Provost Academy South Carolina Personalized Public Online High School

Provost Academy South Carolina is the state's newest online school, which is free to S.C. high school students as a fully accredited and state-funded charter school. PASC is designed to help students succeed in today's technological age by utilizing the latest advancements such as streaming video, podcasts, virtual classrooms, specialized coursework and on-demand tutoring to provide students a complete and tech-savvy education.

We have reached a point, with dropout rates near 70 percent, where we can no longer allow students in South Carolina to fail. We must ensure that they have the opportunity to obtain a diploma and pursue a future based on choice, not limitations. By offering students another educational avenue, we increase their chances to succeed and pursue opportunities that may not have been available to them otherwise.

Provost Academy's mission is to offer a first-class education to all high school students in South Carolina. By using the latest technologies, customized curriculum and a focus on science and mathematics, we offer a gateway to overall student success. Provost Academy individualizes the learning experience for its students and prepares them for the next level, whether the 21st-century workforce or higher education.

PASC helps students succeed by making sure they are supported by a team of certified and specialized instructors as well as academic advisors who work with the students to ensure they are setting goals, meeting performance expectations and staying on their individualized tracks.

Prior to the first day of classes, Provost students take an assessment test, and the students, along with their parents/guardians, can meet with academic advisers to help create a customized learning plan that that best fits each student's needs and interests.

After the enrollment process is complete, Provost will supply students with a computer, printer/scanner and an Internet stipend, free of charge, that will allow them to attend classes online and at a location and time that works with their schedule. Students, parents and guardians can easily arrange a face-to-face meeting with their advisors, who will work to ensure that the student's learning process is progressing smoothly.

As a state-funded school, PASC has core classes that each student must complete. The academy also offers advanced curricula, such as technology, art and foreign language classes. Grading scales at Provost follow those of other public schools, with the school year starting and ending on a similar schedule, but flexible to accommodate individual needs. After students have completed their four years at PASC, they will be able to participate in a graduation ceremony held by PASC and will receive a high school diploma that is the same as they would receive from a brick-and-mortar school.

Students and parents interested in learning more or applying to Provost Academy South Carolina can log on at http://www.sc.provostacademy.com or call 1-877-265-3195. An enrollment quota/cap of 1,000 is currently in place with more than 800 students already enrolled. Along with South Carolina, there are 38 other states that currently offer online courses for high school students.

Each and every opportunity to provide students with the most engaging educational experience must be pursued. Whether in a traditional classroom or an online setting, if we expect our students to succeed, we cannot fail them.

New state-funded online high school looks to the future