While Charter Schools have been a part of the South Carolina educational landscape since 1996, many families are still unaware that they have a free public education option outside of their traditional school districts. Public Charter Schools are still relatively rare in most areas of the state and account for only 6% of schools statewide. This obscurity also means that most of the general public doesn’t know what a charter school is. So what is a public charter school?
At its core, a charter school is a school that is guided by a document called a charter. The school’s charter outlines most aspects of the school, such as its beliefs about students and education, the curriculum and instructional model the school will use, the organizational plan, and goals. This document and the strategies outlined therein are what make Charter Schools unique. It is in the charter that a school can spell out flexible and creative strategies to educate students that a traditional district may not be able to offer its students. For example, some charter schools offer extended school days or modified school year calendars. Others may focus on a certain area, such as STEM or Fine Arts. Some charter schools may use a different instructional method, such as an immersion school for languages. To see an example of an approved charter, check out High Point Academy’s by visiting: https://www.hpaspart.com/results.php?id=115
Once the school founders have completed the charter, they must submit it to an authorizer for approval. In South Carolina, there are two authorizers who oversee the majority of schools. The South Carolina Public Charter School District (SCPCSD) and The Charter Institute at Erskine. It’s the job of the authorizer to ensure that schools in their portfolio adhere to the guidelines established by the school’s charter. Goal progress is reported to the authorizer each year as part of the school’s annual report. Every ten years, the school must seek to have its charter renewed. Failure to make adequate progress towards the goals stated in the charter could result in the school being closed or having their charter may not be renewed. High Point Academy’s charter was renewed in 2024 by the SCPSD. You can visit the District online at https://sccharter.org/
A simple way to look at Charter Schools is that they are niche schools. While still publicly funded and open to all residents of South Carolina free of charge, each Charter School has a different focus and approach to educating children. Charter schools exist to give parents another option for schooling other than the traditional school mandated by their home address. At High Point Academy, our doors stay open through enrollment funding. Our families continue to enroll their students each year because they believe that what we offer their students fits their families’ needs better. To learn more about what a charter school is and what High Point Academy can offer your family, we’d encourage you to schedule a visit by calling our front office and requesting a tour.
