Principal's Message
Gaye Driggers, Principal
Welcome to Carolina Forest High School – Home of the Panthers!
A Message from the Principal
Welcome to The Forest, home of a proud tradition of excellence in academics, athletics, and the arts.
In the fall of 1997, the Carolina Forest Education Center opened its doors to students in grades 6 through 10 from the Conway, Myrtle Beach, and Socastee areas. With rapid growth and community support, we soon became Carolina Forest High School, and over the last 28 years, we’ve continued to build on our legacy of success.
Academically, Carolina Forest High School has earned recognition as one of South Carolina’s Best High Schools by U.S. News & World Report and is proud to be a Project Lead the Way Distinguished School. Our strong Advanced Placement and STEM programs continue to grow, offering courses in engineering, biomedical science, cybersecurity, and architecture. Last year, we achieved our highest AP exam passage rate ever, with 89% of students earning college credit.
The Class of 2025 marked another milestone for our school, with 727 students graduating. More than 300 of those graduates are now attending four-year colleges, while over 230 chose to enroll in two-year institutions. Thirty-two students proudly committed to serving in the military. Collectively, the class earned an estimated $18 million in scholarships, with many receiving Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, HOPE, and Seals of Distinction honors. Additionally, students completed over 247 dual-credit courses, further preparing them for the next chapter of their academic and professional journeys.
Athletically, our varsity teams continue to achieve regional recognition and consistently advance to the 5A State Playoffs year after year. In 2025, our Boys Wrestling team made history by claiming the first State Championship in school history. Many Panthers also earned individual state medals in both wrestling and track, showcasing the strength and determination of our student-athletes.
Our success goes far beyond the classroom. Our NJROTC program earned its seventh consecutive Distinguished Unit Award and ranked second in the state. The Panther Marching Band, the largest in Horry County, earned Superior with Distinction ratings, as did our orchestra, which is also the largest in the county. Dozens of our orchestra students received honors at the county, regional, and state levels. Our Performing Arts Department impressed audiences with 13 sold-out performances of Mamma Mia, The Musical, showcasing the exceptional talent and hard work of our students and staff.
We invite you to visit our campus and see for yourself the displays of academic, artistic, and athletic excellence that make Carolina Forest High School such a special place. You can also stay connected by following us on Twitter at #cfhighschool and #cfhspanthers, where we regularly highlight student achievements and school events.
At CFHS, the relationships we build with our students, staff, families, and community is the foundation of our success. As we move forward through the school year, let us continue to be encouraging, patient, and thankful.
Thank you for being a part of our Panther family, and welcome to Carolina Forest High School.
Go Panthers!
Warm regards,
Gaye Driggers, Principal
Carolina Forest High School