Palmetto Scholars Academy is an education success story

EDITOR’S NOTE: Palmetto Scholars Academy is a charter school for gifted and talented students, generally attracting students in the tri-county area. Currently housed on the old Navy Base in North Charleston, the campus will move in January to a new facility in Hunley Park on the Charleston Air Force Base. As outlined below, parents are seeking donations to help pay costs of furnishings and other items.

By Kristen L. French  |   Palmetto Scholars Academy (PSA) was founded in 2009 with a mission to serve gifted students in the Lowcountry.  Many schools are not equipped to meet the different learning needs of gifted children.  This often leads to laziness, boredom, frustration, a loss of self-esteem and underachievement.  PSA has developed a liberal arts environment which provides academic and artistic challenges while also serving the social and emotional needs of gifted students.  PSA is open to all South Carolina students from 6th to 12th grades, resulting in a diverse student population that crosses economic and demographic lines.

Tolerance of each other’s differences seems to come naturally to the PSA community.  The teachers and staff foster tolerance while maintaining a disciplined environment.  They encourage creativity and critical thinking in many formats rather than asking students to stick to a specific curriculum or teaching to a test.  In fact, testing in these classrooms is used as it was originally intended: to assess whether the teaching and learning goals of the curriculum have been met, not to judge and compare.

Many opportunities to stretch gifted children’s artistic, athletic and mental muscles are offered in the classroom and in extracurricular activities.  The fine arts department offers chorus, drama, band, photography and art in a variety of media.  Scientific challenges come in the form of Vex Robotics, CyberPatriot, the Student Space Experimental Program and Mission Design, Odyssey of the Mind, Bar Camp and Trebuchet building in addition to many other opportunities.  Sports include basketball, volleyball, archer, and cross-country.  In addition, students at PSA are taught self-advocacy, time management, responsibility and respect.

In the first six years of PSA’s history, the school has struggled to meet its facility and equipment needs.  During our first few formative years, PSA was actually the lowest funded public school in the country.  As a member of the SC Charter School District, PSA receives no funding for facility, equipment or transportation costs.  Despite these financial challenges, PSA students have proven that our model serves their needs, making PSA one of the highest-achieving schools in South Carolina. Students from our first graduating class (class of 2015) are now thriving in college.

PSA has thrived through this hardship due to the strong community developed between the school administration, the PSA Board of Directors and the Parent Community Association.  The PSA Board has provided strong direction and purpose and is nearing completion of a new building and campus for PSA, which will better serve the students and faculty for years to come.  In addition, the Parent Community Association (PCA) has consistently provided strong volunteerism, fundraising and other important support for PSA.  Now, as we prepare to move, all hands are on deck to raise funds for needed equipment in our new facility.

What students say about the school

• “PSA is a school where people appreciate you.”  — 6th grader

• “PSA makes me want to be a better person.”  — 6th grader

• “I love PSA more than video games.” — 7th grader

• “Everyone knows everyone at PSA, and no one cares what you wear.  It’s all about new ways to learn.” — PSA student

• “I love PSA! All my teachers are fun, make learning fun, and I love all my classes! I never want to change schools.” — 6th grader

How you can help

PSA has begun a capital campaign to raise $1 million to purchase equipment for our new campus.  Science equipment, band instruments, computers, smart boards, a robotics lab, athletic equipment and fully-equipped computer labs and art studio are needed to provide our students with the well equipped facility they deserve.

All donations of any amount are greatly appreciated.  Donations to PSA are tax deductible as provided under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code.

Kristen L. French, Ph.D., is a parent of a student at Palmetto Scholars Academy.