Smiling Boy at a Desk

PORTER-GAUD SCHOOL

Cultivating Lives
of Purpose

PORTER-GAUD SCHOOL

Cultivating Lives
of Purpose

PORTER-GAUD SCHOOL

Cultivating Lives
of Purpose

BECOMING THE AUTHENTIC YOU

As an Episcopal school, we trust in God’s love and seek to nurture in our students a passion for learning, empathy for one another, and understanding of the importance and joy of living a life of integrity.

 

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Porter-Gaud student uses an iPad in class

OUR CORE THEMES

Our Mission in Action

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Inspiration

Our students are nurtured in an environment that challenges them intellectually, ethically, and spiritually, and we support them through every step of their journey with an intense focus on their individual needs.

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Lives of Purpose

Setting goals is crucial to living a life of purpose. Our carefully crafted and well-rounded curriculum takes students on an educational journey that equips them with the skills necessary to achieve their dreams.

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Lives of Learning

Our students are scholars, athletes, artists, musicians, mathematicians, community service volunteers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and more. To be a Cyclone is to be an active and empathetic individual in the PG community and in life!

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Lives of Service

Students seek out opportunities to show compassion to those in need, are stewards for the environment, take care of God’s creatures, and show appreciation for those people who make the world a better place.

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Cultivating Each Student

Every child learns differently, and Porter-Gaud is set up to give each student the attention they need to be successful. We cater the education to the student, not to a state-prescribed standard.

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God-given Potential

As people made in the image of God, each of us has special gifts that need to be thoughtfully cultivated. It is our passion at Porter-Gaud to empower students to reach the potential we know is there.

Young students at Chapel Service
Teacher and students collecting oyster shells for environmental project
Football Running Back
Boy surfing at Camp Cyclone
Emily Ibsen discusses her Porter-Gaud experience

Graduate Emily Ibsen '23
talks about her Porter-Gaud
experience

video

Young female scientists
Children performing at musical
African American student smiling in the library
O'Quinn teacher working with boys on writing

Home

WATCH

One of Porter-Gaud’s founding principles is the acronym WATCH. We ask students to always thoughtfully consider their words, actions, thoughts, character, and habits. We strive to nurture both a strong intellect and moral character. Guided by our Vision of a Learner, each component of WATCH is woven into an experience that provides the most holistic education in the Lowcountry, and has made Porter-Gaud an educational leader for more than a century.
Porter-Gaud students performing Grease.

The Arts

Porter-Gaud places a premium on creativity and performance. In the studio, on the stage, or in the choir room, our students are challenged to perform at the highest levels. Beauty and art are inexorably linked to the human spirit. We believe that the arts are vital to helping our students discover their own humanity and creativity... and in doing so, find themselves.

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Porter-Gaud cheerleading practice

Athletics

We develop young men and women who are committed to faith, honor, and knowledge, and who are vigilant in watching their words, actions, thoughts, character, and habits. Developing teams made up of scholar-athletes with these values results in those teams pursuing excellence. Excellence follows from doing the right things, the right ways, for the right reasons. We have one of the top athletic programs in SCISA. Annually, our more than 60 teams - from bantam to varsity - compete for state titles.

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Porter-Gaud student performs an experiment in science class

Academics

With help from our supportive faculty, student achieve more than they ever thought possible. Our curriculum is flexible and caters to the needs of each student, not the requirements of a state standard. We meet our students where they are and help them arrive at where they want to go.

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Porter-Gaud processional cross

Faith

True to our Episcopal identity, we trust in the love of God, believe in the dignity of every human being, and uphold the principles of honesty and integrity and the pursuit of moral and ethical character.

As embodiments of the Christian faith, Episcopal schools are founded on the belief that God has revealed himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ as love and that each human being is a product, recipient, and reflection of that love. We at Porter-Gaud seek to be a school in which the unique capacity of every member of our community reflects God’s love, goodness, beauty, and creativity. We seek to be a place where the innate dignity of all people is recognized, and where unconditional love - a love that doesn’t have to be earned - is offered to all.

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PORTER-GAUD

Reviews &
Testimonials

Melvin Brown testimonial
Jessica Baron testimonial
Daniel Jordan testimonial

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"Our school gave me the tools to learn how to learn. We were expected to know how to find the information and apply it. I will always love PG for that."

Dr. Melvin Brown
Class of 1987, Physician, Trustee, Parent of a 2024 Graduate

"At PG, I was inspired. That zest for learning that I got at PG stayed with me throughout my graduate work and early career"

JESSICA BARON
Class of 2006, Dentist

"Porter-Gaud is an easy easy place to call home. It's a feeling palpable for all who pass through its gates, even if only for a few hours. Spend a day here and you'll no doubt be searching for ways to stay. Spend a month and you'll feel like you've been here and known its people forever --- more importantly, you'll wish that you had."

