Accelerate Application Components
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Accelerate Program Application Dates*
Open: October 1, 2024
Close: February 24, 2025, Applications will only be accepted after this date on a space-available basis
Math Assessment Test (Virtual): Week of March 10, 2025, by Invitation Only
Decisions Released: Monday, March 24, 2025
Decision Response Deadline: Friday, March 28, 2025
*Dates are subject to change. Please keep checking the website and stay in touch with your admissions team.
A team member of the Office of Admissions will be in contact with you.
Prior to submitting an application, students must collect, prepare, and compile certain documents. These documents include the following:
- Proof of South Carolina residency
- Acknowledgements and Permissions Form signed by the applicant and his or her parent(s)
- Standardized Test Optional: Official standardized test scores are optional for applicants to the Accelerate Program.
- High-school transcript with first-semester grades and a list of second-semester courses
- School counselor evaluation
- Math teacher evaluation
- Science teacher evaluation
- English teacher evaluation
- Short Answer Essay- tell us about your passions and/or accomplishments.
- After Application Submission: Admissions will review all completed applications and invite qualified Accelerate Engineering applicants to take part in the Math Admissions Test (virtually via Zoom).
- Admissions Requirements for current 9th grade students
To be eligible for admission to Accelerate, students must:
- Be a current resident of the state of South Carolina. Proof of residency is required at the time of applying.
- Be enrolled in the 9th grade at the time of application.
- Attend high school in one of our partner districts or at one of the program’s partner schools. See the Partner Schools section below for more details.
- Have completed Algebra I prior to the beginning of 9th grade.
- Have completed or be on track to complete Algebra II or Geometry by the end of 9th grade.
- Have a working email address, which they (or their parents) check frequently.*
*Because Accelerate primarily communicates with applicants via email, students must have an email address. We strongly recommend that you supply us with at least two email addresses, one for the student and a different one for the parent, so that we may contact you in a timely fashion. Please do not use a student’s school or district email address; these email providers often block emails from outside the school or district. Free email providers, such as Gmail or Yahoo, are good alternatives. Emails from GSSM will come from @governors.school or @scgssm.org.
- Admissions Requirements for current 10th grade students (Pilot for Fall 2025)
To be eligible for admission to Accelerate as a 10th grader in the pilot program for fall 2025, students must:
- Be a current resident of the state of South Carolina. Proof of residency is required at the time of applying.
- Be enrolled in the 10th grade at the time of application.
- Attend high school in one of our partner districts or at one of the program’s partner schools. See the Partner Schools section below for more details.
- Have completed Pre-Calculus (honors) and Chemistry (honors) with a grade of 90 or above by end of 10th grade.
- Complete a math and chemistry assessment provided by GSSM.
- Complete a non credit Introduction to Engineering Course or scheduled to complete a similar course prior to joining the program.
- Have a working email address, which they (or their parents) check frequently.*
*Because Accelerate primarily communicates with applicants via email, students must have an email address. We strongly recommend that you supply us with at least two email addresses, one for the student and a different one for the parent, so that we may contact you in a timely fashion. Please do not use a student’s school or district email address; these email providers often block emails from outside the school or district. Free email providers, such as Gmail or Yahoo, are good alternatives. Emails from GSSM will come from @governors.school or @scgssm.org.
Partner Schools
At this time, Accelerate is only open to students at the following schools. Please note: this list is subject to change. The number of students and sites will expand annually.
Schools are organized by district.
Accelerate Math Assessment
Accelerate applicants will take part in a Math Admissions test as part of the application review process. The virtual math assessment will be provided in the evening, by invitation, during the week of March 10, 2025. The questions are designed to measure a student’s understanding of Algebra I.
Info Sessions & Enrollment Counseling
Curious to know what Dual Enrollment Program can do for you? Attend an informational session hosted by your school administrators, counselors and GSSM staff.
Students attending partner schools should contact their school counseling office for dates and times of information sessions, or contact Ms. Kristal Martinez, Accelerate Coordinator, at kmartinez@governors.school for more information. Sessions are approximately 30-45 minutes.
Nondiscrimination Statement
The South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, or disability in admission to, treatment in, or employment in its programs and activities. Inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies should be made to Elizabeth Oswald-Sease, VP for Finance & Operations, email eoswaldsease@governors.school and phone 803.402.7556, Governor's School for Science and Mathematics, 401 Railroad Avenue, Hartsville, SC 29550, 843-383-3900 ext. 4040. For further information on federal nondiscrimination regulations, including Title IX, contact the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at ocr.dc@ed.gov or call 800-421-3481.