Q.  How does a Charter school differ from a public school?
A. Here are a few things to consider about charter schools:

Q.  What is the focus of Bridgewater Academy?
A.  Bridgewater Academy created their charter with concept of lowering the student staff ratio to 17:1.  We believe in a more personalized approach to education by forming personal relationships with our students and parents.

Q. Who are the teachers that teach at Bridgewater Academy?
A.  Teachers at Bridgewater Academy are fully credentialed and qualified teachers.  Charter school law allows for a percentage of teachers to be uncertified.  Only a small percentage of teachers at Bridgewater Academy are uncertified.

Q. How many students attend Bridgewater Academy?
A.  Currently our charter is written for a maximum of 154 students.  We have no plans to modify that number.

Q. What grade levels does Bridgewater Academy cover?
A.  We have grades kindergarten through eighth grade.

Q. Why do the students wear uniforms at Bridgewater Academy?
A.  We decided to have the students wear uniforms for several reasons.  First, it eliminates distractions in the learning environment.  Second, it minimizes discipline issues concerning appropriate clothing.  Third, it sets our school apart from the traditional public school.  Lastly, we emphasize character education at Bridgewater Academy.  We believe that students should be held to high standards of respect.  Clothing is an outward expression of respect for oneself.

Q. What type of curriculum does Bridgewater Academy offer their students?
A.  Bridgewater Academy follows the academic standards set forth by the South Carolina Department of Education.   The difference between traditional public schools and our charter school is the flexibility we have to deliver the curriculum in more creative, innovative way.  In addition, we have the ability to more closely monitor our students' progress and can adjust the curriculum accordingly.

Q. Do students with behavior problems get sent to Bridgewater Academy?
A.  Bridgewater Academy is sponsored by Horry County Schools.  We have agreed to support decisions they have made regarding students that have been recommended to attend the Alternative school.  In other words, students that are referred to the alternative school cannot attend Bridgewater Academy as an alternative school.

Q. What types of clubs and sports does Bridgewater Academy offer?
A.  Bridgewater Academy participates in the Christian Sports League in the Myrtle Beach area.  Currently, we offer basketball, volleyball, and soccer for grades 5-8.  We have a number of clubs that include: gardening club, technology club, jump rope club, peer tutoring, theatre group, chorus, the recycling 'Green Team', and building club.  In addition, we have tutoring built into our after-school schedule for students that are experiencing difficulty with the curriculum.

Q. How does your school calendar compare with the public school calendar?
A.  Our calendar very closely resembles Horry County's school calendar; yet, there are a few minor differences.  Similar to public school, our mandatory minimum number of school days is 180.  Typically, the average number of hours per school days is are more than public school.