• FOA March 2024
  • Prisma Health Jan 2024
  • Int'l Ballet April 2024
  • CCES Feb 2024
  • YMCA March 2024
  • SCCT March 2024

The Ultimate Homeschool Guide to the Upstate

Posted on |

Looking for classes, activities or supplies for your homeschool in the Upstate region of South Carolina?  Just getting started and have questions about homeschooling legally?  Searching for a full day co-op community to call home?  This Upstate area homeschool resource list should help you out!  Know of something that should be included?  Add it to the comment section below!

For each entry, click on the name to go to the group’s website. This post contains information about the many opportunities in the Upstate, including those of our sponsors.


Homeschool Co-ops

These are programs that offer a full day of classes.  From parent-led groups to hired professional teachers who specialize in specific content areas, the formats and costs of these programs vary widely.

Artios Academy – This homeschool partnership program offers K-12th programs in the academics and the arts. They meet at Grace Church on Pelham Road on Mondays and Wednesdays. High school students can enroll in college prep arts courses in Theater, Art, Music, Media Arts, and Creative Writing.

Christian Home Educators of Easley – This co-op meets at Mt. Airy Baptist Church in Easley on Mondays.  They offer a variety of academic and enrichment classes.  Parents must remain on-site with their children and participate in the classroom and fulfill other roles.

Classical Conversations – Families following the Classical Conversations curriculum have many options for weekly groups in the Greenville area.  The link will bring you to a list of those options.

Greenville Classical Academy – Though this is a complete school for students who are not homeschooled, 7th through 12th grade homeschoolers are welcome to enroll to take individual classes through Greenville Classical Academy’s upper school university model classes.

Hope Homeschool Co-op – This parent led co-op meets at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Fountain Inn.  They offer a full day of academic and enrichment class options for K-12, as well as a nursery program.

Ignite Family Academy Co-op – This new co-op for middle and high school students meets at Mt. Moriah Church in Piedmont.

UCHU STEAM Academy – Meeting in Landrum South Carolina, STEAM in a new co-op offering classes on Thursdays for kindergarten through high school age students.

Upstate Homeschool Co-op – A very popular co-op offering a full day of classes by paid teachers at Taylors First Baptist Church in Taylors.  This group meets Mondays and Wednesdays (Monday only for elementary and middle school classes).  Classes are offered K4-high school.  Parents may drop- off children, but there is a volunteer requirement.  Nursery is available.

Vanguard Homeschool Academy – A group that meets on Tuesdays at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Greer and offers classes for homeschoolers K4-highschool.  Vanguard offers a variety of academic and enrichment classes to choose from.  Students may enroll in just one or two classes, or can choose to enroll in a full day of classes.  Parents are asked to volunteer where possible.  No nursery is available.  Vanguard offers a Graduation Ceremony for all home schooled students. You do not have to be a Vanguard student to participate.

Individual Classes for Homeschoolers

The locations listed below generally specialize in one content area.  These places offer classes to homeschoolers in their areas of expertise.

Airborne Athletics – This gym in Greer offers gymnastics classes for homeschool students in the early afternoon, when the gym is significantly less crowded.

Bob Jones Museum and Gallery – Monthly homeschool arts-integrated homeschool classes.  Note:  While the Museum and Gallery has closed for renovations, the previously scheduled homeschool and Kids Create! Events will continue elsewhere on the Bob Jones University campus.

Bob Jones University- Homeschool Connections features a variety of  free monthly offerings for students 7th through 12th grade.

Greenville County Youth Orchestras – While not specifically for homeschooled students, these groups offer an ensemble opportunity for student musicians both homeschooled and traditionally schooled.  Auditions are required.

Greenville Gymnastics – Offers homeschool gymnastics classes, fees and schedules vary by location.

Greenville Zoo – Offers monthly classes for homeschool students K5-8th grade.  Topics covered in each class change monthly.

Kroc Center –  The Kroc Center offers 3 PE, music and art classes for homeschooled students ages 6-12. There are a variety of times and sessions to choose from.

Lake Conestee Nature Park Offers field trips to groups with a minimum of 10 students and also hosts homeschool days.

SC Children’s Theater –  The theater not only offers camps and classes afterschool and during breaks, they also offer homeschool classes during the day.  Their Winter session begins in January and offers an Actor’s Co-Op class for students ages 6 – 14 at 1 pm on Mondays, as well as other classes at after school times.

SC State Museum – The South Carolina State Museum offers a free day of lessons for SC homeschoolers on the third Thursday of each month. Registration prior to the event is required and the programs do fill up early.

Simpsonville Gymnastics –  Offers homeschool gymnastics classes.  Call 864-967-8931 for schedules and fees.

Roper Mountain Science Center – RMSC offers a homeschool day each fall and spring. Tickets are $5/child.

Upcountry History Museum – Monthly homeschool classes ages 4 and up.  Topics vary month to month.  $7 per child, one adult per family is free, and children 3 and under who are not participating are free.

