South Carolina is undoubtedly one of the best places to call home in the Southeast. Cities like Charleston boast a rich history, pleasant climate, delicious food, friendly locals, and a laid-back atmosphere that captures the essence of southern hospitality. However, for homeowners and business owners, living in Charleston comes with its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to maintaining the appearance of your property.
The humid weather in the area often results in mold and algae growth on surfaces like wood and concrete, which can make your property look unkempt and neglected. Fortunately, Peppers Pressure Washing can help restore your property's beauty and prevent future growth and grime.
When it comes to pressure washing in Meggett, SC, our #1 goal is delivering exceptional pressure washing services by going above and beyond to make sure our clients are satisfied. We ensure their satisfaction by prioritizing good old-fashioned hard work, honest pricing, ongoing communication, advanced training, and industry-leading customer service.
Our pressure washing company in South Carolina is the perfect choice to protect your home or business from mold and mildew across various surfaces. In doing so, we can help minimize unsightly objects like bird's nests and spiderwebs while protecting your property from damage to windows, gutters, roofing, and more. As a licensed, insured pressure washing company, our customer's health and happiness always come first - no questions asked.
So, when you hire Peppers Pressure Washing, you can rest easy knowing our experts will treat your home as if it were our own. When they need the highest quality pressure washing services, clients come to us because our team is:
If you're looking for a dedicated professional that will do the job right, you're in the right place. With over 10 years experience, we have learned to improve our skills and keep our equipment up to date for the best results.
Living in the Lowcountry often means that your home's exterior will suffer from harsh elements such as mildew, dirt, and pollen. If left uncleaned, these contaminants can cause damage to surfaces like brick, stucco, and vinyl over time. At Peppers Pressure Washing, we offer a safe and effective cleaning solution that utilizes time-tested techniques to remove hazardous contaminants from your home's exterior so that it remains uniquely beautiful year-round.
Unlike some pressure washing services in Charleston, however, we have the capability to perform traditional pressure washing as well as low-pressure washing for residential properties.
Most often known as "soft washing," this process involves washing and rinsing your windows and gutters using gentle pressure. Unlike high-pressure tactics - which can cause damage when used by amateurs in inappropriate spaces - soft wash cleaning for your home is specifically designed to remove mildew and algae from porous surfaces without causing harm. With soft washing, you won't have to worry about losing curb appeal or reducing the resale value of your home due to stripped paint or ruined siding.
Our techniques use gentle water pressure and an environmentally friendly cleaning solution to remove contaminants without causing harm to your plants or landscaping. That's why many homeowners ask for a combination of soft washing and pressure washing in Meggett, SC - to address the hard-to-clean areas as well as the more sensitive areas.
Once the cleaning agent has removed the mold, algae, and other contaminants, our team thoroughly rinses the exterior of your home, leaving it looking squeaky clean and envy-worthy to your neighbors. Some additional benefits of Peppers Pressure Washing's soft washing approach include:
Curious if our team can remove the mold and mildew from your driveway, walkways, back deck, and more? Give our office a call today - every estimate we provide is 100% free.
Experienced professionals can enhance your property's curb appeal with well-laid driveways and patios. The same goes for the fencing around your backyard, which can be painted and installed meticulously by experts. However, it's only a matter of time before stains, peeling paint, and other tough-to-remove items begin to sully your home's appearance. Fortunately, with an experienced pressure washing company by your side, you can bring life back to your home, even if it's been plagued by something like graffiti.
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Motor vehicles are notorious for leaving oil stains on driveways and in garages, which can be very difficult to get out if you don't know what you're doing. Fortunately, a high-pressure power washer will remove such stains. But even with a pressure washer, you'll need to use the appropriate cleaning solution to fully remove an oil stain from your driveway.
Motor vehicles are notorious for leaving oil stains on driveways and in garages, which can be very difficult to get out if you don't know what you're doing. Fortunately, a high-pressure power washer will remove such stains. But even with a pressure washer, you'll need to use the appropriate cleaning solution to fully remove an oil stain from your driveway.
