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Education

For more than 40 years, the Center for Accelerated Technology Training and its readySC™ program have been recognized as one of the nation’s premier economic development training programs. We are ready to help organizations start-up quickly and efficiently in today’s competitive environment providing custom designed solutions such as workforce recruiting and testing, curriculum and materials development, innovative training design and delivery and experienced project management throughout the entire process—all of this at little to no cost for our client organizations.

readySC™ is ready to provide companies relocating to or expanding in South Carolina with our unparalleled start-up expertise, our truly customized training solutions, our innovative training delivery and our never-ending commitment to responsiveness and flexibility.

For more than 40 years, the Center for Accelerated Technology Training and its readySC™ program have been recognized as one of the nation’s premier economic development training programs. We are ready to help organizations start-up quickly and efficiently in today’s competitive environment by providing custom designed solutions. These include workforce recruiting and testing, curriculum and materials development, innovative training design and delivery and experienced project management throughout the entire process—all at little to no cost for our client organizations.

readySC™ is ready to provide companies relocating to or expanding in South Carolina with our unparalleled start-up expertise, our truly customized training solutions, our innovative training delivery and our never-ending commitment to responsiveness and flexibility.

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Colleges and Universities

Orangeburg County, South Carolina is home to three major educational institutions that mold the local workforce into one of the most sought-after and competitive labor pools in the southeast. Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, Claflin University, and South Carolina State University have an alliance that fosters educational excellence in the local workforce, creating a technically advanced set of potential employees. Orangeburg is also home to Southern Methodist College.

Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College (OCTech)

The mission of Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College (OCtech) is to provide quality and affordable comprehensive education programs that will have a positive social and economic impact on the lives of the citizens of Orangeburg and Calhoun Counties and the state of South Carolina.Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College is an associate degree-awarding two-year public institution. As an open admissions institution, it serve students with diverse backgrounds and ability levels from a primarily rural region, enrolling approximately 2,900 – 3,300 credit students and 3,000 non-credit students annually. Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College values the quality and effectiveness of its programs, promoting ethical standards in all aspects of the College’s operation. The College seeks success of each student in an environment that provides opportunity for lifelong learning in a complex, global society.

The College’s goal is to serve as a conduit for community and economic development opportunities by providing a well-trained workforce. Specifically, OCTech’s programs of study include business, computer technology, engineering technology, general education, health sciences, industrial technology, nursing, and public service. In addition, students can earn college credits that can be transferred to a four-year institution.

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Claflin University

Founded in 1869, Claflin University is an independent, liberal arts, co-educational, historically black institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It is dedicated to educational excellence and preparing students without regard to gender, race, religion or ethnic origin. It is committed to offering quality undergraduate programs, select graduate programs, and viable continuing education opportunities.At the undergraduate level, the University ensures that students receive a liberal arts education that is designed to develop men and women of vision who demonstrate extraordinary achievement, distinctive confidence and a lifelong desire to transform society thought selfless leadership. Students are offered a rich academic experience, a thorough grounding in their chosen discipline, significant research and internships programs and valuable community service activities. Undergraduates are encouraged to understand and appreciate religious and cultural values in a universal context. Claflin honor’s the University’s heritage by providing life changing educational and personal opportunities for all her students.

At the graduate level, students are provided instruction to enhance the analytical and comprehensive research acumen necessary for professional growth and leadership. Continuing education programs create avenues for students to complete their educational objectives and develop skills necessary to advance their careers, their defined goals and to achieve personal fulfillment.

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South Carolina State University

Since 1896, South Carolina State University has maintained a legacy of excellence in education. It has been home to generations of scholars and leaders in business, military service, government, athletics, education, medicine, science, engineering technology and more. Located in Orangeburg, S.C., SC State was founded as a land grant college with a mission of providing education and service to the citizens of the state. In its first century, SC State was a leader in education and continues to lead the way into the next century.South Carolina State University is committed to providing affordable and accessible quality undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Enrollment is approximately 4,800 with 60 baccalaureate programs in the areas of applied professional sciences, arts and humanities, business, education, and engineering technology and sciences. Master’s level programs are offered in teaching, human services, and agribusiness. Moreover, State is one of three universities in South Carolina to offer a doctoral program in Educational Administration and one of two schools in the state to offer an accredited master’s degree program in Speech-Language Pathology. Students also have enjoyed summer study-abroad programs in Ghana and the Dominican Republic.

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Southern Methodist College

A private, four-year, coeducational college, Southern Methodist College is located near Orangeburg’s Edisto Memorial Gardens on a 50-acre estate. The College relocated from Aiken, South Carolina to Orangeburg in 1961. The overall structure of the College seeks to develop general education, intellectual abilities, Bible knowledge, spiritual maturity, ministry, and leadership skills through academic instruction, experimental learning, and career development.Visit Website

Orangeburg’s Technology Center also offers a wide-range of courses, including health and human services, culinary arts, health science technology, accounting, business administration, computer technology, marketing, industrial engineering, and computer-related design (CAD). In addition, the Technology Center is home to the Distance Learning Center, which has an interactive video production facility and short distance learning studio.

Schools

Primary and Secondary Public Education
There are over 16,000 students in the three public school districts (Districts 3, 4, and 5) throughout Orangeburg County. Within these three districts, there are 17 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 8 high schools – all with programs designed to help pupils meet their full potential as students, citizens, and future employees. The overall mission of the public school system in Orangeburg County is to ensure that all students will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve their goals and become contributing members of the community. In order to meet this goal, the county spends above the state average per student. That’s why the students in Orangeburg County schools are not only challenged, but they also enjoy the learning experience.

Orangeburg School District 3
District 3’s motto is “Teamwork in Education.” Together with the mission, “To ensure that all students possess the skills necessary to be lifelong learners and responsible, productive citizens in a global society by providing challenging experiences in a safe and nurturing environment,” the district is able to reach the goals of:

  • Excellence
  • Collaboration
  • Accountability
  • Technology

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Orangeburg School District 4
District 4’s mission is to “develop creative problem solvers and critical thinkers by providing a variety of innovative, educational experiences in a safe environment, enabling students to reach their maximum potential in an ever-changing world.” The District offers

  • Distance learning with video conferencing capabilities
  • Student/computer ratio of 5:1
  • Reduced class size in grades 1-3
  • World-class facilities and
  • Wide selection of extracurricular activities.

In addition, the district is home to the Cope Area Career Center, which offers up-to-date courses in 8 occupational areas, including

  • Automotive technology,
  • Building construction,
  • Cisco networking I & II,
  • Computer-aided drafting,
  • Cosmetology,
  • Health occupations,
  • Industrial electricity,
  • Masonry construction, and
  • Welding & metal fabrication technology.

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Orangeburg School District 5
District 5 strives to meet the demands of a constantly changing, technologically complex world and workplace. It’s mission is to “ensure a high quality education for all students by providing challenging learning opportunities.”

In addition, the district has implemented a new International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program. This program is available to the district’s brightest and most highly motivated students and is recognized by prestigious colleges and universities throughout the world.

The South Carolina Department of Education has implemented a “Report Card” system to monitor educational improvements in each of the state’s school districts. To view the most recent Report Card, click on the appropriate district.

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Private Education
The private school system offers an alternative in education. There are eleven private schools dispersed throughout the County: Three kindergartens, four grade schools (1 through 8), and four schools with grades 1 through 12. These schools receive much praise due to their percentage of college-bound graduates.

Private Schools in Orangeburg County

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