Greenville, South Carolina
Special Academic Programs
Alternative Programs
The GCS Alternative School Program serves middle and high school students. Teachers work one-on-one with students addressing academic and disciplinary deficiencies. Students also receive instruction in life skills such as anger management, social interactions, drug avoidance and self discipline. Special education services are available to students with learning disabilities.
High school students may be placed in the alternative school program (housed at Sullivan Center) by a hearing officer following a recommendation for expulsion from their home school. They attend classes on a four-by-four block schedule. Courses are taught by certified high school teachers.
Students attending the middle school alternative program (housed at Donaldson Career Center, Bonds Career Center or West Greenville Center) are either placed by the hearing officer or recommended by the school or parent (with support of school). They maintain a full academic schedule taught by certified middle school teachers.
All students must attend a pre-enrollment conference with their parents before attending an alternative program. Students may return to their home school when their academic and behavior goals are met.
Career and Technology Centers
Greenville County Schools’ four career technology centers offer a variety of courses that prepare students for postsecondary training or the workforce. Students take courses as electives and attend for half-days. The centers offer over 85 courses including Automotive Technology, Automotive Collision Repair, Cosmetology, Early Childhood Education, Graphic Design, Health Science, Mechatronics, Culinary Arts, BioMedical Science, Agricultural Education, and Welding.
The four career centers and their feeder high schools are
- Donaldson Career and Technology Center (Carolina Academy, Greenville High, Woodmont High)
- Enoree Career Center and Technology Center (Berea High, Carolina Academy, Travelers Rest High, Wade Hampton High)
- Golden Strip Career and Technology Center (Hillcrest High, J. L. Mann Academy, Mauldin High, Southside High, Woodmont High)
- J. Harley Bonds Career and Technology Center (Blue Ridge High, Eastside High, Greer High, Riverside High, Wade Hampton High)
Lifelong Learning
Lifelong Learning, Adult Education and Training for Greenville County Schools, offers adults a chance for hope and change by providing affordable and convenient academic and pre-employment education and training opportunities
Lifelong Learning's Sullivan Center main campus is the site for the "Greenville GED Testing Center," an official GED testing site for the SC Department of Adult Education.
GED and High School Units, Skills Upgrade, Computer, Spanish, English as a Second Language, Workcore, and WorkKeys Employment Certification are just a few of the quality programs offered at convenient locations throughout Greenville County. Join the over 10,000 adults in the area who have taken advantage of our low-cost, high-quality programs.
Fine Arts Center
The Fine Arts Center was the first specialized arts high school in South Carolina. Students apply to the FAC and are selected on the basis of talent, interest, motivation, and commitment to their discipline. Areas of focused study are theatre, dance, visual arts, music, creative writing, and digital filmmaking. The FAC provides advanced comprehensive arts instruction to students who are artistically talented and who wish to take an intensive pre-professional program of study.
Roper Mountain Science Center
Roper Mountain Science Center is a resource for students and the community. The center offers programs for students in all areas of science and reinforces concepts studied in the classroom. Programs correlate to the district’s science and social sciences curriculum. Summer Programs for Greenville County students include “Science for Fun,” a four-day mini-course where students study a wide variety of topics. Public programs include Friday “Starry Nights” planetarium programs, Second Saturday, Living History Farm, nature trails, arboretum, and butterfly garden.
STAR Academy
Star Academy delivers two years of curriculum in one year by accelerating learning of overage eighth grade students who have previously failed or been held back so that they can successfully enter the 10th grade. It also reduces the number of overage students dropping out of the eighth and ninth grade, engages overage students in relevant, career-linked learning, increases student attendance from the prior school year, and reduces negative behavioral incidents from the prior school year.
In addition to accelerated learning, students are introduced to various careers through assemblies, college visits, and field trips to area business and government organizations. Upon completion of the Star Academy Program, students are encouraged to enroll in career center courses that focus on students interests. Star Academy students are encouraged to be involved in the community by volunteering and making donations to organizations that help people in need which promotes community service.
Twilight School
The primary and overriding mission of the GCS Twilight School Program is to offer our students a unique learning opportunity, with the support of their home-schools, that best meets their needs in earning core English and math credits towards a high school diploma. We accomplish this goal by providing safe and interactive learning environments where highly dedicated teachers provide progressive and flexible instruction that not only meets state standards but more fully develops the social skills and independent thinking that help our students become functional contributors to the community and society at large.
