Orange Grove Charter School is helping all students develop world-class skills that align with the Profile of the SC Graduate. The autonomy allowed with our charter status provides a rigorous and data-driven instructional program focusing on standards and achievement. We are a National Blue Ribbon and Palmetto’s Finest School, serving the students of Charleston for 61 years, first as a traditional public elementary school and for the last 18 years, as a conversion charter school. Becoming a public charter school has allowed us to be fiscally conservative, allowing us the ability to offer small class sizes, Spanish instruction, high school course offerings, academic specialists at each grade level, independently owned bus transportation, and the latest technology throughout our buildings.
Becoming a charter school has also allowed us the autonomy to make curriculum and financial decisions that directly benefit our students and enhance their success while closing the achievement gap. Orange Grove has built upon its success with the addition of a middle school on a separate campus, beginning with a 6th-grade program in August 2015. Growing by one grade level each year, we are now in our eighth year of grades Child Development (CD) through 8th. Our students have the opportunity to earn up to four high school credits while in middle school, with 60% or more of our students taking advanced math courses.
On both the state standardized and the nationally normed MAP/i-Ready tests, our students consistently surpass grade level means, with many students scoring a full grade level above their peers nationwide. 50% of our 3rd through 8th graders have been identified as academically gifted and talented. Nearly 75% of our teachers have advanced degrees with 6 earning National Board Certification. We are proud to be recognized as performing in the top 2% of all elementary schools in South Carolina.
We have over 20 active business partners and a PTO that cannot be matched. The PTO sponsors an annual Artist-in-Residence program that gives our students hands-on instruction in the visual and performing arts. Extracurricular activities available to the students include National Honor Society, Beta Club, Student Council, Robotics Club, boys and girls mentoring and leadership clubs, Girls on the Run, Recycling Club, National History Day, WTMN News Show, Chorus, Steel Drums, FCA, Surfing, Studio Art, and Musical Theater. For our athletes, we offer basketball, tennis, golf, co-ed soccer, volleyball, baseball, softball, and cross-country. Families enjoy participating in our Fun Run, Spring Fling, Family Bingo Night, Silent Auction, and Giving Market.
The Orange Grove community is truly something special. Throughout the year, our families collaboratively work to collect canned food items for local charities and pet food supplies for local animal shelters. Most rewarding is the fact that our students are part of the delivery of goods to these organizations. Our school also sponsors its own Backpack Buddies program for families in need. This program is independently sponsored by families within our school and by our business partners. Each week, students who are part of this program pick up a backpack of food to have during the weekend and long holiday breaks. We have found this program to be an effective way to directly support our families.
Orange Grove Charter School is a place that develops confident, caring, responsible, lifelong learners in a supportive environment that emphasizes creative and critical thinking skills while respecting individual differences.
John H. Clendaniel, CEO, Orange Grove Charter School
Justin Welch, Chair, OGCS Board of Directors