Motor vehicles are notorious for leaving oil stains on driveways and in garages, which can be very difficult to get out if you don't know what you're doing. Fortunately, a high-pressure power washer will remove such stains. But even with a pressure washer, you'll need to use the appropriate cleaning solution to fully remove an oil stain from your driveway.
Motor vehicles are notorious for leaving oil stains on driveways and in garages, which can be very difficult to get out if you don't know what you're doing. Fortunately, a high-pressure power washer will remove such stains. But even with a pressure washer, you'll need to use the appropriate cleaning solution to fully remove an oil stain from your driveway.
Entrepreneurs understand the importance of presenting a positive image for their brand and business. A first impression is often the only opportunity to showcase what you have to offer. Neglecting the cleanliness and appearance of your warehouse, apartment complex, or storefront could lead to lost revenue. Put yourself in your customers' shoes: If a business owner fails to maintain walkways and other heavily trafficked areas around their location, they may not put much effort into providing quality products.
Every aspect of your building, entrance, parking lot, walking path, or storefront presents an opportunity to impress customers. With commercial pressure washing, you can capitalize on that opportunity and even help retain the same customers you initially impressed. The bottom line? If cleanliness and curb appeal are non-negotiable in your line of business, it's time to call Peppers Pressure Washing for a free estimate.
Don't delay - waiting to have your business pressure washed can end up costing you money. That's why our pressure washing company offers convenient monthly cleanings. We can arrange routine maintenance washing to help keep your business fresh and clean, helping you set the stage for success year-round.
Investing in exterior cleaning is a wise decision for any business owner. Services like pressure washing enhance curb appeal, attract new and returning customers, and show you care about the appearance of your business. But if you're like other hardworking entrepreneurs who are stretched thin as it is, keeping up with cleanliness is easier said than done, especially outside your property.
Have you noticed that revenue is down, but you can't put your finger on why? In some instances, it could be because of your company's entryways and exteriors. A well-maintained exterior is essential for any business, whether it's a law firm, retail store, or any other establishment. Customers expect to see a property that looks clean, safe, and comfortable. They don't want to feel surrounded by discolored surfaces, mold, or mildew.
Have you noticed that revenue is down, but you can't put your finger on why? In some instances, it could be because of your company's entryways and exteriors. A well-maintained exterior is essential for any business, whether it's a law firm, retail store, or any other establishment. Customers expect to see a property that looks clean, safe, and comfortable. They don't want to feel surrounded by discolored surfaces, mold, or mildew.
Have you noticed that revenue is down, but you can't put your finger on why? In some instances, it could be because of your company's entryways and exteriors. A well-maintained exterior is essential for any business, whether it's a law firm, retail store, or any other establishment. Customers expect to see a property that looks clean, safe, and comfortable. They don't want to feel surrounded by discolored surfaces, mold, or mildew.
Have you noticed that revenue is down, but you can't put your finger on why? In some instances, it could be because of your company's entryways and exteriors. A well-maintained exterior is essential for any business, whether it's a law firm, retail store, or any other establishment. Customers expect to see a property that looks clean, safe, and comfortable. They don't want to feel surrounded by discolored surfaces, mold, or mildew.
If you notice unsightly stains, mold, or mildew on the outside of your business, it may be a sign of standing water issues or simply a lack of regular cleaning. Sure, you could make your own bleach solution and try to tackle the problem yourself. But you run the risk of damaging your property and even harming yourself in the process. The alternative? Contact Peppers Pressure Washing for thoroughly effective pressure washing in Meggett, SC.
At Peppers Pressure Washing, one of the most common questions we receive is why a homeowner or business owner should or should not hire professionals to handle pressure washing. We get it - most folks are on budgets and must be careful about spending frivolously on chores that they may be able to do on their own. And while we're big proponents of DIY projects at home and at work, pressure washing in Meggett, SC, should always be performed by trained professionals. Here's why.
Safety
Cost Effectiveness
Quicker 
Eco-Friendly
Avoid Damage toPressure washing often involves heavy-duty equipment, ladders, and more, which can be both intimidating and dangerous for untrained individuals. It's important to understand that pressure washing machines can be quite dangerous if not handled properly.
