About Us
University School at a Glance
The below points highlight some of the key attributes of University School. To gain a sense of the daily workings of the school, please review reflections and pictures from 2007-2008 , 2008-2009 or 2009-2010.
* downloadable flyer (PDF) - Learning Outside the Classroom experiences
* downloadable flyer (PDF) - "USL at a Glance"
* Co-educational, non-sectarian, non-profit independent school with tax-exempt status, 501(c)(3).
* Grades 3–8 are currently served.
- Contingent upon demand, 9th grade will start in 2011-2012, and remaining high school grades will begin in the three following years.
* 8:1 student to teacher ratio.
* Geared to high-achieving students of above-average ability.
* Results - For the past three school years, over 30% of Univesity School students participating in the Duke 7th grade Talent Identification Program received state-level recognition for scoring at least a 510 on either section of the SAT.
* Results - Since the 2007-2008 school year, USL students have taken the Stanford Achievement Test and performed exceptionally well. These results were linked to each student's performance on the OLSAT ability test. This allowed for achievement test comparisons of USL students with other students of equivalent ability. Most USL students score 3-4 levels higher than their grade and outperform their ability peer group.
* USL is a laptop school. Each teacher and student is provided a wireless notebook computer for use at University School (1 to 1 ratio).
* USL students come from across the tri-county area: Charleston, Daniel Island, Folly Beach Isle of Palms, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Sullivan's Island, and West Ashley.
* All students receive high-level instruction in Spanish, Mandarin and Latin.
* USL's prudent financial model enabled us to keep the same tuition ($8500) for three straight years (2007-2008 through 2009-2010). Tuition increased by 2% for 2010-2011 to account for the cost of school bus ownership. Approximately 20% of the student population receives financial assistance. For more information, please see the Admissions page.
* All students benefit from USL's hallmark on-line Writing program. Students compose weekly assignments, and the feedback and instruction is tailored to each student's individual strengths and weaknesses. The course is ungraded, and it allows students to grow as effective and prolific writers.
* Many aspects of a student's course of study are individualized based on a student's interests and abilities. This includes our program for job shadowing to explore careers of interest to each student.
* USL features "Learning Outside of the Classroom." Regular interaction with and service to the community are hallmarks of our program. The Lowcountry is our classroom, and students spend one day per week "learning by doing" through experiences that challenge and inspire them. This entails over 30 field trips per year.
Bulls Island Expedition
specimen collection and identification on one of the largest undeveloped stretches of beach on the Atlantic coast
* A key aspect of USL is the involvement of teenage and young adult mentors in the lives of our students. We have a mentor from every major high school option for our students, and the mentors are regularly involved in our students' lives at school and at evening and weekend school-sponsored activities. USL students also mentor younger students from Hibben Preschool.
* Inquiry-based, hands-on curriculum that features multiple teaching styles and multiple forms of assessment.
* Regular service to and involvement with the greater community.
* Program designed to exceed the entrance requirements of all area public and private high schools, including Academic Magnet, Wando, Bishop England, Porter-Gaud, and Ashley Hall.
* Memberships: South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA), Association for Experiential Education (AEE), Independent School Management Consortium (ISM), S.C. Association of NonProfit Organizations (SCANPO), and National Business Officers Association (NBOA). Beginning in 2010-2011 USL is joining Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
* Accreditation: University School is accredited by the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA). USL also intends to earn Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) accreditation.
* Standardized Testing for College Admissions Preparation and Accountability - PSAT administration in 8th grade, Stanford Achievement Test (national and independent school norms) administration in all grades, and participation in Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP) for 7th Graders (take the SAT).
* Significant opportunities for earning high school credit - Although many middle schools provide an option to earn credit in Algebra and/or a Global Language, University School provides opportunities to advance and to earn high school credit in Algebra, Algebra II, and Geometry (enhancing one’s options to take AP/IB/college-level math and science courses before graduating from high school). Students in USL's Middle School for all three years will graduate having completed Spanish I, Spanish II and Latin I for high school credit. Similar opportunities are available in other Global Languages.
*Tuition Assistance at University School - USL is committed to providing access to families who would not have the opportunity to attend at full tuition. We want to make our program accessible to qualified students in the Lowcountry. By having tuition assistance, many families realize that a University School education is within their financial reach. For the 2010-2011 school year, approximately 20% of the student body receives tuition assistance ranging up to 90%. For more information on this program, please see the Admissions page.
Founder & Head of School
Jason Kreutner, raised in Mount Pleasant and a current resident, is founder and Head of University School of the Lowcountry. He has extensive experience as an educator and leader in independent schools and is a recipient of a National Association of Independent Schools NAIS Fellowship for Aspiring School Heads (2006-2007 school year). Prior to establishing USL, he was Dean of Students and then Director of Studies at Charleston Collegiate School, served as Upper School Dean and History Department Chair at Porter-Gaud School, and was Dean of Students and Humanities Instructor at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia, SC. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the South Carolina Honors College and received his master’s degree from Emory University in History. Kreutner was recognized by the South Carolina Independent School Association as the Headmaster "Rookie of the Year" for the 2007-2008 school year.
Mr. Kreutner is married to Ashleigh (Tasha) Eady, a member of the corporate management team for Gilligan's restaurants. They have one daughter, Kessler. In addition to his work in education, he is Head Coach of Snee Farm Swim Team.
