Charleston County School District announced on May 6 that Barrett Reese has been appointed principal of Academic Magnet High School, effective July 1.
The announcement is significant for the school community as it marks a leadership transition at one of the district’s prominent high schools. Reese’s background in academic achievement and school culture is expected to shape the direction of Academic Magnet moving forward.
Reese currently serves as principal of Early College High School, where he led efforts focused on student opportunity and academic excellence. Under his leadership, Early College saw notable results: “80 percent of graduating seniors earning an associate degree, 100 percent of students meeting College and Career Readiness benchmarks, and exceptional academic performance with 100 percent of students earning a C or higher on the English II End-of-Course exam.” The school also achieved national recognition for its positive environment: “98 percent of students reporting a strong social and learning environment, placing the school in the 99th percentile nationwide.”
Superintendent Anita Huggins said, “Barrett Reese is a thoughtful, student-centered leader who understands how to create both excellence and opportunity at the same time. His track record at Early College High School speaks for itself, and he has built a culture where students are thriving, achieving at high levels, and preparing for their futures. I am confident he will continue that success at Academic Magnet.”
Reese’s experience includes overseeing more than 1,400 dual credit enrollments annually and building partnerships with Trident Technical College. He previously served as assistant principal at both Early College High School and Simmons-Pinckney Middle School.
The district also recognized outgoing Academic Magnet principal Jacob Perlmutter for his contributions to maintaining academic excellence during his tenure.
Reese holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and certification in Secondary Administration from The Citadel Graduate College as well as a Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Carolina.
