For School Districts

“Now that I’ve been through College Summit, I will be a different guidance counselor. I know that I was guilty of looking only at a kid’s grades. Now, I'm going to look beyond their numbers, really listen to them, and work with them to make sure they are selecting a college that will see their full potential.  This has made me a better guidance counselor; I know I will be a better counselor from today forward."
- Winona Belton, Guidance Counselor, CA Johnson Preparatory Academy in Columbia, SC

“The College Summit program has generated a lot of enthusiasm among my average achieving seniors.  My student leader has had a positive impact on our senior class.  Her enthusiasm is contagious.
- George Benton, Principal of Branchville High School

“In the long run, society will benefit.  It’s going to translate into companies wanting to come into your community.  It’s going to translate into jobs.”  from The State, Columbia, SC
- Marvin Byers, Principal of Lower Richland High School

“We have a lot of low-income communities where there are a lot of talented kids, but some reason prevents them from making the transition from high school to college.  If they don’t know how to navigate the process they just get lost.” from The State, newspaper Columbia, SC
- Jaime Harrison, Policy Advisor to U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, D-SC, and Executive Director of the Democratic Caucus

“College Summit provides students with the opportunity they wouldn't have had without College Summit. People should listen very carefully to what is said about the program, because I think they are going to like it!"
- Debra McConnell, CSC/teacher, from Branchville High School

 

2007-08 School and District Partners

  • Sumter School District 17
    • Sumter High School
  • Charleston County
  • Orangeburg Consolidated School District 4
    • Branchville High School
    • Edisto High School
    • Hunter Kenard Tyler High School
  • Orangeburg Consoldiated School District 5
    • Orangeburg Wilkinson High School
  • Richland One School District
  • Hampton County 2 School District
    • Estill High School

 

School Spotlights

Military Magnet Academy

The Charleston County School District established the Military Magnet Academy (MMA) for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders in 1997.  Currently the school serves students in grades six through twelve and will celebrate its first graduating class in the 2006-2007 school year.  College Summit South Carolina is excited about helping the first graduating class transition to college.  The Academy, the first of its kind in the nation, is part of a growing experiment by America’s urban school districts to create an environment to maximize learning math and English.  The Academy has a rigorous academic program for students designed to prepare students for today’s work force or post secondary education.

The mission of the Military Magnet Academy is to prepare cadets to become academically competent, disciplined, and responsible citizens.  To the usual reading, writing, and math, they add the discipline of a military environment that teaches students the importance of civic duty.  Its purpose is to build leadership characteristics in the lives of students. They believe that every cadet can and will be successful.  Failure is not an option.  They are not a discipline school, but instead they are a school that builds discipline.

Toshawnka Mahone, the College Summit Advisor, guides 24 students through the College Summit curriculum like only an experienced teacher can.  She engages students with hands on activities such as creating mock resumes as part of a group project.  The College Summit Coordinator, Amy Neloms wholeheartedly supports College Summit and feels that “College Summit’s curriculum brings guidance counselors' words to life through the use of the Navigator.  Students don’t just have to take our word for it.  They also have it in print.”  Mrs. Neloms invited College Summit South Carolina to give an overview of the program to its juniors, seniors and parents during a Junior and Senior Night presentation, and Principal Andy Townsend shared his belief in College Summit.  Students learned about high school graduation requirements, four-year colleges, the college selection and admission process, the SAT/ACT, and scholarships and financial aid.

C.A. Johnson Preparatory Academy

College Summit South Carolina is in the air when one walks into the doors of C.A. Johnson Preparatory Academy, located in the state capital of Columbia.  Not only are the words “College Summit” displayed on the school’s marquee, but the students and staff radiate a college-going culture as well.

C. A. Johnson Preparatory Academy (formerly C. A. Johnson High School) operates within a framework of its three guiding principles:  building community trust, improving student outcomes and creating a healthy learning environment.  The mission of C. A. Johnson Preparatory Academy is to develop the intellectual, cultural and social capacities of all students by providing rigorous academic stimulation, global expansion and intellectual exchange to its students through state-of-the-art resources, instruction based upon best practices and an integrative, service learning approach.

C.A. Johnson was a pilot program for College Summit SC in 2005-2006, serving 56 students, with 13 attending the summer workshop.  Presently, there are 86 students receiving the College Summit curriculum, 10 of whom were trained as Peer Leaders during a summer workshop for the 2006-2007 school year.  There are two College Summit Advisors, Catherine Smalls and Willease Williams, who deliver the curriculum and one College Summit Coordinator, Winona Belton.  The principal of C.A. Johnson is Kathie Greer.

To increase the awareness of and to establish buy in for College Summit, the supportive CSAs and CSC at C.A. Johnson have conducted an informational session about College Summit to its entire staff and included College Summit SC on its agenda for a Senior Forum for their seniors and parents.  The forum covered college admissions, financial aid, SAT/ACT information and self-advocacy.