S*1395 Concurrent Resolution, By Campsen, Cleary, Ford, Grooms, McConnell, 
Pinckney and Scott
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE CHARLESTON COUNTY'S ACADEMIC MAGNET
 HIGH SCHOOL ON BEING NAMED THE TENTH BEST HIGH SCHOOL BY NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE ON
 ITS 2006 LIST OF THE TOP ONE THOUSAND BEST HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY AND TO
 HONOR THE FACULTY AND STUDENTS FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION IN ACHIEVING
 ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.

   05/04/06  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-7
   05/04/06  House  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence HJ-125

TO CONGRATULATE CHARLESTON COUNTY'S ACADEMIC MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL ON BEING NAMED THE TENTH BEST HIGH SCHOOL BY NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE ON ITS 2006 LIST OF THE TOP ONE THOUSAND BEST HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY AND TO HONOR THE FACULTY AND STUDENTS FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION IN ACHIEVING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.

Whereas, Newsweek magazine named Charleston County's Academic Magnet High School number ten on its 2006 list of the top one thousand best high schools in the country; and

Whereas, the Newsweek list recognizes schools that do the best job of preparing average students for college. The list looks at the number of Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests taken at a school and divides by the number of graduating seniors to measure the commitment of the school to helping kids take college-level courses; and

Whereas, the Academic Magnet program is one of many new innovative high schools spreading throughout the United States that focus on preparing students for college by concentrating on advance placement, honors, and college-level courses; and

Whereas, since its opening in 1988, the North Charleston magnet school has worked along with the Charleston County School District to create and maintain a curriculum of excellence making the magnet school a model of outstanding academic quality so deserving of this national recognition; and

Whereas, a relatively small school of approximately five hundred students with sixty-six percent of the faculty having earned advanced degrees, the school offers an impressive twenty advanced placement courses and requires seniors to complete four of these courses to graduate; and

Whereas, the mission of the Academic Magnet High School is to challenge each student, teacher, and parent with the high expectations of a rigorous curriculum and preparing the students for college while acquiring a sense of global responsibility and teaching respect for cultural diversity; and

Whereas, the students at Charleston County's magnet school are provided with the unique opportunity to conduct independent research through a required year-long research project in a field of their choice under the guidance and direction of the faculty and a mentor in that field; and

Whereas, under the astute leadership of Principal Michael Tolley, the magnet school has had the highest average SAT scores in the State for public high schools with grades nine through twelve for several years running; and

Whereas, the school is proud to boast students who have been offered over five million dollars in scholarship funds over the past two years, and the school is also home to ten National Merit Semifinalists and one National Achievement Semifinalist. One hundred percent of the students attend college; and

Whereas, not content to settle for academic success alone, the magnet school also successfully competes in seventeen varsity sports and offers over forty clubs and student organizations; and

Whereas, in addition to preparing its students for the rigors of college, the Academic Magnet High School also prepares its students for life by requiring them to complete a ninety-hour community service requirement in order to graduate. This wonderful program helps instill in these youths the immeasurable importance of giving back to their community and State and may even set them up to be the future leaders of our State; and

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly is proud to recognize Charleston County's Academic Magnet High School for having the courage to raise the bar of academic excellence in the State and to honor the Charleston County School District and the faculty of the magnet school for their continued efforts to challenge students in innovative ways preparing them not only for future academic success but overall success in life. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, congratulate Charleston County's Academic Magnet High School on being named the tenth best high school by Newsweek magazine on its 2006 list of the top one thousand best high schools in the country and honor the faculty and students for their hard work and dedication in achieving academic excellence.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Michael Tolley, Principal of Charleston County's Academic Magnet High School.