The school should be a partnership of teachers and staff, students, parents, and community members.
A school should create a student-centered learning environment where instructional decisions are driven by the needs of the learner.
Every student can learn; each student has the responsibilty to take advantage of a variety of opportunities to help him/her reach individual educational potential.
The school has the responsibility to meet the unique needs of students; in turn, each student has the responsibility to contribute positively and productively to the school’s community and culture.
Clear goals and high expectations, based on national and state standards, should provide the basis for development of curriculum and design of instruction.
A school should have an interdisciplinary approach to learning.
Students should have a variety of educational opportunities to demonstrate their achievement.
Students should be involved in experiences in which they are to apply their learning to authentic contexts.
Schools should guide students to become self-directed lifelong learners.
A school should maintain an environment in which all individuals feel safe.
A school should have professional faculty and staff members share in the responsibility of providing a supportive learning environment and functioning as a positive role model.
The faculty of a school should be given opportunities for professional growth and development to enhance flexibility and implementation of different methodologies.

Description:
Fort Dorchester is a suburban, comprehensive high school with 2424 students and a faculty and staff of 140. A strong academic tradition has been established since the opening of the school in August of 1992. The focus of our community on academic excellence has guided the faculty of Fort Dorchester High School to become an International Baccalaureate School, providing our students with the rigorous and challenging curriculum they need to be leaders in tomorrow’s world. We also are very pleased to advance a growing array of on-site vocational programs to offer our students. We have become a High Schools That Work site, focusing on developing smaller learning communities to better meet the needs of all of our students.
Students from Fort Dorchester perform at high levels of competency in Academics, Fine Arts, Athletics and Volunteerism. Many have been recognized at local, state and national levels to include winning many first place awards and scholarships in everything from QUEST, to FCCLA, to Culinary Arts, to Art, to the Coastal Carolina Fair, to many other competitions and scholarships. In fact, one of our students was selected to intern for the SC World Trade Center. Another of our seniors was selected to represent South Carolina at Boys’ Nation in Washington, D.C. and meet with President Bush. One student received a perfect score on the SAT math portion, while another received a perfect score on the verbal portion. Twenty-two seniors were named Palmetto Fellows Scholarship recipients – the most ever from FDHS. Our band and chorus students traveled to Virginia to compete with schools from all over the nation, and won many events. Our JROTC program won their largest competition, as well. Our athletic teams won more championships than can be listed here. Our Wrestling, team won a state title and a swimmer won two state titles. These are just a few of our many accomplishments during the 2006-2007 school year.
The future at Fort Dorchester High School promises to be full of challenge. Our response to this challenge will determine the level of prominence to which our school rises. If our history predicts our future, then all of our stakeholders will ensure this school remains a great one in our community and in the state. Together the “Patriot Family” will continue to meet each circumstance with a positive attitude, and the students and faculty of Fort Dorchester will always have “Patriot Pride.”

Contact person: Greg Harrison, Administrative Assistant, (phone), (email)

Address:

8500 Partiot Boulevard N. Charleston, SC 29420 (See a map)

Web Site: None specified