Polaris Tech Charter School

Charter School 300 Students

High School 5th - 12th

School Overview

Polaris Tech, located in Ridgeland, South Carolina, is a unique, tuition-free public charter school that serves students in grades 6 through 12. Its educational model is centered on the "Polaris Tech Way," which emphasizes a project-based learning curriculum designed to bridge the gap between classroom instruction and real-world workforce demands. By prioritizing innovation, critical thinking, and technical proficiency, the school aims to prepare its students for both higher education and immediate career success in a rapidly evolving economy.

Beyond traditional academics, the school places a significant emphasis on community partnerships and career readiness. Polaris Tech collaborates closely with local industries to provide students with mentorships, internships, and hands-on training in fields such as information technology, engineering, and healthcare. This focus on vocational relevance, combined with a supportive, student-centered environment, makes the institution a key player in fostering economic development and professional preparedness within the Jasper County region.

300

Total Students

23.0

Full-Time Teachers

13.0

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Polaris Tech Charter School
Demographic	Student Count
White	59
Hispanic	86
Black	152
Asian	1
American Indian	2

Black
152 (50.7 %)
Hispanic
86 (28.7 %)
White
59 (19.7 %)
American Indian
2 (0.7 %)
Asian
1 (0.3 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	N/A
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	SC Public Charter School District
Phone:	(843)645-0605
Grade Range:	5th - 12th
Total Students:	300
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	23.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	13.0
NSLP Participation:¹	N/A
Qualified Free Lunch:	N/A
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	N/A

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 5 16

Grade 6 35

Grade 7 43

Grade 8 54

Grade 9 41

Grade 10 48

Grade 11 37

Grade 12 26