About Us
Founded in 2007, University School of the Lowcountry (USL) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, independent school in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. We serve grades 3-12 in a co-educational and non-sectarian environment. USL has been accredited by the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) since 2008.
Mission and Vision
University School of the Lowcountry is an independent school serving grades 3-12 that engages students in a variety of empirically proven and forward thinking educational and service opportunities both in and outside of the classroom and challenges students in age appropriate ways to excel academically while growing in emotional intelligence in a culture that teaches and practices the importance of citizenship.
Our vision is to develop outstanding students who are well prepared to be scholars, leaders and global citizens of the future.
Hallmarks of a USL Education
At USL, we prioritize "learning by doing." Our hallmark Learning Outside the Classroom (LOTC) program helps students connect their academic lessons with the world around them. We hope you'll continue to read more about the impact of our Learning Outside the Classroom program.
As a school for high-achieving students, we offer rigorous academics, but we also place great value in relationship building. You'll see this in the strong bonds our students have with our faculty members. You'll see this as students begin to recognize their own strengths and weaknesses and partner with others to learn and grow together. You'll see this in the mentoring that happens every day between our older and younger students. We hope you'll read more about our approach to learning in a recent Q&A with founder and Head of School, Jason Kreutner, published in The Charleston Mercury.
Accreditations and Memberships
University School is accredited by the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) (initial accreditation in 2008 and reaccredited in 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2021).
Other organizations of which University School maintains membership include:
- National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
- Palmetto Association of Independent Schools (PAIS)
- Association for Experiential Education (AEE)
- Independent School Management Consortium (ISM)
- National Business Officers Association (NBOA)
- Together SC (formerly South Carolina Association of Nonprofits)
- South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA)
USL has been awarded Darkness to Light’s Partner in Prevention distinction every year since 2011. We were part of the inaugural class for this, and it honors our commitment to the prevention of child sexual abuse and to helping children grow up healthy and whole. USL faculty is trained in Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children program every August, and all parent volunteers for overnight trips take the same program and have their backgrounds checked.
