HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Governor's School for Science and Mathematics has been celebrating its 30th anniversary for the entire school year,. High School for Rising Juniors Our two-year residential high school program gives you access to unique academic opportunities that allow you to explore your interests. Applications are now open.
South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics | |
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Address | |
, | |
Coordinates | 34°22′23″N80°03′54″W / 34.373°N 80.065°WCoordinates: 34°22′23″N80°03′54″W / 34.373°N 80.065°W |
Information | |
Type | |
Motto | 24/7Smart |
Established | 1988 |
Oversight | Board of Trustees |
Grades | 11-12 |
Number of students | 279 |
Campus | Residential Dormitories mixed with Labs, Classrooms, and a Gymnasium |
Color(s) | Navy Blue and Silver |
Mascot | Eagle |
Newspaper | The Govie Gazette |
Yearbook | Excelsior |
Affiliation | South Carolina Department of Education |
Website | www.scgssm.org |
The South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) is a public, boardinghigh school for students in grades 11 and 12, located in Hartsville, South Carolina. The school concentrates on science and mathematics, but offers the full spectrum of the humanities as well. The school has 29 full-time teachers; 86% have earned doctorates and 100% have master's degrees. Students regularly score the highest SAT and ACT average in the state (1925 and 30.2, respectively, in 2016). The school was named among Newsweek's 'top 20 elite high schools' in 2009 and The Washington Post's 'top-performing schools with elite students' in 2016.[1][2]
Academics[edit]
Students at GSSM select from a wide-range of STEM courses during their two years on campus. Typically, 18 AP courses are offered and 45% of the STEM courses are listed as 'Above AP'.[3] Students can conduct semester or year-long scientific investigations,[4] in addition to the required Summer Program for Research Interns (SPRI).[5] During SPRI, students conduct six weeks of mentored scientific, business or economics research at university or corporate R&D labs across South Carolina or in locations across the United States. In 2009, GSSM began the Research Exchange Scholars Program (later renamed the Research Experience Scholars Program) with exchange students from Pforzheim, Germany[6] and Daejeon, Korea. The program has grown to include more locations in Germany and plans are underway to include sites in a number of countries. In 2017, the RESP program included sites in Germany, Korea, and China.
In addition to a rigorous STEM curriculum, GSSM also offers a wealth of humanities courses and a January Interim[7] mini-mester of experiential courses and national and international trips. Courses and trips vary from year to year.
Outreach[edit]
Beyond the education provided to students in residence, the school delivers outreach programs[8] for middle schoolers in satellite locations statewide, as well as for rising 8th through 10th graders at its annual, residential summer program, GoSciTech. Students in Darlington County Schools also benefit from PULSE, a joint program with GSSM, and Coker College, funded by Sonoco.
GoSciTech, originally named Summer Science Program (SSP), began as a one-week program in 1990. As of 2012, the camp expanded to offer up to four weeks of courses and was renamed GoSciTech. In 2016, nearly 30 courses were offered to over 500 students.
Satellite camps include iTEAMS Xtreme and iTEAMS Xtreme: Next Generation, computer science, technology and robotics day camps. CREATEng, an engineering and design thinking day camp, was added in 2014. More than 1300 students and teachers from across the state participated in GSSM's summer outreach programs during the 2016 summer.
History[edit]
The school was founded in 1988 by Governor Carroll Campbell and Charles W. Coker on the grounds of Coker College. It moved to a purpose-built campus nearby in 2003.[9] In 2010, two new wings were added: the Academic Wing, containing classrooms and laboratories, and the Student Activities Center, which includes an engineering projects center and also a gym, weight room, game room, and kitchen.[10]
Admissions[edit]
Admission to GSSM is by application and open to any resident of South Carolina in his or her sophomore year of high school. More than 350 students apply each year for the coming junior class, with about 149 invited in 2016 (varying from year to year so that the student body size at the start of each year is 288). Applications are due by February 1 before the school year in which the students will begin attending. A score on one of the following standardized tests is required for admittance: PSAT, SAT, or the ACT. The remaining students are placed on a waiting list, which is pulled from should any of the originally selected students decide not to accept.
Student life[edit]
SCGSSM State Soccer Championship 2012
All students live in residence at the School. Each suites consists of two rooms and a bathroom, each room housing two students. There are common areas on each hall for studying, relaxing and spending time together.
