WAHS Principal selected to help lead CCSD high schools

Charleston County School District (CCSD) announces and welcomes Ryan Cumback as Executive Director of the High School Learning Community. Cumback has served in Charleston County schools for the past 18 years, most recently as the principal of West Ashley High School (WAHS) since 2019.

During his tenure at WAHS, Cumback increased enrollment by nearly 400 students, leading a transformation for the school and the West Ashley community. Under his leadership, WAHS established a partnership with the College of Charleston to enhance educational opportunities and resources. Cumback’s tenure saw a 29 percent increase in students scoring a C or higher on the Algebra 1 End-of-Course (EOC) exam and led the US History program to achieve the highest EOC scores in the state among comparable schools. His efforts significantly boosted graduation rates, surpassing 80 percent in three out of four years – a milestone achieved only four times in the school’s 24-year history.

Prior to his time at West Ashley, Cumback served as the principal of Moultrie Middle School for three years. During his tenure at Moultrie, Cumback transformed the school into the top-ranked neighborhood middle school in the state within just three years. He established and fostered Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), directly impacting academic growth and achievement among students. In his final year at Moultrie, 95 percent of all students met their SC READY progress goals, and 100 percent of students identified as being in the bottom 20 percent academically met their SC READY progress goals, demonstrating exceptional educational progress.

Before becoming the principal at Moultrie, Cumback was the associate principal of curriculum and instruction at WAHS and served as the assistant principal overseeing ninth and tenth grade students, the Science Department, Math Department, and the Fine Arts Department. His responsibilities included overseeing the implementation of EEDA At-Risk and SC School Climate grants, supporting induction teachers, conducting formal teacher observations and evaluations, administering state tests, acting as grants liaison, providing professional development, coordinating 504 plans, analyzing academic and behavioral data, and
serving as Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) chair.

“The High School Learning Community is blessed to have a transformational leader in Mr. Cumback,” said Dr. Sherry Eppelsheimer, CCSD Associate Superintendent of the High School Learning Community. “His ability to grow schools will have a
positive impact on all of our high schools.”

Cumback received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Western Michigan University and a Master of Secondary Educational Administration from The Citadel. He was the recipient of the 2010 South Carolina Department of Education “Initiative Award” for WAHS’s CATS Program and was named Charleston County School District’s High School Star Principal of the Year for the 2022-2023 school year.