Public arts charter school plans to open in Columbia

A committee of arts professionals, educators, parents and community members plans to open an arts charter school in Columbia. The Midlands Arts Conservatory (MAC) will have a focus on the visual arts, theater, dance and music.

MAC will provide a free, public education that combines arts and academics. The school will be open to any South Carolina resident student in the appropriate grade level who has an interest in the arts and is willing to meet the high academic expectations of the school.

The first informational meeting for parents and the community will be held on Nov. 29 from 3 – 4 p.m. in the USC School of Music Recital Hall at 813 Assembly Street, Columbia. Parking is available in the garage behind the School of Music.

If approved, the school will open in the fall of 2017 with sixth and seventh grades and will add a grade level each year, reaching 12th grade in 2022. The school will launch with a total of 120 students — three classes of 20 students at each grade level.

The school will be staffed with highly qualified arts and academic instructors in an environment that provides training, exposure and practical application in the arts and the integration of arts into academics. The student-teacher ratio in classes will be no higher than 20-to-1 and lower in specialized arts areas. MAC will have small group and individualized instruction in the arts with a wide spectrum of academic support, including online instruction and individualized academic instruction on a needs basis.

For more information, visit the website or contact Dr. Robert Jesselson at (803) 777-2033.

Via: Midland Arts Conservatory