Funding type Public Opened 2003 Superintendent Cindy Ellsbury District Horry County Schools Number of students 1,500 | Established 2002 School district Horry County Schools Phone +1 843-650-5600 Mascot Sharks | |
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Motto Sharks Move Only in One Direction, FORWARD Address 10800 SC-707, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576, USA Similar Socastee High School, St James Middle School, Myrtle Beach High Sch, Carolina Forest High School, Waccamaw High School Profiles | ||
St. James High School (SJHS) is a public high school located west of Highway 17 on Highway 707 in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina approximately six miles from the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of 13 high schools in the Horry County School District. St. James has over 1,400 students and is the home of the St. James High School Sharks. St. James Elementary, Burgess Elementary, Seaside Elementary, and St. James Middle School feed into St. James High.
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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.
After years of hard work from administration, staff and community, in 2016 St. James won the prestigious Palmetto Finest School Award.
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 .
Academics
St. James offers 13 Advanced Placement classes 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.
Athletics
St. James offers 11 fall sports, seven winter sports, 13 spring sports, and five annual sports.
State championships
Fine Arts
St. James also boasts a competitive music program.
South Carolina All-State Principal Chairs