YMCA – The YMCA of Greenville offers homeschool PE classes at three of its locations (YMCA Program Center – GHS, 100 Adams Mill Road Simpsonville, SC 29681, Eastside Family YMCA, 1250 Taylors Road
Taylors, SC 29687 and Caine Halter Family YMCA, 721 Cleveland Street, Greenville, SC 29601.)

Fun Homeschool Activities

When you need a break from school.

Pump It Up – Homeschool jump time the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 1-3 pm.  $4 ages 2-15.

Greenville Hurricanes – An athletic organization for homeschool students, offering 9 different competitive sports.

French-Swiss Ski College at Appalachian Ski Mountain- Designed for children ages 5 – 18 and families, they offer home school days. DATES: December 6, 14 January 1, 11, 23-24 February 7,8, 21-22, 28 March 1, 6-7, 14-15, 21-22

SKIING $24- Includes Flex Slope Ticket, skis, boots, poles, helmet, and one hour group lesson
SNOWBOARDING $32- Includes Flex Slope Ticket, Burton board, boots, helmet, and one hour group lesson.
Register: Call or E-mail at least one week in advance to make a reservation. You will need to tell them the day you are coming, whether you are skiing or snowboarding and the lesson time you desire (11:15 am or 12:30 pm). 828.295.9311, skifrenchswiss@bellsouth.net

Local Retail for Homeschooling Materials

Here are local places to browse and buy new or used curriculum

Bob Jones Educator’s Marketplace – A source for BJU Press materials and more.

Learning Cycle – A consignment store for curriculum at 1624 Woodruff Road, in the Ace Hardware Store shopping plaza.  Open noon-5 Tuesday through Saturday.

Lifelong Learning Resources –  Order online, or shop at the physical store.  557 Hammet Store Rd, Lyman.

School Spot –  A school supply store for classroom teachers, but homeschoolers will find some goodies here, as well.

Homeschool Legal Information and Other Resources

We can’t give legal advice, but these sources can help you sort through your options for legally homeschooling in South Carolina.  You’ll find accountability group options and various support groups in the links below.

Carolina Homeschooler –  In addition to being an accountability group, Carolina Homeschooler offers field trips, online classes, book clubs, and online parent support forums.  Their page about legally homeschooling in South Carolina is also quite helpful.  Another group, Traveling Homeschoolers is a spin-off from Carolina Homeschooler.  Traveling Homeschoolers offers group trips throughout the US and abroad.

Greenville County Schools –  There are many several paths to legally homeschooling the state.   Families who choose to homeschool through the school district as their means of legally homeschooling can find information from the district at this site.

The Homeschool Mom –  This website offers specifics for homeschooling in the state of South Carolina.  There is a particularly nice list of accountability and support groups to search through.

South Carolina Department of Education –  Homeschool laws straight from the source.

Online Support for Local Homeschoolers

Upstate South Carolina Area Secular Unschoolers – This Facebook community welcomes all homeschoolers regardless of religious affiliation and offers  place for homeschooling parents to ask and give advice as well as plan field trips and outings.

Greenville Homeschoolers Directory – This Facebook group offers support, information about co-ops and field trips, and allows members to buy and sell homeschool materials via the group.

Upstate Field Trip Friends – This group on Facebook facilitates the planning of homeschool field trips for families in the Upstate.

Homeschool Field Trips

These venues offer field trips for homeschool families

Carl Sandburg Home  – This historic estate in nearby Flat Rock, NC offers a 1-2 hour tour for groups of 10-65 people, Mondays-Fridays.

Camp Greenville – Book a multi-day field trip that allows children to learn about nature while learning how to work together as a group.

Carolina Raptor Center– Offers a variety of field trip options with educational programming for groups. See our review of one program here.

Chimney Rock – This park allows children to get up-close to nature. Field trip groups have several program theme options.

Farms and Orchards– In the fall many local farms and orchards offer field trips to educational groups. Stewart Farms offers field trips as well as an annual Home School Day.

Fire Departments

Greenville Downtown Airport – Tour this active airport and even have the opportunity to climb inside a plane.

Lake Conestee Nature Park Offers field trips to groups with a minimum of 10 students and also hosts homeschool days and other educational programming.

Paris Mountain State Park – Paris Mountain offers group hikes and educational programs. Find our review of one guided hike here.

Police Departments

Roper Mountain Science Center – Greenville’s 62 acre science center includes labs, a living history farm, a planetarium and more.

Spartanburg Historical Sites – Spartanburg County offers homeschool programs at several historic sites including the popular Walnut Grove Plantation.

The Biltmore – Each September The Biltmore offers a Homeschool Festival. The Biltmore also offers themed, group tours for homeschool and school groups.

The Children’s Museum of the Upstate – Field trips include museum exploration and special programming.

The Greenville Library – The Greenville Library offers age appropriate field trips including a behind the scenes tour and a look and find tour.

Upcountry History Museum – The Upcountry History Museum offer tours for school age children that immerse the kids in a period of history through exhibits, discussion, and hands on activities.

Do you have a resource to add to our list for homeschool families? Please let us know by emailing Bethany at bethany@kiddingaroundgreenville.com.

