For lifelong South Carolinian and mother of three Courtenay Ellis, public magnet schools are all about intention.
“We chose private school from the very beginning,” says Shaylah MacDonald.
“The biggest tragedy in life is doing what you are not passionate about,” said Pastor Julio Sotero of Greenville, South Carolina.
It’s a chilly December afternoon outside in Greenville’s Judson community, but inside the cafeteria of the Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church there’s a warm hive of activity.
Beth Richardson did her homework so that her children could find a high-quality school.
Jay Jackson liked his local public school and did well on his report cards. He even enrolled in some of the advanced classes that his school offered. However, Jay's parents, Randy and Janice, noticed something peculiar: They never saw Jay do any homework.
Kimberly Diveley was fortunate to have a Blue Ribbon public school just down the street.
“Not my son,” Marilyn calmly whispered as she listened to the local news regarding the deterioration of the neighborhood public schools. Though outwardly silent, she made a thunderous inner vow. Her son would acquire an education and break the cycle of housing projects, violence, broken homes, and hopelessness. It would end here.