About FSWC-Charlotte

FSWC-Charlotte High School, a public charter school sponsored by the Charlotte County School District, is operated by Florida SouthWestern College on the Charlotte campus. This innovative school provides 9^th – 12^th grade students the opportunity to earn both a high school diploma and an Associate in Arts degree in four years.

Charter schools are public schools of choice. Because they are free to offer innovative curricula, charter schools can provide effective educational programs to meet the needs of diverse groups of students. The number of charter schools in Florida has grown from 5 in 1996 to 410 in 2010. Charter school student enrollment in Florida for 2010-2011 was over 137,000 students.

FSWC-Charlotte is open to all students who have been certified by their middle schools being ready to rise to high school.  Selected by a random lottery, a new freshman class of 115, also selected by lottery, will be admitted. Enrollment will be capped at 400 students in grades 9 through 12.

The application process is explained in detail on the high school website. In short, interested students and their parents must attend an informational meeting. Students must complete an application that can be completed online from the website. Applications are typically accepted Feb – March and the lottery typically occurs in early April. Students will be notified of their acceptance and asked to return enrollment paperwork and attend a New Student Orientation.

As a public institution, FSWC-Charlotte is free of charge to students. Students receive free high school textbooks and free tutoring. Additionally, they receive free college tuition and fees, free college textbooks, and access to all of the facilities of the college. Earning two years of college credit tuition-free is a major cost-saving opportunity for students and their parents.

Students can become eligible to take college courses in the sophomore year. To qualify, a sophomore student must have a 3.5 GPA and an acceptable score on a college placement test (Accuplacer, ACT, SAT). In order to enter dual enrollment in the junior year, a student must have a 3.0 GPA and an acceptable score on Accuplacer, ACT, or SAT. It is expected that all FSWC-Charlotte students will take all of their courses at the college level in their junior and senior years.

Students can become eligible to take college courses in the sophomore year. To qualify, a sophomore student must have a 3.5 GPA and an acceptable score on a college placement test (Accuplacer, ACT, SAT). In order to enter dual enrollment in the junior year, a student must have a 3.0 GPA and an acceptable score on Accuplacer, ACT, or SAT. It is expected that all FSWC-Charlotte students will take all of their courses at the college level in their junior and senior years.

FSWC-Charlotte offers the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and an A. A. degree simultaneously, to study in a college environment, and to develop reading, writing, and critical thinking skills across the curriculum. Additionally, the high school provides access to comprehensive learning support services.

The Florida Articulations agreement provides a statutory guarantee that college transfer credits earned at FSW are acceptable at all of the public universities and colleges in the state. Florida SouthWestern State College participates in Florida’s common course numbering system that ensures that college courses at the college are the same courses and course numbers offered at all other Florida colleges and universities.

FSWC students have several high school clubs available to them. Student Council, Key Club, Model United Nations, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta are a few active organizations. Students are also encouraged to form their own special interest groups.