Mission Statement

Empowering children with the excellent, life-changing education they deserve.

Meeting Street Schools (MSS) is a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to the creation of a new mandate for education in South Carolina and beyond. MSS was founded upon the belief that all children deserve an excellent education regardless of their geographic or socioeconomic circumstances, and all children have the ability to excel in the classroom. Where access to quality public education or affordable private alternatives is often severely limited, MSS is providing children with transformational educational opportunities.

Core Values

Exceptional Teaching

We believe excellent teachers are the key to unlocking students' potential. We are committed to identifying, supporting, and empowering outstanding educators who hold themselves accountable to create transformative learning experiences.

Life-Changing Student Achievement

Our driving focus is to provide an excellent education that builds optimism about the limitless opportunity in our country. We strive to achieve dramatic academic gains and instill the beliefs and resilient habits in students that will allow them to transform their lives.

Innovation and Growth Mindset

We embrace an entrepreneurial, innovative spirit and growth mindset. We constantly challenge ourselves to get better, take calculated risks, and evolve our approach to change the status quo. We are humble, because we believe there is always room for improvement in our pursuit of educational excellence.

Gratitude and Responsibility

We appreciate the incredible purpose in our work. We recognize the responsibility of being entrusted by families with the education of their children. We hold a high bar for ourselves and expect the same responsibility from others.

Our Origin Story

 

Founded in 2008 by philanthropists Ben and Kelly Navarro, Meeting Street Academy-Charleston first opened its doors in a downtown Charleston church to 33 three and four year-olds with the mission of serving and creating opportunities for children that would have otherwise attended unsatisfactory schools. Fourteen years later, Meeting Street Schools serves approximately 2,000 students and employs nearly 400 team members across four campuses in Charleston and Spartanburg.

The nonprofit network of schools includes:

  • The independent flagship school, Meeting Street Academy – Charleston
  • Meeting Street Academy - Spartanburg, a public charter school in Spartanburg School District 7
  • Meeting Street - Burns, a Public School of Innovation operated in partnership with Charleston County School District
  • Meeting Street - Brentwood, a Public School of Innovation operated in partnership with Charleston County School District
  • Meeting Street - Jasper & Beaufort, a charter school in Jasper County

 

From the archivesOur Story (2014)

 

 

Our FoundersBen and Kelly Navarro

Our founders are two action-oriented entrepreneurs and philanthropists who call Charleston home and felt a responsibility to act 15 years ago. Ben and Kelly Navarro were prompted by the fundamental unfairness of a system that fails to teach 4 out of every 5 underserved students to read at grade level, a failure that often is perpetuated by civic and governmental systems’ inaction.

Starting a school is possibly the hardest thing the Navarros could have done in response to these truths. So it was a labor of love when they put their own resources and toil into the formation of an independent, community-based school serving students from underresourced communities in order to provide the same level of quality that their own children experienced.

Our Schools

Meeting Street Academy – Charleston

Pre-K3 To 6th


Downtown Charleston, SC

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Meeting Street Academy – Spartanburg

Pre-K3 To 5th


Downtown Spartanburg, SC

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Meeting Street – Brentwood

Pre-K3 To 8th


North Charleston, SC

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Meeting Street – Burns

Pre-K3 To 6th


North Charleston, SC

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Meeting Street – Jasper & Beaufort

K To 2nd


Jasper County, SC

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About Meeting Street Schools

Meeting Street Schools (MSS) is an innovative non-profit where schools, families, and the community collaborate to create environments where all children can achieve their full potential. With a network of schools across South Carolina, including MSA-Charleston (Charleston, SC), MSA-Spartanburg (Spartanburg, SC), MS-Brentwood (North Charleston, SC), MS-Burns (North Charleston, SC), and MS-Jasper & Beaufort (Jasper, SC), we are committed to providing students with the rigorous education they deserve.

Founded on the principle that every child deserves an excellent education regardless of their socio-economic background, Meeting Street Schools has been a beacon of hope and a testament to what's possible in education. Our schools are driven by a strong focus on student achievement, evidence-based instruction, and relentless support of our students and their families.