Pressure washing often involves heavy-duty equipment, ladders, and more, which can be both intimidating and dangerous for untrained individuals. It's important to understand that pressure washing machines can be quite dangerous if not handled properly.
Pressure washing often involves heavy-duty equipment, ladders, and more, which can be both intimidating and dangerous for untrained individuals. It's important to understand that pressure washing machines can be quite dangerous if not handled properly.
Pressure washing often involves heavy-duty equipment, ladders, and more, which can be both intimidating and dangerous for untrained individuals. It's important to understand that pressure washing machines can be quite dangerous if not handled properly.
Pressure washing often involves heavy-duty equipment, ladders, and more, which can be both intimidating and dangerous for untrained individuals. It's important to understand that pressure washing machines can be quite dangerous if not handled properly.
Pressure washing often involves heavy-duty equipment, ladders, and more, which can be both intimidating and dangerous for untrained individuals. It's important to understand that pressure washing machines can be quite dangerous if not handled properly.
Pressure washing often involves heavy-duty equipment, ladders, and more, which can be both intimidating and dangerous for untrained individuals. It's important to understand that pressure washing machines can be quite dangerous if not handled properly.
Pressure washing often involves heavy-duty equipment, ladders, and more, which can be both intimidating and dangerous for untrained individuals. It's important to understand that pressure washing machines can be quite dangerous if not handled properly.
Pressure washing often involves heavy-duty equipment, ladders, and more, which can be both intimidating and dangerous for untrained individuals. It's important to understand that pressure washing machines can be quite dangerous if not handled properly.
Pressure washing often involves heavy-duty equipment, ladders, and more, which can be both intimidating and dangerous for untrained individuals. It's important to understand that pressure washing machines can be quite dangerous if not handled properly.
At Peppers Pressure Washing, we evaluate every pressure washing project with a fresh eye, knowing that no two situations are ever the same. As a licensed and insured pressure washing company in South Carolina, our goal is to leave your home and property looking its best, whether you need a one-time cleaning for your driveway or recurring services for your business. Whatever your needs may be, you can always rely on Peppers Pressure Washing for high-quality power washing at cost-conscious prices.
OPINION AND COMMENTARYEditorials and other Opinion content offer perspectives on issues important to our community and are independent from the work of our newsroom reporters. Opinion A Sunday morning national news program has a weekly segment titled “Lives Well Lived” to honor the lives of recently deceased people who have used wisdom and compassion to make meaningful contributions to society. South Carolina lost one such pers...
OPINION AND COMMENTARY
Editorials and other Opinion content offer perspectives on issues important to our community and are independent from the work of our newsroom reporters.
A Sunday morning national news program has a weekly segment titled “Lives Well Lived” to honor the lives of recently deceased people who have used wisdom and compassion to make meaningful contributions to society. South Carolina lost one such person last month, a lady whose life was redolent with creativity, compassion and love for her native Edisto Island.
Emily Meggett was not necessarily a household name in our state, but she should have been. And although she received national praise and attention last year for the publication of her cookbook, “Gullah Geechee Home Cooking: Recipes From the Matriarch of Edisto Island,” she remained what she had always been — a lady who loved the place where she was born and where she spent her entire life, the place she and her husband raised 10 children.
“Ms. Emily,” as everyone called her, died at the age of 90 in April.
In a day in which we spend too much time fascinated about infamous and scandalous citizens of our state, it’s refreshing to take a breather and recognize a lady like Ms. Emily.
For the past year, her culinary skills and her philosophy of life have made her a revered figure, ever since the cookbook she wrote appeared on The New York Times bestseller list and was nominated just last week for a 2023 James Beard cookbook award, an honor that came only a few days after Ms. Emily’s death.
Called by the Times, “the first high-profile cookbook centered on the food of the descendants of the enslaved people of the coastal South,” the book’s 123 recipes were ones Ms. Emily made for her husband and children, her large church family, and for families for whom Ms. Emily had worked as a cook over the years. It was one of these families who encouraged her to write the cookbook and helped her put it together.