Much of the student body participates in the school's numerous clubs and societies. Many students also participate in varsity athletics with cross country, swimming, volleyball, tennis and soccer teams consistently ranked highly and/or participating in state championships. In 2017, boys cross country won the 1A state championship. In 2018, the boys soccer team won the South Carolina division 1A state championship. In November 2018, the girl's volleyball team won the South Carolina division 1A state championship. The school also boasts multiple individual and team track and field state champions, as well as SC state chess championships. [11]
Students are required to complete 50 hours of community service annually, though a majority of the students surpass this requirement. Service projects include tutoring local students and residents, computer, website and IT help for business owners, volunteering at the animal shelter and food bank, and helping around campus.
Notable alumni[edit]
- Aziz Ansari - actor, comedian, and filmmaker[12]
- Hon. Shiva Hodges - U.S. Magistrate for the District of South Carolina[13]
- Dr. Jason Hong, co-founder of Wombat Security Technologies and Professor at Carnegie Mellon's Human Computer Interaction Institute
See also[edit]
- South Carolina Governor's School For The Arts & Humanities, similar program located in Greenville, SC, opened in 1999.
References[edit]
- ^'Governor's School for Science and Mathematics among Top 20 public elite high schools'. South Carolina Department of Education.
- ^'Top-performing schools with elite students'. The Washington Post.
- ^http://www.scgssm.org/residential/academics/course-catalog-and-faqs
- ^http://www.scgssm.org/residential/academics/scientific-investigation
- ^http://www.scgssm.org/residential/academics/senior-research
- ^http://www.scnow.com/news/local/article_1d896e88-d597-59d2-b9fe-9956687db21f.html
- ^http://www.scgssm.org/residential/academics/january-interim
- ^http://www.scgssm.org/outreach-camps
- ^Ray, Rusty (October 6, 2010). 'Governor's School brings the best and brightest to Hartsville'. SC Now.
- ^'Mission and History'. South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics.
- ^'2015 Report Card'(PDF). State of South Carolina.
- ^'NBC's Parks and Recreation star has SC ties'. WIST.
- ^Monk, John (9 August 2016). 'Hawk-killing USC trustee says he got bad deal from 'bird lover' judge'. The State. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=South_Carolina_Governor%27s_School_for_Science_and_Mathematics&oldid=904035964'
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics | |
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Address | |
, 27705 | |
Information | |
Type | |
Motto | Maius Opus Moveo (Accept the Greater Challenge) |
Established | 1980 |
School district | University of North Carolina system |
Chancellor | Dr. Todd Roberts |
Grades | 11–12 |
Enrollment | 680 |
Campus type | Suburban |
Color(s) | Blue and gray |
Athletics conference | NCHSAA, Mid-State 2A |
Mascot | Unicorn |
Nickname | Unis, Narwhals (swim) |
Accreditation | AdvancED[1] |
Newspaper | The Stentorian |
Tuition | Free |
Communities served | State of North Carolina |
Affiliations | NCSSSMST University of North Carolina |
Location of NCSSM in North Carolina |
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) is a two-year, public residential high school located in Durham, North Carolina, US, that focuses on the intensive study of science, mathematics and technology. The prestigious school accepts rising juniors from across North Carolina and enrolls them through senior year. Though NCSSM is a public school, enrollment is limited, and applicants undergo a highly competitive review process prior to admission. NCSSM is a founding member of the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology (NCSSSMST) and a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina system. While not officially branded as such, many residents of North Carolina consider NCSSM to be a counterpart to the University of North Carolina School of the Arts due to their shared status as specialty residential high schools, with NCSSM focusing on science and math and the School of the Arts offering extended study in the arts.
