SC Charter School Wins $25K for Top Academic Growth

Berkeley Preparatory Academy is showing South Carolina what's possible when schools focus on growth instead of excuses.

The Summerville charter school walked away with six academic awards and $25,000 in performance bonuses on January 7 during the Charter Institute at Erskine's statewide Academic Showcase. The celebration recognized schools that pushed students to new heights during the 2024-2025 school year.

Berkeley's elementary school earned $10,000 after scoring an Overall Good rating on the South Carolina School Report Card. The middle school took home $15,000 for achieving an Overall Excellent rating, proving that different grade levels can excel under one roof.

But the real headline? Berkeley's middle school became the only one in the entire state named the 2025 Math Trailblazer. The school ranked number one among 348 South Carolina middle schools for student progress and achieved the highest middle school math growth across the Institute's portfolio.

"For far too long, the education establishment has funded struggling schools to the exclusion of those who are producing excellence," said Cameron Runyan, superintendent of the Charter Institute at Erskine. "These performance bonuses are a statement that the Institute believes in rewarding the efforts that are producing success for children."

The awards kept coming. Berkeley's elementary school received a Gold School of Distinction award for outperforming its local district while showing above-average growth in both English and math. The middle school earned Platinum School of Excellence status for ranking in the top 25% of all South Carolina middle schools in English and math, plus a Platinum School of Distinction award for significantly above-average growth in both subjects.

The Ripple Effect

What makes Berkeley's success story matter beyond test scores? It's reshaping how South Carolina thinks about education funding. Instead of only pouring money into struggling schools, the state is now celebrating and rewarding the educators who are cracking the code on student achievement.

School leader Alexandria Spry credits the entire community. "Thanks to the hard work of our teachers, students and staff, we continue to establish ourselves as one of the premier educational options in the Lowcountry," she said.

The school serves K-8 students and emphasizes small-group instruction, community-based learning, and college and career readiness. Twenty schools received recognition at the showcase, with the Charter Institute awarding $245,000 in performance bonuses statewide.

When schools prove that every student can grow, everyone wins.