Accelerate Application Components
All applications must be submitted online. If you have difficulties or questions during the application process, please contact us at admissions@governors.school.
Open: October 2, 2023
Close: February 24, 2024
Math Admissions Test (Virtual): Monday, March 18, 2024
Decisions Released: Monday, April 15, 2024*
Decisions Response Deadline: Friday, April 9, 2024*
*All dates are subject to change
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 more information on our test optional policy, please visit our test optional page.
- 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).
- Math Admissions Test (Virtual): TBD
- Admissions Requirements
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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, @gssm.k12.sc.us, 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.
- Charter
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- Bridges Preparatory School
- Coastal Leadership Academy
- Green Upstate High School
- Horse Creek Academy
- High School for Health Professions
- Chesterfield
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- Central High School
- Cheraw High School
- Chesterfield High School
- McBee High School
- Darlington
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- Mayo High School for Math, Science & Technology
- Dorchester 4
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- Woodland High School
- Greenville
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- J.L. Mann High School
- Horry
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- Aynor High School
- Carolina Forest High School
- Conway High School
- Green Sea Floyds High School
- Loris High School
- Myrtle Beach High School
- North Myrtle Beach High School
- Socastee High School
- St. James High School
- Kershaw
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- Camden High School
- Lugoff-Elgin High School
- North Central High School
- Orangeburg
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- Bethune-Bowman High School
- Branchville High School
- Edisto High School
- Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High School
- Lake Marion High School
- North High School
- Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School
- Pickens
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- D.W. Daniel High School
- Easley High School
- Liberty High School
- Pickens High School
- Williamsburg
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- Kingstree High School
- York 3/Rock Hill
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- South Pointe High School
Accelerate Math Assessment
Accelerate applicants will take part in a Math Assessment test as part of the application review process. The assessment will take approximately 45 mins with 30 questions that do not allow for use of a calculator or any electronic device. The questions are designed to measure a student’s understanding of Algebra I and Algebra II*. This is required for invited applicants only. This test is used only for admissions purposes. For students who are admitted to the school, another assessment will be given to determine final math placement.
*Scoring will take into consideration a student’s status for having completed or currently being enrolled in Algebra II.
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.
Learn about the Dual Enrollment Program with partnered school districts, the application process, and more! Info sessions are approximately 30-45 minutes.
Information Sessions Information
Dates will be added as sessions are scheduled.
Nondiscrimination Statement
The South Carolina Governor's School for Science & 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 South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics, 401 Railroad Ave, Hartsville, SC 29550. 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.