- 2Academics
- 5Extracurricular activities
History[edit]
Watts building, which houses humanities classrooms and offices, business offices, and the math department
Since its inception in 1980, NCSSM has been fully funded by the state, meaning no student have been required to pay any tuition, room, board, or other student fees. This funding is supplemented by the NCSSM Foundation's private funding, which supports NCSSM's academic, residential, and outreach programs as well as providing funds for some capital improvements. In the past 25 years[when?], the Foundation has raised in excess of $25 million in private support from corporations, foundations, alumni, parents and friends of NCSSM. A tuition fee was considered for the 2002–03 school year in the midst of a state budgetary crisis, but it was never implemented. In 2003, the NC Legislature approved a bill granting tuition costs for any university in the University of North Carolina System to all graduates of NCSSM, starting with the class of 2004, as an incentive to encourage NCSSM's talented students to stay in North Carolina. That bill was amended in 2005 to allow students to use additional tuition monies awarded to cover 'costs of attendance.' However, the tuition waiver was phased out in the Appropriations Act of 2009 in the North Carolina Senate in order to balance the budget. The bill states that 'No new recipients shall be funded after June 30, 2009.' [2]NCSSM served as a model for 18 similar schools, many of which are now members of the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology (NCSSSMST).
Academics[edit]
Cupola atop the 1908 Watts building, used in the school's logo until 2015.
NCSSM students are not given a class rank and are encouraged to strive for their best rather than competing against other students. Although students previously were not given grade point averages (GPAs), the school currently provides GPAs on transcripts to simplify the college application process. The school consistently appears near the top of American high school rankings, most recently being ranked the 23rd best high school in the United States and the second best in North Carolina by Newsweek[3] and being listed among The Washington Post's 2014 'top-performing schools with elite students.'[4] NCSSM students have consistently done extremely well in national academic competitions, and NCSSM's SAT scores are among the highest in the state of North Carolina. In 2013, it was 2034, second to the Early College at Guilford's 2051.[5] In 2016, music instructor Phillip Riggs was nominated for and won the GRAMMY Music Educator Award.[6]
Demographics[edit]
During the 2013-2014 school year, NCSSM housed approximately 680 students. There were 346 seniors enrolled in the class of 2013. Currently, there are more females than males due to the larger number of female dormitory spaces. Approximately 56% of students are Caucasian, 26.6% are Asian American, 8.1% are African American, 5.5% are Hispanic, and 0.3% are Native American.[7] The student population of NCSSM is designed to be a demographic reflection of the population of North Carolina as a whole; additionally, a certain number of slots are reserved for each congressional district.
Notable alumni[edit]
- Adam Falk '83, President of Williams College[8][9]
- Maya Ajmera '85, Founder and President of The Global Fund for Children
- Matt Welsh (computer scientist) '92, Gordon McKay Professor of Computer Science at Harvard University and author of several books
- Rhiannon Giddens '95, member of the Grammy-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops[10]
- Scott Jacobson '95, comedy writer (Bob's Burgers) and four-time Emmy winner
- Christina Hammock '97, NASA astronaut candidate of the class of 2013.[11]
- B. Scott '99, Internet Celebrity, TV personality and blogger
External programs[edit]
NCSSM also offers a variety of external programs focused on educating teachers and students outside of the school across North Carolina. The school offers workshops for strengthening K-12 math and science education. The programs focus on 'teaching the teacher.'[12] These workshops focus particularly in science and mathematics education.
Extracurricular activities[edit]
NCSSM regularly does well in terms of academic events and certain sports.
Academics[edit]
The school is known to place upwards of ten students a year in the Siemens Competition in Math, Science, and Technology. In 2006, Nicholas Tang and Sagar Indurkhya became national finalists in that year's Siemens Competition. NCSSM also regularly produces semifinalists in the Intel Science Talent Search and Intel Science and Engineering Fair.
In 2008, the NCSSM team won first place in the WorldQuest geography competition at the national level.
In 2010, NCSSM won first place at the 2010 National DOE Science Bowl Competition,[13] and the students on the team got to meet Michelle Obama.
In 2015, the NCSSM Robotics Team, FIRST Robotics Team 900, The Zebracorns, came in 3rd place at the FIRST World Championship in Saint Louis. [14]
Athletics[edit]
The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics offers 21 varsity sports to its students, including baseball, volleyball, basketball, and wrestling. The athletic programs have experienced tremendous growth and are the home of not only academically hard-working high schoolers, but talented athletes.
In 2011, for the first time in the school's history, all of the NCSSM varsity sports in the fall season won regional championships. Men's cross-country and men's soccer were state champions, while women's tennis and women's volleyball were state runners-up and a member of the women's diving team placed second at the 1A/2A state meet. Two girls from the women's golf team were also sent to the state championships match. The NCSSM men's cross-country team has won three straight state championships, and has boasted two straight individual state champions, Nicholas Walker and William Francis Kenny.
