Residential Admissions

PLEASE NOTE: All accepted, enrolled, and wait-listed applicants must send their final report cards to GSSM as soon as possible.

For questions, please contact Ashley Koontz, Enrollment Coordinator: akoontz@gssm.k12.sc.us

Applications for GSSM's 2-Year Residential Program are accepted for the student's Junior Year only.

GSSM does not have minimum GPA or standardized test scores for admission. However, competitive applicants have typically exceeded the minimum academic coursework required and have earned excellent grades.

Admissions Requirements

• Currently enrolled in 10th grade at the time of submitting an application to the Residential Program. Students in the 9th grade who meet all application requirements are welcome to apply but we take emotional and mental maturity into consideration as the Residential program is comprised of juniors and seniors.
• Current resident of the state of South Carolina
• Complete a minimum of 10.5 credits prior to the end of the school year of which you apply, including:
• 7-8 total hours of coursework in the following areas
  • 6 credit hours in the following core courses:
    • Algebra 1
    • Algebra 2
    • Geometry
    • English 1
    • English 2
    • One lab science course (Biology, Chemistry, or Physics)
  • 1-2 credit hours in one of the following areas:
    • One year of a foreign language 
    • Social studies course
• 2.5-3.5 additional credit hours in the following areas:
  • Any elective course
  • One or two years of the same foreign language
  • Fine arts
  • Computer science (including keyboarding)
  • Social studies course
  • Second lab science
  • Health
  • Physical education/JROTC
  • US history
  • Economics
  • US government
• Demonstrate emotional and mental maturity

Application Checklist

1. Online application 
2. Essay Questions - 3 mandatory and 1 optional (on application check list the “optional essay” will not show as complete until after the application deadline if you choose not to submit the optional essay).
3. Signature sheet
4. Optional parent statement 
5. English, Science, and Math teacher evaluations
6. School counselor evaluation
7. Official high school transcript including first semester grades, list of second semester courses and class rank. Transcripts must contain all hours/credits and grades to be considered for admissions.
8. Standardized Test Optional: Due to the unprecedented challenges presented by COVID-19 official PSAT, Pre-ACT, SAT or ACT scores taken since January 2020 are optional. For more information on our test optional policy, please visit our test optional page. 
9. Required Supplemental Material: Student Strength of Character Video - students will create a 3-7min video with a catchy title explaining how they possess and display 3 of 5 characteristic indicative of a Govie. Students must speak on any 3 of 5 characteristics:  service oriented, intellectually curious, passionate, creativity, or adaptability/versatility. Finished videos will be submitted by providing a weblink to the video in the online application portal in “Required Supplemental Material” section of the application portal. Further details, scoring rubric, and instructions can be found here.

10. Golden Opportunity Days (2 day event) (Interview & Math Admissions Test):Admissions will review applications and invite qualified residential applicants to take part in Interviews and the Math Admissions Test that will occur virtually via Zoom as part of the application process during “Golden Opportunity Days"  The interviews will be an opportunity for us to get to know you and for you to get to know more about us.  The GSSM Math Admissions Test is 45 minutes long with approximately 30 questions that does not allow for the use of a calculator. The questions are designed to measure a student’s understanding of Geometry, Algebra I, and the first part of 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.

• Priority Golden Opportunity Days (2-day virtual event): (Invitation Only event for qualified applications completed by February 15^th ) March 6^th (Math Admissions Test) and March 13^th (Interviews)

• ​​​Rolling Golden Opportunity Days (2-day virtual event): (Invitation Only event for qualified applications completed after February 15^th ) These events will take place as part of the month your application is being reviewed based on when your application was completed during the rolling admissions period. 

Teachers and school counselors will be contacted for evaluations on your behalf, starting on Dec. 1, after you have submitted their contact information within the online application.

Standardized Tests

• Last SAT test date to apply for GSSM Class of 2023: Dec. 5 (registration deadline is Nov. 5)
• Last ACT test date to apply for GSSM Class of 2023: Dec. 12 (registration deadline is Nov. 6)

GSSM does not require students to take the essay portion for either test. Use GSSM Code 410997 to submit an official score for the SAT. Use GSSM Code 410997 to submit an official score for the ACT.

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 Mrs. Anne Brumley, Governor's School for Science and Mathematics, 401 Railroad Ave, Hartsville, SC 29550, 843-383-3906. 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.