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Charles Townes Center Program
Charles Townes Center Program
Program Model
Program Model
The Charles Townes Center is a special program within Sterling School that is designed to meet the needs of students who demonstrate exceptional giftedness in aptitude, achievement, and performance. The program serves qualifying students in Grades 3-8 via a special class model. Special classes in the core subjects, as well as in the related arts, are designed to accelerate, extend, and enrich student experiences in the classroom. This model of gifted instruction is supported by the SC Department of Education.
More information about the CTC program is located on the Sterling School Website or you can contact the Charles Townes Center program coordinator, Deborah Foulkes, at 864.355.4477 .
Student Qualification Criteria and Timeline
Student Qualification Criteria and Timeline
Gifted and talented educational programs in South Carolina are established by SC Regulation R43-220 and regulated by the SC Department of Education (SDE). The qualification criteria for the Charles Townes Center program mirrors the state's identification process, but it is more rigorous. For more information regarding the qualification process, please see the Charles Townes Center Qualification Criteria and Timeline.
Note: CTC qualification criteria was revised in January 2025 to offer greater opportunity for students who score in the 96-99% range in aptitude and achievement to be invited to the CTC. The qualification criteria and timeline document was also reformatted to simplify and clarify the steps in the qualification process.
Non-GCS Students - Aptitude Assessment Opportunity
All SC public and public charter schools evaluate their students for Gifted and Talented identification per state department guidelines.
Non-GCS students who 1) reside in Greenville County Schools’ attendance zone and 2) are served in an educational setting that does not offer aptitude testing may register to take the CogAT aptitude assessment with Greenville County Schools. The CogAT is offered at Sterling School each October on the scheduled GCS teacher workday. Registration for this special assessment is required and opens in September of each year. Registration is Closed / October 13, 2025 Session has reached capacity.
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