About
Apply now for the 2025-26 Academic Year!
Congratulations to the 2024 graduates! Check out the photos on our Facebook page!
The Charleston Woodworking School is the only professional woodworking school in the State of South Carolina dedicated to the instruction of students desiring a career in woodworking. The school is licensed by the SC Commission on Higher Education and all VA benefits by the Veteran’s Administration are accepted. The Charleston Woodworking School prepares students for “Your Career in Just One Year”. Founded by Master Craftsman Sam Sprouse, the school offer students a professional learning environment. Sam is a graduate of the prestigious Thomas Chippendale School of Furniture in Scotland.
The Charleston Woodworking School focuses on teaching the individual traditional woodworking techniques. From learning how to hand cut dovetails, to business instruction, to project management, the school truly prepares the student for woodworking projects, either as a hobby or an eventual future in professional woodworking.
FURNITURE SCHOOL VALUES
What can I expect as a student?
Each student at the Charleston Woodworking School will be trained as a professional. The training consists of many principles such as:
Detailed classroom training
Detailed hands-on training
Professional business practices
Traditional joinery techniques
Furniture history and design theories
One-on-one instruction
Self-paced to meet certain deadlines
Guest lecturers
Field trips to Charleston are plantations and historic homes
Self-paced learning
Every student is expected to meet certain production deadlines for projects. Just like in everyday business life, the student will learn to manage time limitations. Upon assignment of a project, a student will design and complete the project, at their own workbench, at their own schedule. Safety and quality are emphasized. Working on student designed side projects is highly encouraged. We want our students to be as creative as possible.
The Charleston Woodworking School, by limiting enrollment annually to no more than 15 students, offers every individual a detailed and supportive learning environment. As a student, you will be learning from a strong local faculty of woodworking experts and business professionals.
Sustainability
The Charleston Woodworking School emphasizes respect for the environment. Therefore, quality materials are harvested from local forests whenever possible. We have a strong relationship with several local wood vendors allowing us to select wood with the most beautiful grain patterns and colors.
Student Life
At the Charleston Woodworking School, we welcome students from all ages and backgrounds, including many who use our intensive, practical furniture making course as an opportunity to develop a new career. At the completion of the course, students will be better equipped to set up their own projects, and to begin additional courses with the eventual goal of setting up their own furniture business. Student enrollment at the Charleston Woodworking School is limited to provide a intimate learning community.
The course load at Charleston Woodworking School is intensive, yet self-paced, and our students are expected to work and study hard. But, there are many opportunities to have a lot of fun while exploring the American South.
The Charleston Woodworking School is located at 2338 Ashley River Road in beautiful and historic Charleston, South Carolina…an ideal location. Charleston is rich in history, culture, hundreds of exciting restaurants and entertainment, and easily reached by air, automobile or rail.
SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS
Living in Charleston
There are many apartment and home rentals near the school. We will assist you with finding an apartment in the Charleston area.
If you would like more information about where to stay during the course, please refer to any of the Charleston real estate rental companies for more detailed information.
