13 Signature Programs
Every student participates in USL's Signature Programs, from Intermediate through Upper School. Each program is designed so that 3rd, 7th or 12th graders can engage in the same learning experience at a level that's developmentally appropriate and challenging for their age. These programs reflect our values, and show how we build a connected community, deepen learning across disciplines, and ensure that every student feels part of something larger than themselves.
Learning Outside the Classroom (LOTCs)
LOTCs are the foundation of USL's educational philosophy—the core program that sets us apart and defines who we are as a school.
Over 30 times every year, our students step outside the classroom and into the real world. History comes alive on battlefield walks. Biology happens on hiking trails where students observe living ecosystems. Students volunteer in the community as active participants in understanding how they can make a difference. They engage with artists, scientists, local business owners, and community leaders who have something genuine to teach.
This is where education becomes real. Where students connect knowledge to the world they live in, and that they have agency within it. LOTC is not something we do at USL. It's how we teach.
Morning Meeting
Every single day, USL gathers as one community; all grades meet together in the gym to start the day, review world news, and discuss what's happening globally. We ask philosophical questions about current events and sit with the complexity of real-world issues. A 3rd grader hears the same news as a 12th grader, and all are invited into genuine conversation about what it means.
Grades interact naturally. Everyone knows everyone's name. Parents are welcome to join. We share announcements, give daily instructions, and most importantly, we are one community committed to understanding the world together.
This daily practice of gathering, listening, and engaging with big ideas sets the tone for everything that follows. Different perspectives are welcome. Understanding the world is a critical part of education here. And everyone belongs.
Community Service
Every student participates in over 40 hours of community service per year. But these efforts are often integrated into the school day as part of curriculum. It's how we teach students that their actions matter and that they are connected to a community that is larger than themselves.
All grades work together on projects that address real community needs. If we plant trees, we talk about ecology and generational planning. If we serve meals at a food bank, we reflect on and discuss food insecurity and systemic inequality. All students regardless of age are invited into genuine work that connects to something larger than themselves. Understanding responsibility and contribution to the place you live is a key part of the heart of USL.
Leadership & Life Skills
Knowing how to emotionally self-regulate, feeling confident in a sense of competence, and understanding self-care are all as (or more) important than academics at USL.
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Throughout the year, we guide students through eight wellness principles: daily exercise, routine, sunlight, good sleep, connectedness, healthy diet, mindfulness, and deep breathing.
All students learn Krav Maga—basic self-defense skills to build competence and confidence.
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Middle and Upper School students are all certified in Red Cross First Aid, CPR, and AED. Every August and again in January, they undergo training. A student who knows how to respond in a medical emergency understands that she is capable, that her actions matter, that she can be the person who helps.
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Students receive Skill Wheels quarterly—feedback on self-leadership qualities that matter: being organized, accepting challenges, modeling good behavior. Rather than a number grade, students reflect on their strengths and set their own goals. Ownership shifts from the teacher to the student.
Civics & Politics
To understand democracy in action, civics at USL is not a textbook class; students engage directly with the democratic process. During election cycles, we host politicians from all parties to speak with students about their platforms and beliefs. Students learn to listen to opposing viewpoints, ask tough questions, and form their own informed opinions.
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During election cycles, all grades participate in exit polling at actual polling locations, collecting real data about voter behavior and analyzing what they've learned. Students attend naturalization ceremonies where they witness the solemnity and significance of becoming a citizen. Throughout each school year, USL also honors the sacrifices of American service members. Select students travel to Columbia to participate in student government programs.
We don't teach students what to think about politics. We teach them how to listen across difference, how to hold multiple perspectives, and how to participate meaningfully in the systems that shape our lives.
Job Shadow
Job Shadow Days put students into real workplaces to observe professionals doing real work—the genuine experience of what a career looks like. Throughout their time at USL, students are exposed to the economic world and the practicalities of work. Job Shadow Day makes it tangible.
A high schooler watches a lawyer navigate a case. A middle schooler observes an engineer solving a problem. They see competence and decision-making in action. They learn what's actually possible.
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After the shadow day, students gather to debrief and share what they witnessed. A quiet observation becomes conversation. Ideas connect. Students learn not just about different careers, but about their own strengths and interests reflected in the work they've observed.
Job Shadow Days happen because professionals in our community volunteer their time and parents arrange transportation. We aim for every student (all grades) to experience at least one shadow day per school year.
Clubs
Clubs run throughout the week: Chess, Art, Quiz Bowl, Science Fair, Novel, Board Games, Crafts, and Cooking Clubs. Clubs bring together students across all grade levels around shared interests and help develop talents outside the classroom structure.
