. At the end of the 2005-2006 school year Carolina Forest Middle School ceased to exist. Due to a population explosion in the Carolina Forest area, two new middle schools have been constructed: Ocean Bay Middle School and Blackwater Middle School. The old middle school section of the Carolina Forest Education Center has now been absorbed into the high school. The school now consists of 14 separate buildings: 7 Academic Hallways, a library building, an art studio, a journalism building, a fitness center, a drama building, an auxiliary building, and a central building containing the main offices, an auditorium, a cafeteria, two gymnasiums, and several classrooms.
The modern facility offers our students in grades 9–12 numerous advantages, including advanced technology, modern science laboratories, advanced placement courses, college credits, honors, college preparatory, and career academic assistance classes. The Carolina Forest High School Panther family is dedicated to providing students with the educational challenges and opportunities that will prepare them to compete successfully as life-long learners in global society.
Accreditation: Approved and accredited by the South Carolina Department of Education and the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Associating Colleges and Schools.
Faculty
The faculty consists of: 102 professionals with 35 holding Bachelor’s Degrees, 54 Master’s Degrees, 10 Master’s Degree + 30 and 3 Doctorate Degrees.Student placement and rank
Carolina Forest High School students are placed in classes based upon achievement on standardized tests, teacher recommendation, and course availability. Students are ranked at the end of their junior year, the 135th day of their senior year, and final rank is calculated at the end of the senior year. Rank is calculated based on all courses taken using the South Carolina Uniform Grading scale.Graduating class of 2009: Size: 314; Percent attending: four-year college 49%, two-year college 32%, Military 3%, Employment 16%. Scholarship awards totaled $ 7,322,586.00
Testing:
Average SAT score for the graduating class of 2009–1048; national average – 1017. Average ACT score is 21.5; national average 21.1. AP passing test results with a 3 or better are as follows: AP Calculus AB 88%, AP World History 86%, AP English Language 83%, AP English Literature 69%, AP US History 46%, AP Biology 53%.
Athletics
In 1997, Mark Roach was hired as athletic director. His immediate concern was facilities. The school lacked proper facilities for many of its teams, including football. Roach and Shane Williamson, the first head football coach at CFHS, worked hard to obtain funding for a football stadium that was completed in time for the 1998 season. Roach did such an outstanding job that he was hired by Horry County SchoolsHorry County Schools
Horry County Schools is a public school district serving Horry County, South Carolina and is the third-largest school district in South Carolina. It serves nearly 38,000 students in 46 schools around the county in nine attendance areas...
to oversee a phased in development plan for athletic facilities throughout the district. Under this plan, all Horry County Schools saw major improvements over the course of several years. Tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
courts were built, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
stadiums improved, including the construction of the long overdue Backyard at Conway High School
Conway High School
Conway High School is a public school located in Conway, South Carolina at 2301 Church Street. As of 2010-2011, the school's enrollment was 1,592. The school's principal is Mr. Steven Fitch...
. Roach was eventually hired by Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University is an independent, state-supported, liberal arts university in Conway, South Carolina, USA, located eight miles west of Myrtle Beach. Founded in 1954, Coastal became an independent university in 1993. The University enrolls approximately 8,300 students on its campus...
as assistant athletic director. Mickey Wilson, Sr. took over for Roach and headed athletics until 2000 when Michael Morris took over. Coach Morris led several efforts to improve facilities and the quality of coaching at CFHS. He left in 2005. Bubba Lewis then became A.D. and held the position until 2008. Boe Rainbow was named interim Athletic Director and has held the position since.
Panther Football
Shane Williamson was the first head coach for varsity football at CFHS. His dynamic personality and hard work paid dividends in the 1999 season when the team made a deep run into the State AAA Playoffs, eventually losing to MarionMarion, South Carolina
Marion is a city in Marion County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 7,042 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marion County...
in the lower state semi-finals. The team had a tough defense led by Lounzy Green ({Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University is an independent, state-supported, liberal arts university in Conway, South Carolina, USA, located eight miles west of Myrtle Beach. Founded in 1954, Coastal became an independent university in 1993. The University enrolls approximately 8,300 students on its campus...
}), Keith Sherman, Tyke Greene (Citadel
The Citadel (military college)
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, also known simply as The Citadel, is a state-supported, comprehensive college located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the six senior military colleges in the United States...
), and Jack Johnson (USC
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
transferred to South Carolina State.) At the end of that year, Williamson had an opportunity to work at Broome High School. It was a hard decision, but one that eventually led him to become even more heavily involved with the FCA Program. He now works for FCA in Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
Michael "Doc" Davis was hired to replace Williamson. Davis came from Edisto High School in Orangeburg County. His first few teams had little success. The 2004 season was clearly going to be a good one with a highly talented senior class including QB Zach Cerny, TE/DL Drew Seay(CCU), RB/LB Tommy Fraser (CCU), OL/DL Jake Brown (UT), WR Jamel Green, and many other quality players. Coach Davis, who was a member of the South Carolina Army National Guard
South Carolina Army National Guard
The South Carolina Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization...