In the 2018-2019 season, NCSSM teams gathered nine Mid-State 2A conference titles. The quality of the athletic department has led to 98 All-Conference titles awarded to NCSSM athletes in the 2018-2019 season, at least one in every sport offered by the school. [15]
Robotics[edit]
NCSSM has a FIRST Robotics team, Team 900, The Zebracorns. This team has consistently performed at a high level, winning many prestigious awards. Awards won by this team include[16] (* = received blue banner):
- 2005 Palmetto Regional Imagery Award
- 2009 Peachtree Regional Imagery Award
- 2012 North Carolina Regional Gracious Professionalism Award
- 2014 North Carolina Regional Winners*
- 2014 North Carolina Regional Excellence in Engineering Award
- 2014 FIRST Championship Archimedes Division Creativity Award
- 2015 Palmetto Regional Creativity Award
- 2015 North Carolina Regional Winners*
- 2015 North Carolina Regional Gracious Professionalism Award
- 2015 FIRST Championship Curie Division Winners*
- 2016 North Carolina District - Wake County Event Innovation in Control Award
- 2016 North Carolina District - Campbell University/Johnston Community College Event Excellence in Engineering Award
- 2016 North Carolina FIRST Robotics State Championship Excellence in Engineering Award
- 2017 Chesapeake District - Southwest Virginia Event Excellence in Engineering Award
- 2017 North Carolina District - Greensboro Event Innovation in Control Award
- 2017 North Carolina District - Greensboro Event Safety Award
- 2017 North Carolina District - Raleigh Event District Chairman's Award*
- 2017 FIRST North Carolina State Championship Excellence in Engineering Award
- 2017 FIRST North Carolina State Championship Winners*
- 2018 Palmetto Regional Judges' Award
- 2018 North Carolina District - UNC Pembroke Event Creativity Award
- 2018 North Carolina District - Forsyth County Event District Chairman's Award*
- 2018 FIRST North Carolina State Championship Industrial Design Award
- 2019 North Carolina District - Wake County Event Innovation in Control Award
- 2019 North Carolina District - UNC Asheville Event Team Spirit Award
- 2019 FIRST North Carolina State Championship Innovation in Control Award
The team has garnered national attention for their numerous published whitepapers to help other teams and their community outreach across North Carolina[17]. [18][19] They also recently garnered international attention, presenting at ROSCon 2018 in Madrid, Spain.[20]
See also[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. |
References[edit]
- ^Institution Summary, AdvancED, Retrieved 2012-07-11
- ^'Appropriations Bill of 2009, 2009'(PDF).
- ^'America's Top High Schools 2014'. Newsweek. Newsweek Company LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
- ^Mathews, Jay. 'Top-performing schools with elite students'. The Washington Post. The Washington Post. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
- ^'Page Not Found'(PDF). www.ncpublicschools.org.
- ^'Phillip Riggs To Receive Music Educator Award'. February 10, 2016.
- ^'www.ncssm.edu -NCSSM Residential Program Profile, 2013-2014'(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on February 9, 2014.
- ^'Adam Falk '83 named president of Williams'. July 14, 2011. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^Office of the President. Williams.edu (2013-06-20). Retrieved on 2013-07-29.
- ^A Modern Take On A Traditional Sound. Carolina Chocolate Drops. Retrieved on 2013-07-29.
- ^'NASA announces eight new astronauts, half are women'. Phys.org. May 11, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
- ^'NCSSM External Programs – Workshops & Special Programs'. Archived from the original on February 20, 2007. Retrieved January 18, 2007.
- ^DOE National Science BowlArchived May 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^'Einstein Field 2015'.
- ^'2019 NCSSM Spring and Winter All Conference Awards'. May 17, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- ^'Team 900 - The Zebracorns'.
- ^Marshall Massengill. 'Zebracorns, TIGER, and Addressing Sustainability in FRC...'Chief Delphi. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
- ^'As Competition Season Begins, Robotics Team Aims High'. NCSSM News. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
- ^Hall, Ted. 'Robotics Week: The New, Small Manufacturing is About Production Robotics'. Medium. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
- ^OSRF (October 4, 2018), ROSCon 2018 Madrid: Bringing ROS to the Largest High School Robotics Competition, retrieved May 16, 2019
External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=North_Carolina_School_of_Science_and_Mathematics&oldid=917565433'