OUR School Story
Background and History
August 2011 – Research began into the possibility of forming Public Charter School to serve the St. Paul’s Parish community and surrounding areas. Community members met with other charter schools in the area to learn more.
November 2011 – Expanded knowledge base by attending the SC Public Charter School Alliance Fall Conference.
December 2011 – A group of 10 parents, grandparents, and community members meet to select a name and a Mission and Vision for a new Public Charter School.
January 31, 2012 – Planning Committee officially submits a Letter of Intent to the SC Public Charter School District.
February 1 –April 30, 2012 – Planning Committee Completes SDE application to form Lowcountry Leadership Charter School.
April 2012- LLCS Groundbreaking Ceremony
May 1, 2012 – Application is submitted.
June 25, 2012 – Application approved by SDE for an August 2013 opening.
Ground Breaking
In April 2012, The LLCS Planning Committee and Founding Board celebrated the official Groundbreaking Ceremony of our campus at 5139 Gibson Road.
School Development
Founding School Leader, Mache Larkin and Current LLCS School Leader, Julianne Lang during pre-opening construction at LLCS in Spring of 2013.
Ribbon Cutting
The LLCS Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held in Fall of 2013 to celebrate the official opening of the Lowcountry Leadership Charter School Campus, the NaviGators were able to go to their new home!
construction delays
August 28, 2013 Headline
New Lowcountry Leadership Charter School is temporarily homeless because rainy weather delayed new building construction.
Hollywood — "Construction on a new charter school’s building won’t be finished by its opening day next week, and school officials are scrambling to find a temporary home for more than 400 students."- Post and Courier
solutions and success
Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church becomes the first "Home of the NaviGators." First, opening their doors to our school for extended summer camps while LLCS sought out other school rental options due to construction delays, then being approved for our first official days of school before temporarily moving into R.D. Schroeder Middle School. Classes were taught in every area of the church, including lunches and recess on the lawns, and many outdoor classrooms! To meet the requirements for Fire Code, volunteers walked around the building during school hours, with the role of "Sniffers," monitoring the halls around the clock "sniffing" for fire! Our volunteers and community did anything and everything to ensure the success of LLCS.
PERSEVERING THROUGH ADVERSITY- YEAR 1 EVENTS
OUR MASCOT: NAVI THE GATOR
Our very own Navi the Gator was created in 2012 as the official mascot of Lowcountry Leadership Charter School.
nav.i.gator- noun
plural navigators-a large, unique reptile most resembling an alligator, indigenous to Meggett, SC, best known for its kind, yet determined demeanor and its propensity to provide direction to all other wildlife with whom it comes in contact.
Nav.i.Gator- Proper Noun
plural NaviGators- any one of hundreds of proud students of Lowcountry Leadership Charter School who possess the passion to learn, the desire to help others, and the willingness to lead!
FULFILLING THE MISSION OF LLCS
THE MISSION OF LOWCOUNTRY LEADERSHIP CHARTER SCHOOL IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE, EXCEPTIONAL ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT THAT CULTIVATES INDEPENDENT LEARNING, CHARACTER ENRICHMENT, AND REGIONAL AWARENESS WHILE DEVELOPING ACCOUNTABLE LEADERS, COMMUNITY STEWARDS, AND DIVERSE THINKERS THROUGH PROJECT-BASED EXPERIENCES.
Joining the Institute
On July 01, 2020, Lowcountry Leadership Charter School transferred Sponsors to the Charter Institute at Erskine. With our new home, LLCS has seen continued growth and success with academic programs, planning, and student achievement successes! #ProudtobeCIE
The mission of the Charter Institute at Erskine is to authorize high-quality charter schools that elevate educational opportunities through innovation and creativity. Check out more information on the Charter Institute at www.erskinecharters.com.