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Virtual school wins Second Place in Free Times Best Charter School Award
SC Whitmore School (SCWS), a virtual public high school and member school of the SC Public Charter School District, earned second place in the 2022 Best Charter School by the Post and Courier’s Free Times. The Best of Columbia contest was founded in 1989, making it the longest-running and most prestigious readers’ choice contest in the Midlands.
SCWS currently serves grades nine through twelve and was founded in 2011, in order to support at-risk youth and to provide a high-quality online public educational option to students across South Carolina. Over that period of time, more than 960 students have graduated from SCWS, while being fully prepared for both college and career. The most recent College Freshman Report, released by the SC Department of Education, showed that over 98% of SCWS graduates passed all of their courses during their freshman year at their respective post-secondary college or university.
Many of these graduates have credited their success at SCWS to their innovative approach to education. SC Whitmore School provides a personalized curriculum and online learning platform, which allows students to accelerate in courses they are strong in, while also taking the time they need to catch up in other courses.
SCWS Principal, Ebone’ Adams said, “The goal is to provide students with an education that is of quality and substance. We want to prepare our students for life beyond high school whether they pursue a college pathway or career pathway. Flexibility and personalization are two major components that make us unique which allows students to pave their own path. Either path they choose, we want to make sure they are ready.”
As SCWS continues to grow the school continues to see a positive impact on students in communities across South Carolina. Unique to any other public school in South Carolina SCWS graduated students, representing practically every county across South Carolina.
Executive Director Kim Dubar said, “It continues to be our honor to serve high school students all over the state of South Carolina with a fully virtual, high quality education. Each year we continue to see our graduation rate increase and watch our graduates go on to achieve great success. We are thankful they chose SC Whitmore School to be a part of their educational journey and to help prepare them for their next steps.”