Greenville County School Closure: Impact and Transition Plans

Greenville, S.C. – Greenville County School Closure Announced

A notable change is coming to the Greenville County educational landscape as the Greenville Early College is set to close at the end of the current school year. This decision has been made by the Greenville County Schools due to a steady decline in student enrollment over the past few years.

Key Reasons Behind the Closure

The school, which opened in 2015, was designed to support students who are the first in their families to attend college. However, there are currently only 107 students enrolled, prompting the district to take action. A parent, Shenetta Brewster, expressed her concerns by asking, “Why are we losing this school?” Many parents, including Brewster, feel that they have not had enough input in these significant decisions. Another parent noted that the educational support her child received for learning disabilities might not be available at the public schools.

Plans for Transitioning Programs

Despite the closure, district officials assure families that the programs previously offered at Greenville Early College will continue. A spokesperson, Tim Waller, emphasized that they will relocate these programs to Berea High, Southside High, and Carolina High starting next school year. Students will still benefit from small class sizes, college exposure through field trips, a dedicated counselor, and a summer bridge program at Furman University.

Additionally, Waller stated that while students will continue with the same courses, they will have access to more opportunities, including related arts, athletics, and after-school clubs which were previously unavailable.

Concerns from Parents

Despite the assurances from the district, parents like Brewster worry their children may be underserved in larger public school settings. “We don’t have to worry about them being bullied, and we don’t have to worry about them not understanding something,” she mentioned, highlighting the close-knit environment of the current school.

Future Outlook

Greenville Early College will officially close its doors at the end of this school year, with discussions regarding its closure taking place over the past few years. Parents encourage the district to engage families more in future decisions affecting their children’s education.