GCS Early College Program Debuts in August
Greenville County Schools will launch the Greenville Early College Program this year to meet the educational needs of about 40 rising sixth graders in a personalized learning environment that provides the skills and tools to assist them toward becoming the first in their families to attend college.
Rising sixth graders, who were slated for Tanglewood and Berea Middle schools, were invited to participate in the program based on the following: 1) scoring between the 20th and 40th percentile on state assessments and 2) eligibility for free or reduced price meals.
For the inaugural sixth grade class, students will focus on literacy, mathematics, and critical thinking skills. The Early College Program will expand by a grade each year until serving sixth through twelfth graders. Once in high school, students will have the opportunity to enroll in dual credit classes to earn college credit.
The Greenville Early College Program will be housed at the University Center of Greenville on Pleasantburg Drive. Transportation will be provided for students. They will also have access to an after-school tutoring program led by University instructors for assistance in reading, math, and enrichment activities.
Greenville Early College is a partnership between Greenville County Schools, Clemson University, Furman University, and USC Upstate to introduce and provide college experiences, academic assistance, and acceleration for participants. During the school year, students will experience the “College Connection” where each semester they will visit college campuses and engage in enrichment and academic activities.
The Greenville Early College Program has received significant support and investment from partners including Michelin North America, The Community Foundation of Greenville, The Hollingsworth Foundation, the Jolley Foundation, and the Symmes Foundation.