Admissions

About Charleston Charter School for Math and Science

The mission of the Charleston Charter School for Math and Science is to educate students for success in college and careers by providing an innovative learning environment that is academically excellent, developmentally responsive, and socially equitable.

Charleston Charter School for Math and Science (CCSMS) is a public charter school serving grades 6th – 12th.  CCSMS was started in 2008 as South Carolina’s first STEM focused middle-high charter school. Our faculty provides hands-on, experiential learning in a small, supportive environment. Students have opportunities to create unique pathways to success in college and careers.

Application for the 2024-2025 school year:

The CCSMS application process will be separate from the CCSD School Choice process for the 2024-25 school year. CCSMS will not be participating in the CCSD School Choice application and lottery process.

Applications for the 2024-2025 school year at CCSMS are now being accepted at the CCSMS website, by mail, or in its front office for grades 6th – 12th. The front office is open on school days Monday-Friday, 8am-3pm.

If the number of applications exceeds the number of openings in any grade, a lottery will be held for that grade.

Admissions requirements for CCSMS:

• Student is entering 6th-12th grade for the 2024-2025 school year.
• Student resides, or plans to reside, within Charleston County by 7/01/2024. (Residency will be verified prior to final enrollment.)
• There are no admissions tests required for enrollment.
• No tuition is required. CCSMS is a public charter school.

 Application and Lottery Process:     

• Submit a complete application (incomplete applications will not be accepted).
• Include a current email address and phone number for lottery updates. It is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian to ensure current contact information is on file at all times. 
• Applications will be accepted online, by mail, and also at the school's front office from January 19, 2023 to February 27, 2023 to be included in the lottery. Mailed applications must be postmarked by February 27, 2024 in order to be included in the lottery.
• Applications received after the February 27, 2024 deadline will be placed at the end of the grade level waiting list in the order the application was received.
• A confirmation email will be sent to the email address on the application after application submission.
• SC Law allows priority for siblings of CCSMS enrolled scholars (or enrolled for at least one academic year within the last 6 years), children of employees, and children of the original charter committee, but all must apply through the same application process and indicate this priority on the application. The sibling preference applies to biological/adoptive siblings; step-siblings residing in the same household; and/or foster children residing in the same household.
• A public lottery will be held on March 16, 2024 at 11 am.
• All applicants will be notified by email of a seat offer or waiting list number for their grade applied within 4 days of the lottery.
• If an applicant is retained in their current grade at their current school, the application will go to the end of the waiting list for the repeated grade. (For example, if your child applies for the 9th grade, is accepted to the 9th grade by lottery, and subsequently is retained for the 8th grade at the end of the current school year, the application will go to the end of the 8th grade waiting list.)
• Please contact the school office if you need help completing the application at admissions@charlestonmathscience.org.

Student Appeals Process:

Students denied admission for reasons other than lottery results may appeal that decision to the Charleston County School District Board of Trustees. The appeal shall be in writing and state the grounds on which it is based. The decision of the Charleston County School District School Board shall be binding and final without right of appeal (Section 59-40-50(C) (1)).