She never used a recipe herself, never measured her ingredients, and created her dishes based on what had been handed down in her family for many generations.
According to those who knew her well, Ms. Emily spent much of her life giving to people on Edisto Island who needed her help. Long before her success as a cookbook author, she spent nearly 70 years gaining the reputation of someone who gave what she could to people who needed help, especially those who needed food to eat. She often drove around Edisto Island with a pot of food in her car, seeking people who needed a meal, and as she once said, “asking God to lead her to especially needy people.”
Her cookbook fame publicized the fact that everyone who knew Ms. Emily understood that, if her kitchen door was open, anyone could stop by for food. Evidently, this inspired several of her cookbook fans to travel across the country to see if her kitchen door was open, not to eat her food but to thank her for her amazing recipes.
I was one of those folks who wanted to just drop by and say hello and thank her for the best deviled crab recipe on the planet, as well as marvel at her life of helping others.
When a friend and I arrived at her house, the kitchen door was closed, so we turned to leave. One of Ms. Emily’s daughters appeared at the door to tell us that her mother was not at home, and I asked if I could leave a note for her.
My note didn’t say all I wanted to say, but I was happy to have left it for her. I just wanted to thank this lady who loved the land, who loved her heritage, who offered help to others as part of her everyday life, and who gave the world a glimpse of our state that is inspiring.
Hers was indeed a life well lived.
The Lowcountry has many outdoor offerings for parks and preserved land that make for excellent destinations for recreation. Hiking trails in area parks are particularly enjoyable on flat, sandy coastal paths and former roads. They may not offer the challenge of foothills’ verticality, but they usually include unparalleled vistas and abundant wildlife viewing.You can pedal along bikeways and paths in many parks and wildlife refuges, but usually those are in specially designated areas.Adventure can also be found if you are ...
The Lowcountry has many outdoor offerings for parks and preserved land that make for excellent destinations for recreation. Hiking trails in area parks are particularly enjoyable on flat, sandy coastal paths and former roads. They may not offer the challenge of foothills’ verticality, but they usually include unparalleled vistas and abundant wildlife viewing.
You can pedal along bikeways and paths in many parks and wildlife refuges, but usually those are in specially designated areas.
Adventure can also be found if you are equestrian-minded and prefer horseback riding beneath a canopy of sea island trees.
Few parks and preserves combine all three of these pursuits, but one local destination does — and it is dog-friendly too!
Meggett County Park is one of Charleston County Park system’s newest additions and offers a quiet place to experience the natural wonders of the diverse Lowcountry landscape. At a little over 400 acres, Meggett County Park offers nearly five miles of trails and paths that are open for hiking, biking and equestrian pursuits. Plus, your dog can join you for friendly, four-legged company along your path.
When you visit Meggett County Park, you will discover sandy, well-tended paths that incorporate old farm roads and hint at the agricultural past and present of the surrounding land. Your path will take you through new-growth forests where the woods are working to reclaim old farmland.
Soon after your journey begins, you will discover an island of stately live oaks amid the young pines, where resurrection fern and Spanish moss form a verdant crown in the canopy above. A trail junction reveals the remains of a farm shed, offering a window to the past. The occasional fence post and rusted twist of wire beckon to a day when the land represented the livelihood of families in the community.
The trail takes you into the wild sunlight on the edge of the vast tidal marsh, where a raised path joins a causeway to a small island perched on a deep tidal creek. A maritime forest of palmetto and pine above your head capture the Atlantic breeze and myriad songbirds chatter and call in the woods around you. Meggett County Park makes it easy to love the natural beauty of the Lowcountry.
My family and I recently visited Meggett County Park for a day hike. The quiet parking area offered an easy spot for a tailgate picnic. Our 7-year old beagle, Lucy, had joined us, and she eagerly greeted other canine and human visitors as they arrived for their own outdoor adventure. The trails offered easy walking, and at one point we were captivated by the tunnel-like effect of tall trees formed along a former farm fence row where sweetgum and maple seemed to touch tops in the sky.
