Wilson High School (Florence, South Carolina)
Encyclopedia
Wilson High School is one of three high schools in Florence Public School District One in Florence, South Carolina
. Wilson is the only high school
in the Pee Dee
region that offers the International Baccalaureate diploma.
, 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.
debate team has won the annual state competition in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010.
Wilson has won the Pee Dee Regional Academic Challenge AAA/AAAA championship eleven out of the past twelve years and the 2010 State Championship.
, a professor of educational psychology at Harvard University
.
and is located in Lower State, Region VI.
In 2002, the varsity baseball team won the AAA state championship. The boys' basketball team and the varsity football team both won AAA state championships in 2007.
Florence, South Carolina
-Municipal government and politics:The City of Florence has a council-manager form of government. The mayor and city council are elected every four years, with no term limits...
. Wilson is the only high school
High school
High 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....
in the Pee Dee
Pee Dee
The Pee Dee region of South Carolina is the northeastern corner of the state. It is the area of the lower watershed of the Pee Dee River, named after the Pee Dee Native American tribe. Its center is Florence...
region that offers the International Baccalaureate diploma.
History
Wilson was founded in 1869 by Freedmen’s Bureau as a school for African-American children. 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 WilsonHenry Wilson
Henry Wilson was the 18th Vice President of the United States and a Senator from Massachusetts...
, 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.
Academics
Wilson's We the People: The Citizen and the ConstitutionWe the People: The Citizen and the Constitution
We 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...
debate team has won the annual state competition in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010.
Wilson has won the Pee Dee Regional Academic Challenge AAA/AAAA championship eleven out of the past twelve years and the 2010 State Championship.
An International Baccalaureate School
Wilson is the home of the final two years of the one Florence chapter of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB MYP), which begins at Florence's Williams Middle School. Wilson is also home to the only Florence chapter of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). The International Baccalaureate helps students "think critically, synthesize knowledge, reflect on their own thought processes and get their feet wet in interdisciplinary thinking," said Howard GardnerHoward Gardner
Howard Earl Gardner is an American developmental psychologist who is a professor of Cognition and Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education at Harvard University, Senior Director of Harvard Project Zero and author of over twenty books translated into thirty languages. Since 1995, he has...
, a professor of educational psychology at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Athletics
Wilson competes in the AAA classification of the South Carolina High School LeagueSouth Carolina High School League
The South Carolina High School League is the organization that rules and regulates school athletics in the state of South Carolina....
and is located in Lower State, Region VI.
In 2002, the varsity baseball team won the AAA state championship. The boys' basketball team and the varsity football team both won AAA state championships in 2007.
Notable alumni
- William JohnsonWilliam Johnson (artist)William Henry Johnson was an African American painter born in Florence, South Carolina, and is becoming more widely recognized as one of the greatest American artists of the 20th Century...
(attended 1916-1918), painter - Harry CarsonHarry CarsonHarold Donald Carson is a former American football inside linebacker who played his entire professional career for the NFL's New York Giants...
, (1972), retired football player, NY Giants - Reggie Sanders (1985), retired baseball player, Kansas City RoyalsKansas City RoyalsThe Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
- Jolette Law (1986) current Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketballIllinois Fighting Illini women's basketballThe Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Big Ten Conference. Home games are played at Assembly Hall, located on University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's campus in Champaign....
head coach, Harlem GlobetrotterHarlem GlobetrottersThe Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
from 1991–1994 - Trey LorenzTrey LorenzTrey Lorenz is an African American singer and songwriter. He was born in Florence, South Carolina and is a graduate of Wilson High School.-Biography:...
(1987), singer and songwriter - Darian DurantDarian DurantDarian Bernard Durant is a professional American football quarterback who plays for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League . He played college football at the University of North Carolina...
(2000), football player, Saskatchewan RoughridersSaskatchewan RoughridersThe Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor... - Carlos PowellCarlos PowellRicardo Auturo "Carlos" Powell is an American basketball player for Maccabi Haifa B.C. of the Israeli Basketball Super League. He is notable for receiving the NIT Most Valuable Player award, in the NIT tournament. Other honors he has received include 2003-2004 All SEC, 2004-2005 Preseason All SEC,...
(2001) basketball player, NITNational Invitation TournamentThe National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
MVP and Dakota WizardsDakota WizardsThe Dakota Wizards are an American basketball team in the NBA Development League, based in Bismarck, North Dakota. Home games are played at the Bismarck Civic Center.-Beginnings in IBA:...
forward - Justin DurantJustin DurantJustin Durant is an American football linebacker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Jaguars in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
(2003), football player, Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville JaguarsThe Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Lawrence TimmonsLawrence TimmonsLawrence Olajuwon Timmons is an American football linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was drafted by the Steelers 15th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State University.-Early years:...
(2004), professional football, Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...