, was called to duty in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. He missed the 2004 season and defensive coach Robbie Brown, a former Clemson
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
assistant, took over as interim head coach. The team had its best season in history going deep into the playoffs eventually losing at Manning
Manning, South Carolina
Manning is a city in South Carolina and the county seat of Clarendon County in the Southeastern United States, located in the center of the county, just to the east of Interstate 95 and at the intersection of U.S. 301 and U.S. 521. The population was estimated to be 3,943 as of 2008, down 2% from...
45-35 in the lower state semifinals. Davis returned to the sidelines the following season. The team, having lost a host of talented players, took a step back in 2005. Davis was replaced by North Augusta's Drew Hummel who went on to a undefeated season in 2006 winning the state championship. However, the team became the biggest surprise of the 2007 season when they went 8-4, including a surprise victory over Carver's Bay High.
The team moved to AAAA in 2008 and had a difficult transition. In 2010, however, the team finished 7-4 including a thrilling 46-42 victory over rival Conway in the final game of the season. That game was significant because it was the first victory over Conway in school history and came just two days after the unexpected death of assistant coach Allen Armstrong. Quarterback Danny Daly threw 6 touchdown passes and ran for another. Jarvez Holmes had 4 touchdown receptions and two interceptions in the first half. Despite the win the team missed out on a playoff spot by one point.
Band
The Carolina Forest High School Band program is part of the fine arts department. It consists mainly of a symphonic Winds and a marching band, but has also operated several ancillary ensembles (sometimes non-consecutively) over the years, including jazz band, indoor drumline/guard, boys varsity basketball pep band, chamber brass ensemble, etc. They compete in marching band, participate in concert festival, solo and ensemble as well as many parades and other community activities.In year 2001-02 the band won its first ever Grand Championship during this season at the Tabor City competition. It repeated this success, the following year. After the conclusion of the 2002-03 school year, the marching band represented the state of South Carolina in the national Independence Day
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
parade in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Under the direction of Jay Harward, the Marching Panthers recently competed in 2010 at SCBDA 4AAAa State Championships for the first time in school history with their marching show, named "Destination Unknown," and earned "Superior" in in every category at concert festival, as well as earning the Outstanding Performance Award (OPA) for the first time in the school's history..In 2011, the Marching Panthers also qualified for State Championships, earning a "Superior" rating, as well as the distinction as the number 6 4A marching band in South Carolina, beating out band more than twice their size. You can learn more about the Carolina Forest bands by visiting their website at www.cfhsband.com
Swim Team
Run by Coach Larry Blue, the Carolina Forest Swim team does very well in swim meets, and often once a season the swimmers go down to Sumter, South CarolinaSumter, South Carolina
-Demographics:, there were 59,180 people, 34,717 households, and 4,049 families living in the city. The population density was 4,469.5 people per square mile . There were 416,032 housing units at an average density of 603.0 per square mile...
, to race against their swim team. They had won Regionals in 2009, and is hoping to this year. The season lasts from the beginning of august to the middle of November, which ends with states. The CFHS Swim Team is now currently run under the direction of coaches Larry Blue, Michelle Rutherberg, and Amanda Lane.
Awards
- Average SATSATThe SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
, ACT, and AP scores are above the national average - Mock TrialMock trialA Mock Trial is an act or imitation trial. It is similar to a moot court, but mock trials simulate lower-court trials, while moot court simulates appellate court hearings. Attorneys preparing for a real trial might use a mock trial consisting of volunteers as role players to test theories or...
team advance to the state competition three out of the last four years - 10 honors societies, all affiliated with their national organizations
- The Marching Panthers band made it to the state finals for the first time in school history in their 2010-2011 season with their show entitled "Destination Unknown," and also in 2011 with their show "Fear"
- The NJROTC unit has earned three Distinguished Unit with honors and two Unit Achievement awards.
- We The People CompetitionWe the People: The Citizen and the ConstitutionWe the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, sponsored by the Center for Civic Education, is a yearly competition for American high school students held in Washington D.C. The competition is styled as a congressional hearing. Each team is divided up into six units, each composed of three or...
State Champions of 2004 and 2009 - SCSPA – Best of Broadcast – Panther News
- SCSPA – All-State Rating – Panther News 2006
- SIPA – All-Southern Rating – Panther News 2006
See also
- High schoolHigh schoolHigh school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
- Public educationPublic educationState schools, also known in the United States and Canada as public schools,In much of the Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, the terms 'public education', 'public school' and 'independent school' are used for private schools, that is, schools...
- Secondary educationSecondary educationSecondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
- List of high schools in South Carolina