South Carolina – Palmetto Goodwill and the Palmetto Excel Center are excited to share that by autumn 2025, South Carolina will welcome two new charter high schools for adults. The decision came last month when the board that oversees public charter schools in South Carolina gave their unanimous thumbs-up for these schools to be set up in Sumter and Spartanburg.
These upcoming Palmetto Excel high schools are stepping stones for locals in Sumter and Spartanburg who are 21 years old or more, offering them a chance to quickly get their high school diploma and certificates for different jobs. With these new additions, the total count of Palmetto Excel schools will hit three, adding to the one in North Charleston that started in August 2023 and welcomed 150 students.
Brian Itzkowitz, the head of Palmetto Goodwill, shared that the Palmetto Excel Centers are pioneering a unique approach in the state.
“This model is the first of its kind in the state. We are removing some common barriers to education many adults are facing by offering drop-in childcare, transportation assistance, academic coaching, college credits, career readiness services, and industry-recognized workforce certifications at no cost to the students,” Itzkowitz said.
The North Charleston Palmetto Excel school has seen a huge interest with over 2,000 applications this year and expects to double its student count to 300 in its next year, making its home on the campus of Trident Technical College.
“We’ve already seen the impact of Palmetto Excel on students in the Charleston area, where our first graduates are now pursuing college degrees and new career options,” said Lee Deas, Board Chair of Palmetto Excel. “We can’t wait to do this same life-changing work throughout the state, and are excited to engage the Spartanburg and Sumter communities in the creation of Excel schools that reflect their needs.”
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For more information about The Palmetto Excel Center, please visit palmettoexcel.org.