The Ultimate Guide to After School Care in Upstate, SC

Posted on | 5 Comments

Looking for after school child care in Greenville?  We’ve got you covered.  The facilities below offer daily after school care with tons of bonuses, like local school pick-up, enrichment classes and homework help.

If you’re looking for after school classes, and not daily care, check out our Classes and Activities Guide.

 

 

[adrotate group=”20″]

After School Plus

864.881.4666 | 255 Service Bay Road, Mauldin

Offers: Homework help, test prep, study skills.  Low student teacher ratio and enrichment class opportunities, like music lessons, art class and dance.

Augusta Road Baptist Church

864.232.2712 | 1823 Augusta Street

Offers: Christ centered environment for K5- 8th grade with snack, homework time and playtime.  Pick up from the following schools: Augusta Circle Elementary, Blythe Academy, Sara Collins Elementary, Sterling School, Summit Drive Elementary, Stone Academy, Greenville Academy, League Academy, Beck Academy

City of Greenville Parks and Rec

864.467.4355 | Five Community Centers Throughout Greenville

Offers: Study Buddy program for students K5 through 8th grade from 2:30 pm  6:00 pm.  Includes homework assistance, crafts, recreation, life skills development and a meal daily.  Register here.

Coast 2 Coast Kids

864.838.5988 | C2C Lyman, 12481 Greenville Hwy, Lyman
864.498.2984 | C2C Greenville, 506 Edwards Road, Greenville

Offers: Structured homework rooms separated by grade, games, crafts, weekly themes, devotional and prayer time, free school pick up.  Care until 6 pm.

FEATURED: The Cooking Shop

 864-442-5554 | 838 Powdersville Rd. Suite, Easley

Offers: After school care, homework help, and cooking classes.

Gears Youth Services

864.509.6180 | 1070 E Butler Road, Greenville

Offers: Christian environment.  Homework assistance.  Tutoring and small skills recovery available for extra fee.  School pick-up available from Greenbrier Elementary, Phinnize Fisher, Mauldin Elementary, Mauldin Middle, Plain Elementary.

The Goddard School

864.846.9653 | 8 Five Forks Plaza Court, Simpsonville

Offers: Individualized homework assistance, supervised computer time, enrichment.

Greenville County Recreation

864.288.6470 | 4806 Old Spartanburg Rd. Taylors

Pavilion– Greenville County Rec

864.288.6470 | 400 Scottswood Road, Taylors

Offers: Homework assistance, ice skating, bounce house, arts and crafts and daily snacks.  Pick up from area schools.

Community Centers– Greenville County Rec

Brutontown Community Center,   | Freetown Community Center, 200 Alice Ave, Greenville, 864.295.3567 | Slater Elementary School, 5 Whitney St, Slater, 864.288.6470 | Staunton Bridge Community Center, 165 Staunton Bridge Rd, Greenville, 864.509.1401

Offers: After school care for K5-5th grade

 Mt. Pleasant Community Center, 710 South Fairfield Rd, Greenville, 864.299.3220 | Sterling Community Center, 113 Minus St, Greenville, 864.235.4026

Offers: Teen leadership after school programs for grade 6 through 8.

FEATURED: Greenville Martial Arts Center

864.881.1397 | 1904 Roper Mountain Road, Greenville

Offers: A family-owned and operated traditional martial arts school with classes daily, homework time, and structured activities. We Train Leaders!!

Bus routes pick up from Buena Vista, Brushy Creek, Pelham Rd, Monarch, Mauldin, Oakview, Bethel, Simpsonville, Plain, Riverside Middle, and several more. Call to inquire about your school being added to our route!

‘My son has attended year-round for years now and he LOVES GMAC! The staff is super caring and the instructors are phenomenal. They go above and beyond to help each and every student! His dad and I even started taking evening classes with our son!! We love being part of the GMAC Family! ’ – Amanda H.

Kids ‘R’ Kids

864.288.5455 | 125 Verdin Road, Greenville 

Offers: Before and after school care for children up to age 12.  Centers and zones for enrichment including art, science, media and construction.

Primrose School of Greenville

864.370.8118 | 404 Houston St, Greenville

Offers: Explorer’s Club- care for ages 5 though 12.  Includes homework help and many creative activities.

Sports Club Kids

864.331.2530 | 712 Congaree Rd, Greenville

Offers: Transportation, homework help and SportsClub activities.

FEATURED: YMCA of Greenville

Greenville area branches | Website Contact | Registration

The Caine Halter Family Y
YMCA Program Center — GHS  (Simpsonville)
The Eastside Family Y
The George I. Theisen Family Y
YMCA Judson Community Center

Offers: Area school pick-up, academic enrichment program including arts, fitness and academic opportunities.

Do you know of a place that should be added to our list? Let us know in the comments!

Meet Maria Bassett
Maria Bassett is a former school orchestra teacher, turned home-school mom. She and her husband homeschool their 3 sons and 1 daughter, currently pre-school through 2nd grade age. Believing children learn best when they are engaged and having fun, this family loves to take their homeschool on the road, around Greenville and beyond.