Program Overview

Septima P. Clark Academy is a full-service academic acceleration alternative program. The students who attend SPCA apply by application.  Candidates of interest are interviewed by our faculty and staff to determine if the Clark Program is an excellent fit for the student and their family. Our target population are overage and under-credited, students who want to accelerate the graduation process.  Our small classroom sizes are a unique element of our program.  In addition, we are a cell phone free teaching and learning environment.  We support up to 150 students from across CCSD.  Our enrollment is inclusive of 8.5 students through 12th grade students. Students are provided courses needed to graduate on a 4x4 schedule with additional learning opportunities through Edgenuity and SC Virtual School from highly qualified teachers. 

Statement of Need

CCSD is the second largest school system in South Carolina.  It represents a unique blend of urban, suburban, and rural school that span 1,000 square miles.  CCSD serves over 48,000 students with a dropout rate of 3.2%.  This is approximately 1,500 students annually.  It has a poverty rate of 53.2%.  It has a graduation rate of 85.6% and a five-year graduation rate of 84.3%.

Septima P. Clark Academy Goals

Goal One:

In alignment with the district’s mission for all CCSD students, our first goal is to increase the number of overage students who successfully complete high school by the end of the 5^th year of high school.

Goal Two:

In alignment with the district’s mission for all CCSD students, our second goal is to increase the number of students that graduate from CCSD with a

high school diploma.

Goal Three:

In alignment with the district’s mission for all CCSD students, our third goal is to decrease the number of possible dropouts by helping over-aged 8^th graders obtain credits while in middle school.