Did you know there are three Governor’s Schools in South Carolina? These institutions focus on arts and humanities, science and mathematics, and agriculture.
The Governor’s Schools are “state-funded, public, residential high schools” that provide an immersive learning experience for high school-aged students. These schools are like college in that students’ programs are individualized – like a college major – and juniors + seniors, and some exceptional sophomores, can live on campus.
Here’s a look at our state’s Governor’s Schools:
The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities (GSAH)
📍 Greenville, SC
This arts + humanities high school located in Greenville provides an arts-centered experience where students have the opportunity to pursue all of their artistic interests and passions. They offer five programs: creative writing, dance, drama, music, and visual arts. There are also a number of summer programs.
The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM)
📍 Hartsville, SC
This school pushes young students to go above and beyond their perceived academic abilities. Some of GSSM’s courses include – Intro to Artificial Intelligence, Topics in Science Fiction: Star Trek, and Vertebrate Biology. They offer residential courses and virtual distance learning as well.
The South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture at John de la Howe (JDLH)
📍 McCormick, SC
Created just last year, this is the newest addition to our state’s Governor’s Schools. JLDH welcomes those wanting to receive hands-on training in agribusiness, forestry, land management, agriculture, food science, and more. Their programs are designed to help students learn how to properly assess the needs for modern farms + agriculture.
Notable Alumni
🎬 Teyonah Parris | A graduate of the School for the Arts and Humanities. She is an actress + producer. You can see her in Dear White People, Chi-Raq, If Beale Street Could Talk, and, most recently, starring as Monica Rambeau in the new Marvel series on Disney+, WandaVision.
🎭 Patina Miller | Patina Miller made her feature film debut in 2014 as Commander Paylor in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay. She is also a Tony Award winning Broadway actress.
💻 Wilson White | Wilson graduated from GSSM in 1999 and is currently the Director of Public Policy and Government Relations at Google. In this role, he manages the company’s global strategy, campaigns, and advocacy initiatives on artificial intelligence.
⚖️ The Honorable Shiva Hodges | After graduating from GSSM in 1991, Shiva went onto law school and was one of the youngest federal judges in the United States when appointed to the bench in 2010.
💻 Rachel Inman | Rachel Inman graduated from the visual arts program in 2007. She is part of the UX lead design team for Google Maps. She was named as one of the 10 Trail-Blazing Women in Design list by Creative Bloq in 2018.
🎥 Danielle Brooks | After attending the Governor’s School, Brooks graduated from The Juilliard School. You probably know her from her role as Taystee in Netflix’s Orange is the New Black.
✏️ Malia Griggs | Malia is a commerce editor at SELF and was previously at The Daily Beast, Comedy Central + Cosmopolitan.
💃🏾 Marija Abney | Marija Abney graduated from the GSAH dance program in 2003. She’s had a number of roles, but you’ve most likely seen her in Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War as a member of Wakanda’s all-female military.
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