A middle schooler learns chess alongside a high schooler. An intermediate student discovers they love science through hands-on experimentation. A quiet student finds their voice in Novel Club or their confidence through Board Games. That cross-grade community is part of what makes USL feel less like a school and more like a place where different ages naturally belong together, learning from and mentoring each other.
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Chess and Quiz Bowl clubs are also gateways to—and training for—Statewide competitions where our students excel under pressure.
Daily Phys-Ed
Daily physical activity is foundational to how the brain learns, and we are intentional about integrating opporunties to move, have some fun, and clear the brain into every school day. A student who moves is a student who can think more clearly, manage stress, and engage more deeply with difficult material. We know this as a neurological fact, and we feel it as common sense. We practice it daily.
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Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, strengthens focus, improves memory, and regulates emotion. Phys-Ed is physical, and it's fun. We play dodge ball, basketball, build good habits, show that taking care of your body matters, and demonstrate that ​physical wellbeing and intellectual growth are inseparable. Movement matters.
Multi-Culturalism
Building cultural literacy is vital to becoming a well-rounded human being. We introduce students to multiple faiths, visiting churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples each year. Local Native Americans share intimate presentations about their heritage and contemporary life. We celebrate the Day of the Dead. We mark World Language Day where everyone participates in learning across Spanish, Mandarin, and their native tongues. We celebrate Chinese New Year as a school community.
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Grades experience these celebrations together. 3rd graders learn alongside 12th graders that the world contains multitudes and that different perspectives are woven into how we live. Here, experiencing and understanding diverse perspectives is a critical part of education.
Competitions
We love the challenge of competing and asking students to apply what they've learned, step outside their comfort zones, and build genuine confidence in their abilities.
USL is a member of the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA), which lets us compete against other independent schools locally and at the state level, across Intermediate, Middle, and Upper School divisions. A small school can show up in big ways when students are prepared. We take that seriously and our results show that.
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Our Math Meet performance reflects our individualized approach. We were the 2026 Math Champions across all divisions, and have placed first 13 times over the past 14 years.
Quiz Bowl tests knowledge across history, language, current events, and culture. Students compete locally in our Middle School league and regionally and statewide through SCISA.
Battle of the Books challenges reading comprehension and recall as teams compete on designated reading lists. Literary Meet brings students together for poetry recitation, extemporaneous speaking, essay writing, and other literary competitions. Chess tournaments at the SCISA Elementary and Middle School level showcase strategic thinking and competitive preparation. The Scholastic Writing & Art Awards, in partnership with the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, invite our grades 7–12 students to apply their work in 29 categories.
Competing demands preparation, resilience, and a willingness to be measured. Our students are ready.
Mentorship
Mentoring builds a culture where every student is both leader and learner. It runs through everything we do and happens both structurally and socially. Our 8th graders, the leaders of Middle School, each lead an Advisory Group of 3rd–7th graders. As experienced peers, they help younger students navigate school, set goals, and understand that they belong. In daily life, mentoring pairs up naturally: older and younger students walk together, work together, and demonstrate how to show up.
Older mentors are current high school school students, and alumni who have gone on to college. All are achievement-oriented, nurturing, and living proof of what's possible. Students see themselves in these older peers—they watch mentors navigate high school, choose colleges, find their paths. That visibility matters.
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Mentor Nights also happen monthly. Alumni and current mentors come back to bond with students—watch films, share snacks, participate in tournaments, just connect. The joy is palpable. Current students see adults who were in their seat, who thrived, who come back because USL matters. Alumni remember what this community felt like. Everyone leaves feeling like they belong to something larger.
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World Languages
Language study is essential to preparing students for a globally connected world. By building proficiency in other languages, students gain valuable communication skills for future academic and professional opportunities while developing a deeper understanding of the cultures, histories, and perspectives that shape our shared world.
Our World Language program begins with Mandarin from third through fifth grade. Spanish is taken through all grades, enabling students to complete two Carnegie Units in Spanish before entering ninth grade. Celebrated through experiences such as World Language Day, this program encourages curiosity, cultural appreciation, and the confidence to engage thoughtfully across borders.
Overnight Trips
Each of our divisions take overnight trips. The Intermediate School has a two-night experience; the Middle and Upper Schools spend a week traveling each year.
Travel is the best education. In four years of high school, our students will explore 25+ colleges and experience an array of powerful cultural, historic, scientific, artistic and more sites/attractions across the USA and in another country. Past trips have included New England (RI, MA, CT), Eastern Canada by train (Toronto, Quebec City, Ottawa, and Montreal), Germany, and greater Los Angeles.
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Come Visit!
Our Open Houses happen throughout the year. Come meet our teachers, talk to our students, and see what happens when a school is built around how kids actually learn. If you have a curious child who loves to learn but feels frustrated or invisible in traditional school, this might be exactly what you're looking for.