Dreaming of a school that truly felt like an island, the community saw Islands High School come to life. Islands High School opened its doors in August 2010. The school was built to serve the growing student population on Whitemarsh, Wilmington, Talahi, and Tybee Islands. It also relieved overcrowding at other schools.
Islands High School is located on Whitemarsh Island. Though it has a Savannah postal address, it sits in unincorporated Chatham County. The school is part of the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools system. Islands High serves the urbanized Georgia barrier islands. The school’s colors are teal, black, and white. Their mascot is the Sharks. Islands High School’s yearbook is called The Tributary.
Before becoming Islands High School, the building housed Coastal Middle School. To accommodate the older students, the building was retrofitted. Coastal Middle moved to the Islands Elementary building. Islands Elementary was then closed. Danielle Pinkerton served as the school’s first principal from 2010 to 2014. As of 2023-2024, Islands High School has 814 students enrolled. The student to teacher ratio is about 15 to 1.
Islands High School offers a range of student activities. These include academic competitions like Mock Trial and Literary Quiz Bowl. Athletic programs include baseball, basketball, and football. The school also has clubs like Chorus, Drama Club, and the National Honor Society. The school has a Scientific Research and Veterinary Science Specialty Program.
Islands High School has received recognition for its achievements. In 2012, Allison Konter, an Islands teacher, was named SCCPSS district teacher of the year. In 2016, Islands was one of five Georgia schools to win an AP Champion Award. Megan Heberle, an Islands teacher, received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in 2020. Islands High School continues to provide quality education. It is a vital part of the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools.