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GMCHS to dissolve charter and transition to CCSD school under new model connecting students to academics, careers and paid work-based learning

Students at Greg Mathis High School will have new opportunities to earn wages, gain real-world work experience, and build pathways to careers while completing their high school education through a new partnership approved by the Charleston County School District (CCSD) Board of Trustees.

At its August 10, 2026 meeting, the CCSD Board approved a partnership with the Greg Mathis Charter High School (GMCHS) Board of Directors through which GMCHS will dissolve its charter and transition into Greg Mathis High School, a CCSD school. The transition creates an opportunity to build on the school’s legacy of serving students who benefit from a smaller, more personalized learning environment while bringing the school into CCSD and providing students greater access to the district’s academic programs, resources, student supports, Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities, and community and business partnerships.

Most significantly, CCSD and Greg Mathis leaders envision a new model that connects students’ high school experience directly to the world of work. Through partnerships with local businesses and community organizations, students will have opportunities for internships, mentorships, career exploration, and hands-on professional experiences, including opportunities to work and earn wages while completing their high school education.

“This is about creating a different kind of high school experience, one where students can learn, work, earn, and begin building their futures before they ever walk across the graduation stage,” said CCSD Superintendent Anita Huggins. “Greg Mathis has a history of serving students who thrive in a smaller and more personalized environment. This partnership allows us to preserve what has worked while surrounding students with the resources of CCSD and creating opportunities that can fundamentally change their trajectory after high school.”

The partnership represents a significant transition for GMCHS. By dissolving its charter and becoming a CCSD school, Greg Mathis High School will have access to the broader academic, operational, student support, and career-readiness resources of the district. At the same time, CCSD and GMCHS leaders are committed to preserving the relationships, culture, and personalized approach that have been central to the school’s identity.

“We are looking forward to working with CCSD and bringing even more resources and support to our students,” said Principal Natrice Henriques. “Together, we can expand opportunities and create more pathways for our students to succeed in school and beyond.”

The current GMCHS Board of Directors will remain involved throughout the transition, helping preserve the school’s history, institutional knowledge, relationships, and community connections. As outlined through the partnership process, the current Board is expected to transition into an advisory role through a new nonprofit structure as the remaining responsibilities of the charter organization are completed.

“Our Board believes this partnership creates an opportunity to preserve the legacy of Greg Mathis Charter High School while opening doors that simply would not be available to our students in the same way under our current structure,” said Eric Watson, Chair of the GMCHS Board. “This is an opportunity to combine the relationships and personalized support our students value with the resources of CCSD and meaningful connections to employers and our community. Most importantly, it gives our students more ways to envision, and begin building, their futures.”

CCSD will build on its existing CTE and work-based learning programs as the Greg Mathis model is developed. The district will work with business, industry, nonprofit, and community partners to identify meaningful experiences that allow students to develop employability skills, establish professional relationships, explore career fields, and, where appropriate, earn income through their work.

The long-term vision is to establish Greg Mathis High School as a premier educational option for students seeking a smaller learning environment with a direct connection between high school, employment, postsecondary education, and adult life.

“Our goal is bigger than helping students earn a diploma,” Huggins said. “We want our students to leave us with skills, experience, relationships, confidence, and a clear path forward. If a student can graduate with a diploma in one hand and meaningful work experience, earnings, and a connection to a future career in the other, we have created something incredibly powerful.”

CCSD and GMCHS leadership will communicate directly with students, families, employees, and community stakeholders throughout the transition. Additional details about the new Greg Mathis High School model, including opportunities for businesses and community organizations to partner with the school and provide work-based learning and employment opportunities for students, will be announced as implementation continues.