DANIEL JORDAN
History Teacher & Parent

EXPLORE PORTER-GAUD

Take a (virtual) look around 
our campus

US Building

US Building

2653, -3573, -2269

Science & Technology

Science & Technology

4244, -2273, -1340

Tyler Hall

Tyler Hall

4602, -1897, -434

Classrooms 400-403

Classrooms 400-403

4453, -1693, -1495

Shady Acres

Shady Acres

4645, -1633, -820

Classrooms 412-417

Classrooms 412-417

4577, -1631, -1141

Richardson Hall

Richardson Hall

4709, -1566, -569

Maintenance Facility

Maintenance Facility

4743, -1515, -374

Gwynette Hall(auditorium)

Gwynette Hall(auditorium)

4474, -1351, -1745

St. Timothy's Chapel

Chaplain's Offices

4296, -1407, -2112

Newton Courtyard

Newton Courtyard

4372, -1613, -1791

WATCH Tower

WATCH Tower

4149, -1611, -2261

Bondurant Courtyard and The Green

Bondurant Courtyard and The Green

4203, -1821, -1985

Lilies of the Field Playground

Lilies of the Field Playground

3950, -1511, -2652

Lower School Building

Lower School Building

3741, -1564, -2914

Nurse's Office

Nurse's Office

3845, -1634, -2736

Buxton Hall

Buxton Hall

3488, -1616, -3189

Hoomes & Jo Rich Jall

Hoomes & Jo Rich Jall

2991, -1806, -3564

Washington Hall (Dining Hall)

Washington Hall (Dining Hall)

3810, -1864, -2634

Lower School Office

Lower School Office

3636, -1775, -2920

Fishburne Gymnasium

Fishburne Gymnasium

3918, -2000, -2363

James J. Scott III and Class of 1974 Fitness Center

James J. Scott III and Class of 1974 Fitness Center

3589, -2149, -2724

Wendell Center

Wendell Center

3168, -2344, -3063

Memorial Fields

Memorial Fields

2166, -2904, -3436

Visitor/Handicap Parking

Visitor/Handicap Parking

2545, -4051, -1445

Faculty/Staff Parking

Faculty/Staff Parking

3154, -3864, -262

Head of School's Residence

Head of School's Residence

-1386, -1863, -4423

PMA Memorial Gardens

PMA Memorial Gardens

4263, -2592, -210

Student Parking

Student Parking

3368, -3026, 2103

Stadium Concession Stand

Claudia Owens Ticket Booth

2474, -3037, 3093

William T. Tamsberg Pavillion

William T. Tamsberg Pavillion

1227, -3070, 3744

Tennis Court

Tennis Court

246, -2676, 4207

Singleton Field

Singleton Field

1745, -2154, 4152

Baseball Field

Baseball Field

896, -1452, 4692

Renken Outdoor Training Center

(ROTC)

2489, -2029, -3820

Albemarle Point Center

Albemarle Point Center

2681, -1231, 4025

Faculty Parking

Faculty Parking

4674, -1434, -1022

JOINING PORTER-GAUD

Our educational journey begins at the O’Quinn Schools, and is a cohesive, well-crafted experience through graduation from Upper School. Each division has unique characteristics that prepare each student for what comes next. From age 2 through the end of their senior year, students follow a journey that has been tested, proven, refined, and has evolved to meet the needs of an ever-changing world over the course of our 157 year history.
Porter-Gaud O'Quinn students playing on a climbing frame

O’Quinn Schools

By focusing on the social and emotional skills of each child, and through classroom experiences, creative play, new friendships, and intentional instruction, the foundation of an independent and self-reliant student is created. Our teachers encourage group cooperation, listening skills, individual responsibility, and FUN! We want all of our students to recognize their worth and enjoy the fullness of each day.

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Porter-Gaud Lower School students reading together

Lower School

The Lower School is a journey of discovery where students take the first steps on their educational path. Joy is found in recognizing abilities and unearthing new talents, meeting challenges, and building strong relationships that foster an inclusive learning community.

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Porter-Gaud Middle School students work together in class

Middle School

When you step into Tyler Hall and the Science & Technology building, the energy is palpable. Capitalizing on the enthusiasm and curiosity of these adolescent students, our faculty designs hands-on, student-centered learning experiences.

On a typical day, you might see students testing roofing materials on model houses as they discuss solar energy, hear students debating cultural topics in one of four languages as they expand their global horizons, feel students supported through our carefully aligned writing program as they begin to find their own voice; and experience the passion of students solving problems of the future logically through their understanding of mathematics and holistically through their learning from the past.

When our students step on the theater stage or put on their Cyclone jersey, we help them see themselves as part of something bigger, something special.

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Porter-Gaud Upper School students

Upper School

Upper School represents a defining period in our students’ lives. Having successfully navigated the academic and time management challenges of the Middle School, students intensify their studies and co-curricular activities in preparation for finding the best fit for college. A rigorous academic program is delivered by passionate, professional educators, who incorporate critical-thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills into daily lessons and discussions.

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We would love to discuss your place at Porter-Gaud.

 

Inquire Apply Arrange a tour

GIVING TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3: Last year, the PG community raised over $60,000 for the Cyclone Fund in support of our incredible faculty. Porter-Gaud is fortunate to have a faculty and staff considered among the best in the Lowcountry. Support through the Cyclone Fund helps us remain competitive, retaining and recruiting top professionals to inspire and guide our students every day.

We invite you to make a gift on December 3 to help us meet this goal again! Make a gift today.

OptimizedImage,OptimizedLast year, the PG community raised over $60,000 for the Cyclone Fund in support of our incredible faculty. Porter-Gaud is fortunate to have a faculty and staff considered among the best in the Lowcountry. Support through the Cyclone Fund helps us remain competitive, retaining and recruiting top professionals to inspire and guide our students every day.

We invite you to make a gift on December 3 to help us meet this goal again! Thank you for investing in the PG experience and ensuring our students and faculty continue to thrive in a community that values our mission of purpose, learning, and service.

Make a gift!