Near the marsh, where the path entered the margin, a recent rain had left deep puddles from the hoofprints of other visitors on horseback. These were easily avoided — although neither our beagle nor our young sons seemed to mind at all.
We soon crossed the marsh on the raised causeway, and the path took us around the edge of a small wooded island, offering views of seemingly endless marsh and sparkling tidal waterways. After a brief rest to enjoy the scenery, we found ourselves back at our vehicle and heading home, feeling happy and longing to return.
Meggett County Park is located at 7247 Ethel Post Office Rd., Meggett, S.C., and is fairly easy to find. The Meggett community is in a rural section of Charleston County, between Beaufort and Charleston and near the town of Ravenel. To get to Meggett County Park, head north on U.S. 17 to Ravenel and turn right onto S.C. 165, where you will pass through the small town of Hollywood, S.C. After 1.5 miles, take a slight left turn onto Wilson Rd./S-10-1159. At 1.5 miles further, turn right at the crossroads onto Ethel Post Office Road. The entrance to Meggett County Park is on the left side of the road at 1.4 miles.
There is an unpaved parking area. There are no facilities, so bring water and bug repellent as the season demands. Remember to show courtesy on the trail; you will share it with hikers, bicyclists and equestrian visitors. Dogs are allowed on a 6-foot leash, and you will need to clean up after them.
Meggett County Park is open year-round and requires a day-use fee of $1, to be paid at the box. It’s a tremendous bargain for hours of enjoyment in the Lowcountry outdoors. For more information on Meggett County Park and other Charleston County parks, visit ccprc.com.
This story was originally published February 9, 2021, 6:00 AM.
Former members of Charleston Boxing Club often ask Allah Meggett how he feels about having big shoes to fill.After the passing of his father, boxing club founder Al “Hollywood” Meggett, more eyes turned to Allah. As president of the club’s board of directors, he has been instrumental in plans for the club’s reopening.He’s not worried.“He’s never made me feel like he wanted me to be him,” Allah said. “He knows there’s never going to be another Hollywood.”...
Former members of Charleston Boxing Club often ask Allah Meggett how he feels about having big shoes to fill.
After the passing of his father, boxing club founder Al “Hollywood” Meggett, more eyes turned to Allah. As president of the club’s board of directors, he has been instrumental in plans for the club’s reopening.
He’s not worried.
“He’s never made me feel like he wanted me to be him,” Allah said. “He knows there’s never going to be another Hollywood.”
Hollywood founded Charleston Boxing Club in 1983. Working as a nighttime security guard and starting out with just one punching bag, he grew his club into a perennial powerhouse. Even Muhammad Ali paid a visit for the grand opening.
Hollywood put just as much emphasis on his boxers’ character as their prowess in the ring.
“We don’t just teach kids how to box,” Allah said. “We teach them how to deal with other individuals and the world around us. ”
Coming in as young kids and adolescents, Hollywood’s boxers got a kind of structure and “tough love” that not all of them could get at home. Having a community to turn to after school keeps kids out of trouble, Councilman Jason Sakran said. Sakran is director of after-school programming for Charleston County Schools and a representative of North Central Charleston, where the club was located.
“I can’t tell you how critical the hours of three to six are during the day for kids,” he said.
About five years ago, the club began struggling financially. Around the same time, the city closed the building it was housed in for long-overdue renovations. A lengthy remodeling process began in 2018.
Now renovations are nearly complete, and the boxing club at 1099 King St. has a five-year lease in its name approved by City Council on Dec. 7. The club will occupy the first floor while the second floor will be used for community meetings and events, said Sakran who helped secure the lease.
One of the club’s former boxers and trainers, Darren “Broadway” Whitaker, will serve as head coach, bringing with him his own lessons from Hollywood.
Charleston County Councilwoman Anna Johnson grew up in rural James Island during the 1950s and ’60s, a time when South Carolina schools were on the brink of integration.Like others on the island, Johnson attended W. Gresham Meggett High School, the only school for black children. She graduated in 1966 and went on to pursue a political career.“I never dreamt of becoming a politician,” Johnson said at a gathering of Gresham Meggett alumni on Sunday.As part of a federally funded effort to document African-...
