school choice in horry county
If you want to educate your child in a nonconventional way, Horry County is a good place to be. Ten percent of us are currently choosing something other than the public schools and it seems like our options are growing every day. There are far more programs than I could explore in this article, but I’ve tried to give a broad overview of school choice in Horry County (outside the public education system).
NOTE FROM AMANDA: I’m working on a guide/directory of all the available public school alternatives so enjoy Jessica’s overview for now. Will follow up with a list of options soon!
pods – what is a pod?!
During the early months of 2020, we saw a burst of creativity around “school”. The “pod” emerged in California and was quickly reproduced throughout the country. Friends got together in their living rooms, ordered a few textbooks online, and a DIY school was born. Some of the pod members discovered that they loved teaching at home, and their kids were thriving. When school reopened, many chose not to return and the number of homeschoolers grew exponentially.
Most pods are very small – just a couple of families. They meet in someone’s home, usually working under the guidance of a single parent-teacher (when I use the word teacher I mean one who teaches, not someone with a particular license). A pod can be academic in nature, or have a particular theme.
STUDIO 43*19 | One of the popular pods operating in Horry County, the Creative Pod Squad at Studio 43*19, is an art-centric pod that offers a wide range of programming. The art studio is located on the South end of Myrtle Beach.
micro-schools
A micro-school is bigger than a pod but similar in spirit. Generally fewer than 150 students, led by one “principal” or “director”, with students broken down into smaller groups or classes, each led by a teacher. A “co-op” is a homeschooler’s take on a micro-school, where families “cooperate” with each other to educate their kids. Sometimes they all chip in to pay a parent/teacher. Sometimes there is no cost and the parents take turns teaching.
The program that I created, CAROLINA KIDS CO-OP is a cooperative micro school; we have over 100 students with a large age range (3–16). Parents pay a flat fee and do not have to volunteer in any way– however, they do have to stay on the premises and cooperate in that sense. We are a secular, outdoor, academic “school” and we meet 4 days a week.
RELIGIOUS & SECULAR CO-OPS
Religious or secular is a way to further categorize our co-op options. Ekklesia Christian Church, a non-denominational church run by Pastor Matt Williams, operates a drop-off homeschool pod two days pwe week in their church on 501 in Conway. They describe their offerings as “biblical worldview academics.”
Another Christian co-op, Pathways for Scholars, meets once a week in South Myrtle Beach. Pathways is associated with a larger organization, Vines and Branches, a religious Christian ministry.
unschooling + legality
“Unschooling” is not a method of schooling itself, but rather a way of seeing the education of the child as a byproduct of living life. With unschooling, children are encouraged to do what they’re interested in and trust that knowledge will inevitably come. If you want to unschool in South Carolina, you still need to join one of our legal homeschool associations. My co-op, Carolina Kids, is one of 47 option 3 accountability associations in the state. When choosing an option 3 group, you can check this list to be sure that they are an established legal association.
The Open School is an interesting virtual program, meeting the needs of many Unschoolers by providing them with legal accountability. Instead of classes, students join in on virtual games, art projects, discussions, and watch parties. This all comes at a sliding scale cost of between $5,000–22,000 annually, depending on income.
VIRTUAL SCHOOLS
Virtual schools, available as religious, secular, private, or public, have been a blessing to families that are less mobile due to disability, work schedule, finance, or transportation. South Carolina Virtual Charter School is one of several free public virtual schools for grades K–12. Graduates receive a SC high school diploma issues by the Board of Education. Classes happen live in real time and there are honors classes for middle and high schoolers. Virtual schools often have flexible scheduling which makes it possible to also attend a homeschool co-op or other in-person activity.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
In Horry County, we have 16 private schools – 13 of which are Christian. The remaining 3 are a mix of secular and Jewish. The primary difference between a public and private school is financial. Public schools are funded by the government and free to families. South Carolina spends about $11,000 per year on each public school student. Private schools are funded by families who pay tuition. The average cost of a private school in Horry County is $7,000 per year.
St Andrew Catholic School is consistently rated one of the best private schools in the county. Located on Highway 17 in Myrtle Beach, St Andrew’s offers K through 8th grade for about $8,000 per year.
Conway Christian School is another popular choice for private Christian education. Attendance at Conway Christian spans pre-k to 12th grade, with almost all of their graduates attending college. The tuition is also about $8,000 per year.
If you’re looking for secular private schools, Lowcountry Preparatory, located in Pawleys Island, is a definite favorite. A lack of diversity and a hefty price tag of around $12,000 per year are the most commonly mentioned negatives.
charter schools
I include charter schools in this discussion even though they are public schools. A charter school is mostly government-funded, secular, and public, but operates like a private school. Charter schools have way more freedom in how they manage academics, finances, schedules, and staffing. They often have a specific unique focus such as dance or STEM. If you really want to think outside the box, Palm Charter High School may be for you! This public charter vocational high school covers the basic academic requirements while training students for a career in motorsports!
SUMMARY
School choice has unfortunately become a political talking point, but school choice on its face is exactly what we need. Every child deserves an education that not only meets but exceeds their needs. Children are not all the same. Children do not all learn the same way. It seems overwhelmingly obvious to me that it is our duty to create options.
Come back next time as I walk you through the ins and outs of homeschooling!
