Wilson High School (Florence, South Carolina)

Infobox School
name=Wilson High School
principal=Gerard Edwards
schooltype=Public (U.S.)
free_label=Religious affiliation
free_text=None
founded=1869
location=Florence, South Carolina
enrollment=1389
mascot=Tiger
newspaper=The Purple and Gold
schoolcolors=Purple and Gold

Wilson High School is one of three high schools in Florence Public School District 1 in Florence, South Carolina. Wilson is the only high school in the Pee Dee region that offers the International Baccalaureate diploma.

History

Wilson was founded in 1869 as a school for African-American children, operated by the Freedmen's Bureau. The school opened on the corner of Palmetto and Dargan Streets in downtown Florence. There are several theories and rumors as to how Wilson got its name. Some say the school was named after future Vice-President Henry Wilson, then a Massachusetts congressman and sponsor of the Bureau. Others believe that a local educator, Josiah E. Wilson, lent his name to the school.

The school has existed in four different locations. Since 1982, Wilson has been on Old Marion Highway northeast of Florence, after having moved from a building on North Irby Street in downtown Florence.

In 1996 Wilson became the second International Baccalaureate school in South Carolina. The first IB class graduated in 1999, and a class has been graduated in each year since. The first class to complete both the Middle-Years Program and the IB program graduated in 2002.

Curriculum

Wilson High School provides many different courses for people of all interests. It contains College Prep, International Baccalaureate, Honors, Advanced Placement classes, and Career Center Courses.

Below is a list of some of its many course broken up by subject.

Mathematics

Math Tech IMath Tech IIAlgebra I (CP, Honors) Algebra II (CP, Honors, MYP)Geometry (CP, Honors, MYP)Pre-Calculus (Honors, MYP, IB)Calculus (AP, Honors, IB)Math Studies (IB)Math Methods (IB)

English

English I (CP, Honors),English II (CP, MYP, Honors), English III (CP, MYP, Honors),English IV (CP, I.B., Honors),English V (I.B., AP Language and Composition,),English 101,English 102

ocial sciences

World History (Honors, MYP)American History (AP)20th Century History (I.B.)

Career courses

Foreign language

Spanish I, II, III, IV, VGerman I, II, III, IV, VFrench

cience

Biology 1 (Honors, MYP)Biology 2 (I.B.)Biology 3 (I.B.)Chemistry 1Chemistry 2Chemistry 3Physics

Extra Curricular Activities

The Wilson High School Academic Challenge Team has won the regional championship eight out of the last nine years (finishing second in 2003). In 2007 the team completed an undefeated season by beating West Florence in the championship game, 40-21. The team has been ranked as one of the top forty high school teams in the nation.

Wilson High School's band, orchestra, and chorus are widely regarded as the best in the region. The band's director is Mr. Roderick Henderson, the orchestra's director is Mr. Eugene Epting, and the chorus director is Ms. Giliard Johnson. Many of the students in the Wilson High School Orchestra are students of the widely known composer and violinist, Dr. Sherry Woods, who is the wife of the famous pianist Dr. Benjamin Woods.

Wilson musicians have won the solo competition for FSD1 six years recently. Their names include (in chronological order): Robert Wells (2), Roman Lin, John Tsai, Shang-lin Chung, Ray Tsai, Sharon Chen, Jasper Lee, Shang-Lin Chung, and Charles Donnelly. Many students have also made All-Region and All-State Orchestra, and have made honorable seatings.

Two Wilson students, Bella Wang and Hui Lin, had been selected for the All-State math team.

Wilson's We The People government/debate team has won the annual state competition in 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2005, and won the national competition in 2004. The team is led by Ms. Yvonne Rhodes.

Athletics

Wilson competes in the AAA classfication of the South Carolina High School League and is located in Lower State, Region VI. Sports include football, basketball, baseball, track and field, cross-country, soccer, golf, swimming,tennis and volleyball.

The varsity football team won the 2007 AAA state championship with a 14-12 win over Chester High School in the championship game at Williams-Brice Stadium under Principal Dr. Gerard S. Edwards. This was Wilson's first SCHSL football championship ever and first state football championship since 1953's perfect season. The win capped off a 12-3 season that included Wilson's first ever Lower State championship (the team qualified for the Lower State finals in 2000 and 2006 but lost both times), also under Principal Dr. Gerard S. Edwards. A video was produced by former student Justin Chen (Class of 2007) which can be seen here: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZKfdj_NTvA 2007 AAA Football State Champions] .

The boys' basketball team won the 2007 AAA state championship with a 67-50 win over Greenville High School in the championship game. Wilson qualified for the playoffs with a 6-4 region record and though forced to play every playoff game on the road, won each of their five playoff games by an average margin of 12.6 points per game, and held their opponents to 48 points per game. The team finished the 2006-07 season with an overall record of 23-6.

In 2002 the varsity baseball team won the AAA state championship, the first SCHSL championship in school history.

In the opening football game of 08-09 season against Lake City High School, Wilson players started a large confrontation with LCHS team. At the final play as Lake City won the game, several Wilson players organized an attack on Lake City team members. One Lake City coach even suffered a sever concussion from attacks of the Wilson players while trying to break up the confrontation.

Notable alumni

The following notable alumni have attended Wilson High School:cite web | url=http://www.wilsonhighalumni.org/halloffame.asp?MenuID=1 | title=WHSAA: Wilson High School Alumni Association History | accessdate=2008-01-05]
* Harry Carson, class of 1972, NY Giants linebacker and Hall of Famer
* Darian Durant (2000), Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback
* Justin Durant (2004), Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker
* Chad Eaddy (1997), South Carolina State University McDonalds Heritage Bowl MVP and All-MEAC running back Fact|date=February 2008
* Davy Gregg (2001), Chicago Cubs minor leaguerFact|date=February 2008
* William Johnson (attended 1916-1918), painter
* Trey Lorenz (1987), singer and songwriter
* Pearl Moore (1975), all-time leading scorer in women's college basketball Fact|date=February 2008
* Carlos Powell (2001) NIT MVP and Dakota Wizards forward
* Reggie Sanders (1985), Kansas City Royals right fielder
* Marva Smalls, Nickelodeon executive Fact|date=February 2008
* Lawrence Timmons (2004), Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker

External links

Official Website [http://www.fsd1.org/wilson/INDEX/INDEX.ASP#]
History of Wilson [http://user.fsd1.org/nadams/wilsonhistory.htm]
Alumni Association [http://www.wilsonhighalumni.org]
Official IB Website [http://www.ibo.org/]

References