Charleston County Councilwoman Anna Johnson grew up in rural James Island during the 1950s and ’60s, a time when South Carolina schools were on the brink of integration.
Like others on the island, Johnson attended W. Gresham Meggett High School, the only school for black children. She graduated in 1966 and went on to pursue a political career.
“I never dreamt of becoming a politician,” Johnson said at a gathering of Gresham Meggett alumni on Sunday.
As part of a federally funded effort to document African-American history and the civil rights movement across the country, the Charleston County Zoning and Planning Department and researchers from New South Associates LLC will document the memories of the students who attended W. Gresham Meggett High School.
The school was one of several South Carolina equalization schools created in 1951 from state funding for “separate but equal” education. It was James Island’s only school for black children and provided K-12 education from 1953 to 1966. The school was named for W. Gresham Meggett (1903–1990), a former chair of the James Island School Board. In 1994, the Septima P. Clark Corporate Academy vocational school moved to the campus.
On Sunday, Johnson encouraged her peers to participate in the study, titled “A Journey to Equal Education: Stories from Historic African-American Communities.” The oral histories would be a gift to future generations of African-American students, she said.
“We didn’t realize we had a story to tell about coming here, but we do,” she said. “We can truly let the world know the people on James Island have a story to tell.”
Interviews with alumni, former teachers and staff members will likely begin in February, said lead historian Mary Beth Reed. This spring, New South Associates researchers plan to host a “heritage day,” in which alumni are encouraged to bring any photographs, documents and artifacts they may have from their high school days. Examples of relevant artifacts would be yearbooks, engagement rings or prom boutonnieres, she said.
Of the 30 alumni who attended a recent informational meeting, only a dozen raised their hands when asked if they wanted to be interviewed.
A 1954 graduate asked Reed who would benefit from her sharing her memories.
“You’re telling your story the way it happened to you during this time period,” Reed said. “You’re adding to the historical record.”
The documentation of the segregated Charleston-area school is timely given the state of education for black children today, Johnson said.
“Amen,” said Barbara Brown, W. Gresham Meggett class of 1966.
Brown said she often describes her high school experience to her children, who attended James Island High School. Though their school was integrated, the quality of their education was inferior to what she received, Brown said. Her children were years behind in reading, for example.
A recent Post and Courier investigation found that de facto segregation continues to permeate the state’s education system today. One in eight public schools have a student body that is comprised of 90 percent or more minority students. About 36,000 children, mostly white, choose not to attend the public schools each year and go to private ones instead, the newspaper found.
“I always said, ‘Give us equal education,’” Brown said. “Integration was almost a disadvantage for our children.”
This effort was one of four South Carolina history projects to receive help from the National Park Service’s African American Civil Rights Grants Program. The Obama-era program was created in 2016 with about $8 million in revenue from federal oil leases.
The Gresham Meggett project received a $50,000 grant, while a second Charleston-based project, “Documenting and Sharing the History of Mosquito Beach and its Role in the Civil Rights Movement,” received a $43,084 grant. Two Orangeburg projects also received funding: The historic Trinity Methodist Church received $500,000 toward its repair; and Claflin University, a historically black college, received $50,000 toward a plan for its South Carolina Trustee Hall.
Redux Contemporary Art Center’s new leader wants to build a more sustainable nonprofit that can grow its offerings to artists, families and the broader community.
Expanding programs and finding financial sustainability go hand-in-hand for the future of a cornerstone nonprofit in the Lowcountry arts community, said Allan Bunch, now the executive director of Redux.
Bunch, who started Nov. 1, is in his early months on the job where he said he’s focused on listening to community needs.
Since moving into its 1056 King St. home of 15,000 square feet in 2017, Redux’s annual revenue grew from about $278,000 to about $650,000 in 2022, according to the nonprofit’s federal tax forms. The nonprofit’s expenses roughly matched its revenue in those years as the debt from its 2017 move shrank.
“Education and outreach are great opportunities for us,” he said. “But it all kind of keeps coming back to sustainability. We’re fine, but there are a lot of opportunities.”
