St. James High School (South Carolina)

St. James High School (SJHS) is a public high school in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, United States, located west of Highway 17 on Highway 707 approximately six miles from the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of 13 high schools in the Horry County School District. St. James has over 1,700 students and is the home of the St. James High School Sharks. St. James Elementary, Burgess Elementary, Seaside Elementary, St. James Intermediate, and St. James Middle School feed into St. James High.

For other schools with the same name, see St. James School (disambiguation).
St. James High School
St. James High School Logo
Address
10800 Highway 707
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

United States
Coordinates33°36′54″N 79°03′09″W
Information
School typePublic, Secondary
MottoSharks Move Only in One Direction, FORWARD
Established2002
School districtHorry County Schools
SuperintendentRick Maxey
CEEB code411472
PrincipalVann Pennell
Faculty93.50 (FTE)[1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment1,691 (2018–19)[1]
Student to teacher ratio18.09[1]
Campus typeSuburban
Color(s)   Blue and White
MascotSharks
NewspaperShark Attack
YearbookEchoes
Feeder schoolsSt. James Middle School
St. James Elementary School
Burgess Elementary School
Seaside Elementary School
WebsiteOfficial website

History

Due to the rapid growth in the south beach area and overcrowding at Socastee High School, Horry County Schools began planning the construction of a new high school in the Burgess community in 2002. Although the county wanted to name the new school South Strand High School, the decision was ultimately left up to a committee formed by local students and parents to select the school's name, mascot, and colors. The name St. James High School was chosen, and the school opened to students in 2003. St. James opened with 700 students, which did not include a senior class.

In 2016, St. James won the prestigious Palmetto Finest School Award.[2][3]

Campus

The high school has eight computer labs, a media center with over 14,000 books, a 682-seat auditorium, gymnasium, mini gym, and a weight room. Its athletic facilities include three lighted practice fields, a 5,000 seat football/soccer stadium surrounded by an eight-lane track, a softball field, baseball field, four tennis courts, and an on-campus cross country course. Additionally, the boys' golf team plays at Wicked Stick Golf Links in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the girls' golf team plays at Blackmoor Golf Club in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, and the swim team meets at Coastal Carolina University .[4]

St. James High School main entrance
St. James High School entrance sign

Academics

St. James offers 19 Advanced Placement classes[5] along with Horry-Georgetown Technical College. The St. James Fine Arts Department consists of The Pride of St. James marching band, chorus, orchestra, art, and drama. The English Department produces the Shark Attack school newspaper and the Echoes yearbook.[2]

Athletics

St. James offers 11 fall sports, seven winter sports, 13 spring sports, and five annual sports.

  • Fall sports: B-team, JV, and varsity football, JV and varsity volleyball, boys' and girls' cross country, girls' golf, girls' tennis, and girls' and boys' swimming.
  • Winter sports: wrestling, B-team, JV, and varsity boys' basketball, and B-team, JV, and varsity girls' basketball.
  • Spring sports: JV and varsity baseball, JV and varsity softball, boys' tennis, boys' and girls' track and field, boys' JV and varsity golf, JV and varsity boys' soccer, JV and varsity girls' soccer, JV and Varsity boy's lacrosse, JV and Varsity girl's lacrosse.
  • Year-round sports: B-team, JV and varsity cheerleading, Sharkies dance team, and step team.


State championships[6]

  • 2005–2006: Boys 400 Meter Hurdles AAA State Champion
  • 2006–2007: Girls Softball AAA State Champions
  • 2006–2007: Boys 400 Meter Dash AAA State Champion
  • 2006–2007: Boys 800 Meter Run AAA State Champion
  • 2006–2007: Boys 400 Meter Hurdles AAA State Champion
  • 2006–2007: Boys 4x400 Meter Relay AAA State Champions
  • 2007–2008: Boys 4x400 Meter Relay AAA State Champions
  • 2008–2009: Boys 4x400 Meter Relay AAA State Champions
  • 2008–2009: Boys 400 Meter Dash AAA State Champion
  • 2010–2011: Boys Baseball AAA State Champion
  • 2010–2011: Individual Wrestling 140 lb Weight Class AAA State Champion
  • 2011–2012: Individual Wrestling 145 lb Weight Class AAA State Champion
  • 2011–2012: Individual Wrestling 220 lb Weight Class AAA State Champion
  • 2011–2012: Individual Wrestling 132 lb Weight Class AAA State Champion

Fine Arts

St. James also boasts a competitive music program.

Band

South Carolina All-State Principal Chairs

  • 2005 & 2007: 1st-Chair Bass Clarinet
  • 2010: 1st-Chair Oboe
  • 2010: 1st-Chair Trumpet
  • 2011 & 2013: 1st-Chair Euphonium
  • 2012 & 2013: 1st-Chair Saxophone
  • 2015: 1st-Chair Flute
  • 2015: 1st-Chair Bass (Jazz)

Chorus

  • 2016 & 2018: South Carolina Music Educators Association (SCMEA) Concert Performance Assessment- Superior
  • 2016 & 2018: Candlelight Processional Choir, Walt Disney World
  • 2018: Music in the Parks Festival- Superior
  • 2018: SCMEA Solo and Ensemble-Superior/Excellent Awards
  • 2018: SCMEA All State Chorus Participant
  • 2018: SCMEA All Region Chorus Participant

References
  1. "St. James High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  2. "St. James High School / Homepage". sjh.horrycountyschools.net.
  3. "School's Name Up to Community". The Sun News. 22 Mar 2001. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  4. "St. James High School / Homepage". sjh.horrycountyschools.net.
  5. "AP Course Audit". apcourseaudit.epiconline.org.
  6. "Past State Champions". Archived from the original on 11 January 2013.
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