Orangeburg High School for Health Professions was officially designated a Workforce Center of Excellence (WCOE) Friday, becoming the third school in South Carolina to receive the distinction.
South Carolina Public Charter School District (PCSD) Superintendent Chris Neeley delivered remarks alongside Orangeburg High School for Health Professions Principal Derwin Farr, Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College President Dr. Walt Tobin and Denmark Technical College President Dr. Eric Brown, and were joined by school leaders, students and community partners for a dedication ceremony recognizing the school’s commitment to preparing students for meaningful careers and connecting classroom learning to real-world opportunities.
The Workforce Centers of Excellence designation recognizes schools that build strong connections among education, employers and community partners to prepare students for life after graduation—including through hands-on learning, dual enrollment, workforce experiences, industry partnerships and career credentials.
“Today, we’re not giving this school a new identity. We’re recognizing what this school and this community have already built together,” Neeley said. “Preparing a young person for life after high school cannot be the responsibility of a school alone. It takes colleges willing to open doors, employers willing to create opportunities, healthcare professionals willing to share their expertise, community leaders willing to invest in young people and a school willing to bring all of those partners together around its scholars.”
Orangeburg High School for Health Professions has developed partnerships with organizations including Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, Denmark Technical College, Orangeburg Chamber of Commerce, YMCA and Medical University of South Carolina, among others, helping students connect their education to opportunities in healthcare and other high-demand fields.
The school’s vision is captured in its guiding phrase: “Employed. Enrolled. Enlisted.”
“Children need more than a diploma,” Neeley said. “They need skills. They need opportunity. They need people who believe in them. And most of all, they need purpose.”
Orangeburg High School for Health Professions joins the Pee Dee Math, Science and Technology Academy and Greer Middle College as Workforce Centers of Excellence.
For more information about the Workforce Centers of Excellence initiative, visit sccharter.org/wcoe.