Bunch is reluctant to give specific solutions about space needs for artists and expanding high-demand programs. But he has an inkling of what the nonprofit needs to work on and what its future could be under his stewardship. Since its founding in 2002 by a collection of College of Charleston students, Redux has expanded to the point where it offers free year-round exhibitions in three galleries, classes, camps, and the only community printmaking and photo darkrooms in the Lowcountry.
One high-demand program includes the nonprofit’s no-cost six-week lightning residencies to provide up-and-coming artists a place to practice their craft in a studio and exhibit their work. Such residencies happen four times a year and accept two artists per round. Bunch said application volume ranges from dozens to hundreds.
MEGGETT, S.C. (WCBD) – Lowcountry Leadership Charter School is celebrating ten years of creating leaders through Project Based Learning experiences. Students say their school is the G.O.A.T. literally.For students at Lowcountry Leadership Charter School in Meggett, South Carolina, a day of learning involves feeding and tending to goats and chickens.“We have wonderful CTE programs in our high school, that’s Career and Technical Education. Our largest CTE program is agriculture. We have a farm on campus,” ...
MEGGETT, S.C. (WCBD) – Lowcountry Leadership Charter School is celebrating ten years of creating leaders through Project Based Learning experiences. Students say their school is the G.O.A.T. literally.
For students at Lowcountry Leadership Charter School in Meggett, South Carolina, a day of learning involves feeding and tending to goats and chickens.
“We have wonderful CTE programs in our high school, that’s Career and Technical Education. Our largest CTE program is agriculture. We have a farm on campus,” said school leader Julianne Lang.
“Here on the farm, we feed animals. We learn how to use heavy machinery. We take the eggs, we sell them. The milk from the goat we use to make lotion and lipstick,” explained tenth-grade student Braden Van Dort.
Students there are excelling in agricultural business.
“Our AG teacher makes it fun. We experience new things. It’s more than just agriculture, we learn business, life goals,” he said.
Agricultural education teacher Katie Bell says, “It’s a learning laboratory. Every animal and plant here has a purpose. We teach everything from plant science to animal science. Students in high school can become completers, which is CTE program here, that’s an extra certification at graduation. They can also be a part of our FFA chapter, Future Farmers of America. We do a lot of leadership activities, so the students not only learn hands-on real-world skills in the program, but they’re also becoming leaders in the community, and in the nation.” Junior Keziah Darby is planning a career in agriculture and says she has a major head start. “If you take four classes, you get a certificate. It basically helps you with your scholarships. I like that we’re hands-on, and not just you do this, you do that. Everyone is hands-on with it.”
This is just one of the Career Technical Education opportunities at LLCS.
School leader Julianne Lang said the focus is on developing leaders through Project Based experiences. “So, our mission is to have a safe exceptional academic environment that cultivates independent learners through hands-on experiences,” she said.
LLCS serves more than 500 students in K-5 through 12th grade, in Charleston, Dorchester, and Colleton counties.
And the state charter school has academic bragging rights. “We do outperform all of our local schools academically,” said Lang.
Inside the classroom, students in Mrs. Jasmine Winn’s math class are learning about statistics and probability with a fun twist.
“Every Wednesday, we have fantasy football Wednesday, our big project for the first two quarters. They get to take actual NFL players and use their points and stats to calculate using formulas to see how many points their players got, and they’re competing against other students in the class in healthy competition. Lots of math, they learn how to graph, analyze charts and data, statistics and probability,” said Winn. “It helps keep kids engaged, who don’t respond well to traditional learning, really respond well to project-based learning when they get to have real-world experiences. Our school is the coolest school.”
LLCS renews its charter this year, as they celebrate ten years, and look ahead to the next ten.
Lang says, “The mission for us to develop accountable leaders, community stewards, and diverse thinkers is really what we’ve seen come to fruition with our school. We’re still continuing to grow some of our programs, and we’re really excited about that growth. We’re starting an addition to the facility soon, and expanding a little bit, and so we’re really excited about the future at LLCS.”
If you would like to nominate a Cool School or educator, send an email to Octavia Mitchell at [email protected].
