Charleston County Schools & Education
Charleston County, South Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
43/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
87.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
87.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 84.2%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,500
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,165
School Score
43/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 33/100
State Score Position
#12
of 46 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Charleston County
Measured School Summary
Charleston County performs at an average level with a school score of 43/100 and a solid graduation rate of 87.0%.
Funding Context
At $7,500 per pupil, Charleston County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 29% above the South Carolina average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 5% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Charleston County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
92 public schools and 1 district are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
43/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #12 of 46 South Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
87.0%
2.8 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,500
$335 above the state average
School coverage
92
1 district represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Charleston County has 92 public schools across 1 district, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Charleston County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Dominant-district county
Charleston 01 carries most of the listed public-school system, with 82 of 92 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#12
of 46 South Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 10 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Charleston 01
Elementary to high school visible
49,929 students
82 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Charleston 01 is the largest listed district slice, with 82 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Charleston County?
Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Charleston County, South Carolina
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Extensive School Infrastructure in Charleston
Charleston County manages a massive network of 92 public schools, including 55 elementary, 12 middle, and 23 high schools. This robust system supports a total enrollment of 52,982 students.
Performance Matches National Graduation Benchmarks
The county maintains an 87.0% graduation rate, placing it well ahead of the South Carolina average of 84.2%. Per-pupil spending of $7,500 remains above the state average, though it trails the national average of $13,000.
Charleston 01 and a Thriving Charter Scene
Charleston 01 is the dominant district, serving 49,929 students across 82 schools. The county features a diverse educational landscape with 19 charter schools, representing over 20% of the total school count.
City Classrooms and Coastal Suburbs
The landscape is primarily urban with 62 schools in city locales and 17 in suburbs. Wando High is the largest school in the county with 2,596 students, while James Island Charter High serves nearly 1,600 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
92
in Charleston County
Reported Enrollment
52,982
92 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
19
21% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Charleston County
92 Public Schools in Charleston County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 14 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 92 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wando High | Profile | Charleston 01 | Mount Pleasant, 29466Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 2,596 |
| RB Stall High | Profile | Charleston 01 | North Charleston, 29418City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,952 |
| West Ashley High | Profile | Charleston 01 | Charleston, 29414City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,935 |
| Lucy Garrett Beckham High | Profile | Charleston 01 | Mt. Pleasant, 29464Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,673 |
| James Island Charter High | Profile | Charleston 01 | Charleston, 29412City: Midsize | 9–12 | Charter | 1,589 |
| C. E. Williams Middle School for Creative and Scientific Art | Profile | Charleston 01 | Charleston, 29414City: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 1,172 |
| Orange Grove Charter School | Profile | Charleston 01 | Charleston, 29407City: Midsize | PK–8 | Charter | 1,167 |
| Meeting Street Elementary | Profile | Charleston 01 | North Charleston, 29405City: Midsize | PK–8 | Primary | 1,133 |
| Thomas C. Cario Middle | Profile | Charleston 01 | Mt. Pleasant, 29466Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,125 |
| Moultrie Middle | Profile | Charleston 01 | Mount Pleasant, 29464Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,119 |
| Charleston School of the Arts | Profile | Charleston 01 | North Charleston, 29405City: Midsize | 6–12 | High | 1,061 |
| Laing Middle | Profile | Charleston 01 | Mount Pleasant, 29466Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,012 |
| Jennie Moore Elementary | Profile | Charleston 01 | Mt. Pleasant, 29466Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 1,004 |
| Carolina Park Elementary | Profile | Charleston 01 | Mt. Pleasant, 29466Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 978 |
| Camp Road Middle | Record | Charleston 01 | Charleston, 29412Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 864 |
| Ladson Elementary | Record | Charleston 01 | Ladson, 29456Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 851 |
| Mamie P. Whitesides Elementary | Record | Charleston 01 | Mt. Pleasant, 29464Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 834 |
| Stiles Point Elementary | Record | Charleston 01 | Charleston, 29412City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 817 |
| Angel Oak Elementary | Record | Charleston 01 | Johns Island, 29455City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 772 |
| North Charleston High | Record | Charleston 01 | North Charleston, 29405City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 768 |
Wando High
Charleston 01
Mount Pleasant, 29466 / Rural: Fringe
RB Stall High
Charleston 01
North Charleston, 29418 / City: Midsize
West Ashley High
Charleston 01
Charleston, 29414 / City: Midsize
Lucy Garrett Beckham High
Charleston 01
Mt. Pleasant, 29464 / Suburb: Large
James Island Charter High
Charleston 01
Charleston, 29412 / City: Midsize
C. E. Williams Middle School for Creative and Scientific Art
Charleston 01
Charleston, 29414 / City: Midsize
Orange Grove Charter School
Charleston 01
Charleston, 29407 / City: Midsize
Meeting Street Elementary
Charleston 01
North Charleston, 29405 / City: Midsize
Thomas C. Cario Middle
Charleston 01
Mt. Pleasant, 29466 / Suburb: Large
Moultrie Middle
Charleston 01
Mount Pleasant, 29464 / Suburb: Large
Charleston School of the Arts
Charleston 01
North Charleston, 29405 / City: Midsize
Laing Middle
Charleston 01
Mount Pleasant, 29466 / Suburb: Large
Jennie Moore Elementary
Charleston 01
Mt. Pleasant, 29466 / Suburb: Large
Carolina Park Elementary
Charleston 01
Mt. Pleasant, 29466 / Rural: Fringe
Mamie P. Whitesides Elementary
Charleston 01
Mt. Pleasant, 29464 / Suburb: Large
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,500
State avg $7,165
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Charleston County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which South Carolina counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in South Carolina?
How should I read the school score in Charleston County?
What is the graduation rate in Charleston County?
How much does Charleston County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Charleston County, South Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Charleston County, South Carolina?
Charleston County manages a massive network of 92 public schools, including 55 elementary, 12 middle, and 23 high schools. This robust system supports a total enrollment of 52,982 students.
How do schools in Charleston County perform academically?
The county maintains an 87.0% graduation rate, placing it well ahead of the South Carolina average of 84.2%. Per-pupil spending of $7,500 remains above the state average, though it trails the national average of $13,000.
What are the major school districts in Charleston County, South Carolina?
Charleston 01 is the dominant district, serving 49,929 students across 82 schools. The county features a diverse educational landscape with 19 charter schools, representing over 20% of the total school count.
What is the school experience like in Charleston County?
The landscape is primarily urban with 62 schools in city locales and 17 in suburbs. Wando High is the largest school in the county with 2,596 students, while James Island Charter High serves nearly 1,600 students.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.