South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics
- A+Overall Grade
- Public
- 11-12
- Hartsville, SC
- 95 reviews
- AcademicsA+
- DiversityA
- TeachersA+
- College PrepA+
- Clubs & ActivitiesA
- Health & SafetyA+
- AdministrationB
- SportsC+
- FoodB
- Resources & FacilitiesA+
South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics Rankings
Niche ranks nearly 100,000 schools and districts based on statistics and millions of opinions from students and parents.
Academics
Homes for Sale
realtor.com®Note: School map boundaries may have changed for the current school year so please contact your school district to verify school assignment for your child.
- Cost of LivingB+
- Good for FamiliesB-
- HousingC+
Area Feel
Sparse Suburban
Median Household Income
$28,070
National
$55,322Median Rent
$624
National
$949Median Home Value
$108,400
National
$184,700Culture & Safety
Health & Safety
A+
Based on chronic student absenteeism, suspensions/expulsions, and survey responses on the school environment from students and parents.
Poll
- 85%
- of students agree that they feel safe at their school.13 responses
Poll
- 69%
- of students agree that they like their school and feel happy there.13 responses
Students
Diversity
A
Based on racial and economic diversity and survey responses on school culture and diversity from students and parents.
Students
280
Free or Reduced Lunch
0%
- 86%
- of students and parents agree that students at this school are competitive.14 responses
- 50%
- of students and parents agree that students at this school are creative and artsy.14 responses
- 50%
- of students and parents agree that students at this school are athletic.14 responses
Teachers
- 80%
- of students and parents agree that the teachers give engaging lessons.15 responses
- 80%
- of students and parents agree that the teachers genuinely care about the students.15 responses
- 80%
- of students and parents agree that the teachers adequately lead and control the classroom.15 responses
Clubs & Activities
Clubs & Activities
A
Based on student and parent reviews of clubs and activities.
Girls Athletic Participation
Very Low
Boys Athletic Participation
Very Low
Expenses Per Student
—
National
$12,239- 100%
- of students and parents agree that there are plenty of clubs and organizations for students to get involved in.15 responses
- 73%
- of students and parents agree that clubs and organizations get the funding they need.15 responses
- 80%
- of students and parents agree that lots of students participate in clubs and organizations.15 responses
South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics Reviews
95 reviews
All Categories
I started at GSSM in 2017, and I'll graduate in 2019. The school is great overall! The faculty really cares, the students are amazing, and the classes are interesting and engaging. The workload is crazy, but teachers are almost always availible after hours for tutoring, and there are tutoring centers open from 8-10 every weeknight. The dorms are pretty decent, and each floor has two lounges that are normally pretty clean and quite. The campus is small but there is always something to do; there's a movie room, pool, a student kitchen, videogame room, art studio, music studio, and a full training/workout room. Student clubs are super active. It's hard to stay put-together, but I wouldn't trade GSSM for the world. The administration needs a serious reality check, but the student-admin communication channels are always open, so change is more than possible.
Pros:
Advanced Courses (Modern Physics, Vertebrate Biology, Differential Equations, etc.)
Lots of friends and support: Living with 200 closes friends makes socializing a lot easier for the introverted students.
College Counselors: The three counselors we have work very hard to make sure the juniors and seniors are prepared for applications.
Cons:
The disparity between teachers: Some teachers that offer the same class will give completely different rigor standards. One teacher might be very easy and the other one might drive you insane.
Food: Prisoners most likely get better food than students. Always serving rice and boiled vegetables, nothing really sustainable.
Administration: The individuals that run this school do a poor job at appropriating funds and ideas. Recently, an article came out describing how the president of the school destroyed a meeting's transcript because it criticized his performance.
Advanced Courses (Modern Physics, Vertebrate Biology, Differential Equations, etc.)
Lots of friends and support: Living with 200 closes friends makes socializing a lot easier for the introverted students.
College Counselors: The three counselors we have work very hard to make sure the juniors and seniors are prepared for applications.
Cons:
The disparity between teachers: Some teachers that offer the same class will give completely different rigor standards. One teacher might be very easy and the other one might drive you insane.
Food: Prisoners most likely get better food than students. Always serving rice and boiled vegetables, nothing really sustainable.
Administration: The individuals that run this school do a poor job at appropriating funds and ideas. Recently, an article came out describing how the president of the school destroyed a meeting's transcript because it criticized his performance.
You won't find anything else like the Governor's School here in South Carolina. The opportunities you are given here are incredible: a totally paid-for summer research internship, travel abroad, a great sports program, and many chances to be involved. The faculty is dedicated and the academics challenge you, but the community is beyond supportive. There is an amazing college counseling staff as well. While you do have to pay for some extra fees like the meal plan, tuition and room/board are free and absolutely worth it. I have loved my time in Hartsville and the Governor's School.