About Us

Howard Alternative

On January 1, 1866, local prominent Black leaders and builders—including Edward L. Rainey, father of the famous Congressman Joseph Rainey—purchased land to establish the Georgetown Colored Academy. By 1908, the original building was replaced by a new structure, and the school was officially renamed Howard in honor of Civil War Union General Oliver Otis Howard, founder of Howard University. As enrollment expanded through the segregation era, the elementary division relocated to a new campus on Kaminski Street in 1938, followed by the high school in 1949. For generations, Howard served as a vital cultural anchor and community hub in Georgetown's West End. The historic Kaminski Street facilities and legacy evolved over time within the Georgetown County School District to house the Howard Optional Education Center. The first floor of the building houses the adult education program, and the second floor serves as a public alternative/optional school serving students in grades 6 through 12.

Dr. Briael Chadwell, Program Coordinator

I believe true leadership is not defined by position, recognition, or authority, but by the willingness to support others and create opportunities for them to succeed. I want students to believe that their ideas matter and that they possess the ability to influence their own learning and their communities. Empowerment requires giving students meaningful choices, opportunities to lead, and the confidence to take intellectual risks. Rather than simply providing students with knowledge, I seek to equip them with the skills and agency to find, evaluate, apply, and create knowledge for themselves.