Brashier Middle College Charter High School

Physical Address:                        Phone:
1830 West Georgia Road               (864) 757-1800
Simpsonville, SC 29680
                                                    Fax:
Mailing Address:                         (864) 757-1850
P.O. Box 5616
Mail Stop: 2012                             E-mail:
Greenville, SC 29606                     info@brashiermiddlecollege.org

Introduction

Opened in the fall of 2006 with a freshman class of 100 students, Brashier Middle College Charter High School provides a public school alternative to Greenville County students. BMCCHS focuses on a curriculum that is competency-based, using project-based learning that integrates academic and technical competencies for real-world applications. A class of 100 sophomores will be added in the Fall of 2007, followed by a junior class in 2008.

 

Charter School Definition

A charter school is a public school and part of the local school district. The South Carolina Charter Schools Act of 1996 was enacted to:  

• Improve student learning;
• Increase learning opportunities for students;
• Encourage the use of a variety of productive teaching methods, and
• Assist South Carolina in reaching academic excellence.

2008 SC Charter School Law

History

Three years ago, Dr. Tom Barton decided to replicate the successful Greenville Tech Charter High School with a similar school on the Brashier campus. Another charter school was needed because GTCHS had a waiting list for student applicants. A study group met for the first time on October 11, 2004. A small writing committee submitted a Planning and Implementation Grant in January 2005. The committee received the grant of $420,000 -- $20,000 for planning, $200,000 for the first year the charter school opens and another $200,000 in year two. The committee then submitted a lengthy charter application, which was approved by the State Department of Education and unanimously by the Board of Trustees for the Greenville County School District in June 2005.   

In February 2006, the Planning Committee was informed that the space on Brashier campus would no longer be available to Brashier Middle College Charter High School because the School District asked that their Middle College (partnership between Greenville School District and Greenville Tech) be located on this site.  The Planning Committee, with an approved charter for a school in hand, moved forward to open the school at another location. The school name continues to be Brashier Middle College Charter High because it is incorporated under that name.

In March 2006, representatives of the Planning Committee located an available site: Allen Temple Community Development Center, 404 Vardry St. The school’s attorney negotiated an acceptable one-year renewal lease. The school opened in August 2006 with 100 freshmen and will add a new class each year, with a maximum of 400 students.   Dr. Barton has assured the Planning Committee that Brashier Middle College Charter High School will have the same resources, benefits, and privileges enjoyed by Greenville Tech Charter High School.  

In April 2006, the Planning Committee held a press conference to announce the opening of the downtown school, began the search for a principal, held an Open House, and began taking applications for attendance. Students who would be interested in Brashier Middle College Charter High School are those who want a small learning community with individualized learning plans. Students can begin taking classes at Greenville Tech as early as tenth grade (with special permission) in preparation for a certificate or associate degree.    

The Planning Committee has petitioned to amend its charter to reflect the relocation of the high school from the Brashier Campus to the Allen Temple CDC.  The amendment was requested by the Greenville County School District.  This amendment was approved. The school moved to its permanent site at the Brashier Campus of Greenville Technical College during July 2007.

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Our Mission

The mission of the Brashier Middle College Charter High School is to provide a rigorous and relevant academic program to ensure that students will develop the essential knowledge and personal skills to be successful in the global community of the 21st century. Brashier Middle College Charter High School will offer a curriculum that is competency-based, using project-based learning that integrates academic and technical competencies for real-world applications. All students will receive a rigorous, integrated, and learner centered curriculum, use technology to acquire, organize, and communicate information to solve problems, and have the opportunity to take dual credit and college classes in their chosen field, leading to an associate degree. Our students will benefit from volunteering, shadowing, and participating in internships, co-ops, and paid summer work opportunities with our community and business partners.