While united by our shared mission, each MSS campus, is unique in its character, tapping into the local spirit of the communities they serve. Explore each of our schools and discover how they're creating a brighter future for students in South Carolina.

News & NotesHow a cafeteria team nourished families affected by Hurricane Helene

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Our Schools

Meeting Street Academy – CharlestonDowntown Charleston, SC - Independent School - Since 2008 - 364 Students

Nestled in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, MSA Charleston is more than just a schoolβ€”it’s a hub for innovative learning and community engagement. As part of the Meeting Street Schools network, MSA Charleston embodies a commitment to excellence through its rigorous academic programs, inclusive culture, and focus on developing the whole child. With a curriculum that emphasizes both academic and personal growth, MSA Charleston prepares students to be curious learners and active citizens of their community.

Meeting Street Academy – SpartanburgDowntown Spartanburg, SC - Public Charter School - Since 2012 - 323 Students

Meeting Street Academy – Spartanburg is as a pillar of educational innovation in the Spartanburg community. The school’s dedicated educators and supportive learning environment ensure that each child receives a high-quality, personalized education with exceptional faculty and teachers. The Academy is distinguished by its emphasis on community partnership, fostering relationships that extend beyond the classroom to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.

Meeting Street – BrentwoodNorth Charleston, SC - Public School - Since 2014 - 850 Students

Meeting Street – Brentwood is a place where education meets opportunity. Serving the Brentwood area, this neighborhood Public School of Innovation is a testament to the transformative power of education. With a student-centered approach that celebrates diversity and encourages excellence, Meeting Street – Brentwood is dedicated to equipping students with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. Meeting Street – Brentwood also serves as a hub for the Brentwood community to access educational and wellness services. The school’s commitment to innovation, coupled with a warm, welcoming environment, makes it a standout in the Meeting Street Schools network.

Meeting Street – BurnsNorth Charleston, SC - Public School - Since 2018 - 478 Students

Located in a community rich with history and culture, Meeting Street – Burns is renowned for its dynamic educational approach that intertwines traditional learning with modern teaching techniques. The school’s focus on experiential learning ensures that students at Meeting Street – Burns are not only recipients of knowledge but also active participants in their educational journey. The school exists to spark an educational revolution for the students and families in the Dorchester-Waylyn Neighborhood in North Charleston. With a commitment to creating a supportive and challenging academic environment, Meeting Street – Burns is forging a new path in public education.

Meeting Street – Jasper & BeaufortJasper County, SC - Public Charter School - Fall 2023 -

Meeting Street – Jasper & Beaufort represents Meeting Street Schools’ dedication to community-based education with a global perspective. The school provides a nurturing environment where students are encouraged to explore their potential and cultivate a love for learning. With its diverse programs such as Eureka Math, and Wit and Wisdom, Meeting Street – Jasper & Beaufort puts a major emphasis on character development, specialized learning and equips students to become thoughtful, engaged members of society, reflecting the Meeting Street ethos of empowerment through education.

CommunityVoices

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β€œWe come into work everyday truly believing that our students are capable of achieving anything that is put in front of them. Here at MSS, students are provided the opportunity to achieve success through the facilitation of well-educated teachers, resources, and a responsive classroom school environment.”

β€” NikToshia GilesTeacher

  • 2/3

β€œMeeting Street Academy is my family. They taught me that I am valuable. I am an asset to the world…They asked me, β€˜What is your dream?’ I had never been asked that before. The MSS community gives me the strength to pursue my dreams.”

β€” Kadelyn SteedStudent

  • 3/3

β€œMSA is a family. Once you’re in, you’re in. They said they would follow our kids from K-3 to college and they actually lived up to what they said they would do. Not only did MSA challenge my daughter academically but it also exposed her to new things that she probably wouldn’t have been exposed to at our previous neighborhood school. Our journey at MSA was exciting and rewarding. They actually walk the walk.”

β€” Tyeka GrantParent

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