Dorchester County Schools & Education
Dorchester County, South Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
47/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
91.1%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
91.1%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 84.2%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,873
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,165
School Score
47/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 33/100
State Score Position
#6
of 46 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Dorchester County
Measured School Summary
Dorchester County performs at an average level with a school score of 47/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.1%.
Funding Context
At $6,873 per pupil, Dorchester County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 42% above the South Carolina average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 6.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Dorchester 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
33 public schools and 3 districts 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
47/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #6 of 46 South Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
91.1%
6.9 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,873
$292 below the state average
School coverage
33
3 districts 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
Dorchester County has 33 public schools across 3 districts, 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 Dorchester 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
Dorchester 02 carries most of the listed public-school system, with 25 of 33 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#6
of 46 South Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 14 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.
Dorchester 02
Elementary to high school visible
26,135 students
25 listed schools in this county slice.
Dorchester 04
Elementary to high school visible
2,027 students
6 listed schools in this county slice.
Dorchester 80
High school only in this slice
0 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Dorchester 02 is the largest listed district slice, with 25 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 Dorchester County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Dorchester County district systems?
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 Dorchester 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.
Expansive School System in Dorchester
Dorchester County manages a robust system of 33 public schools that serve nearly 28,690 students. The landscape consists of 18 elementary schools, nine middle schools, and five high schools across three districts. This extensive infrastructure makes it one of the larger educational hubs in the region.
The Dominance of Dorchester 02
Dorchester 02 is the county's primary educational driver, educating 26,135 students across 25 different schools. The county also includes one charter school, which accounts for 3% of the total school portfolio. Smaller districts like Dorchester 04 serve the remaining rural student population.
Suburban Success and Large Campuses
Education here is primarily suburban, with 16 schools in suburban locales and an average school size of 897 students. Massive campuses like Summerville High, which enrolls 3,308 students, contrast with more intimate rural settings in the county's outskirts. Families can choose between large-scale academic powerhouses and smaller, local community schools.
School Overview
Total Schools
33
in Dorchester County
Reported Enrollment
28,690
33 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
1
3% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in Dorchester County
Dorchester 02
GuideDorchester 04
Dorchester 80
33 Public Schools in Dorchester County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 7 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 33 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summerville High | Profile | Dorchester 02 | Summerville, 29483Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 3,308 |
| Ashley Ridge High | Profile | Dorchester 02 | Summerville, 29485Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 2,542 |
| Fort Dorchester High | Profile | Dorchester 02 | North Charleston, 29420City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 2,312 |
| Sand Hill Elementary | Profile | Dorchester 02 | Summerville, 29485Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 1,133 |
| Beech Hill Elementary | Profile | Dorchester 02 | Summerville, 29485Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 1,101 |
| Oakbrook Middle | Profile | Dorchester 02 | Ladson, 29456Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,006 |
| Charles B. DuBose Middle | Profile | Dorchester 02 | Summerville, 29483Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 950 |
| William M. Reeves Elementary | Record | Dorchester 02 | Summerville, 29483Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 914 |
| Fort Dorchester Elementary | Record | Dorchester 02 | Summerville, 29485City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 892 |
| East Edisto Middle | Record | Dorchester 02 | Summerville, 29485Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 879 |
| Dr. Eugene Sires Elementary | Record | Dorchester 02 | Summerville, 29485Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 858 |
| Flowertown Elementary | Record | Dorchester 02 | Summerville, 29485Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 853 |
| Gregg Middle | Record | Dorchester 02 | Summerville, 29483Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 850 |
| River Oaks Middle | Record | Dorchester 02 | North Charleston, 29420City: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 849 |
| Joseph R. Pye Elementary | Record | Dorchester 02 | Ladson, 29456City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 823 |
| Alston Middle | Record | Dorchester 02 | Summerville, 29483Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 822 |
| Rollings Middle School of the Arts | Record | Dorchester 02 | Summerville, 29483Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 799 |
| Newington Elementary | Record | Dorchester 02 | Summerville, 29485Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 758 |
| Alston-Bailey Elementary | Record | Dorchester 02 | Summerville, 29483Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 715 |
| Knightsville Elementary | Record | Dorchester 02 | Summerville, 29483Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 699 |
Summerville High
Dorchester 02
Summerville, 29483 / Suburb: Large
Ashley Ridge High
Dorchester 02
Summerville, 29485 / Rural: Fringe
Fort Dorchester High
Dorchester 02
North Charleston, 29420 / City: Midsize
Sand Hill Elementary
Dorchester 02
Summerville, 29485 / Rural: Fringe
Beech Hill Elementary
Dorchester 02
Summerville, 29485 / Rural: Fringe
Oakbrook Middle
Dorchester 02
Ladson, 29456 / Suburb: Large
Charles B. DuBose Middle
Dorchester 02
Summerville, 29483 / Suburb: Large
William M. Reeves Elementary
Dorchester 02
Summerville, 29483 / Suburb: Large
Fort Dorchester Elementary
Dorchester 02
Summerville, 29485 / City: Midsize
Dr. Eugene Sires Elementary
Dorchester 02
Summerville, 29485 / Suburb: Large
Rollings Middle School of the Arts
Dorchester 02
Summerville, 29483 / Suburb: Large
Alston-Bailey Elementary
Dorchester 02
Summerville, 29483 / Suburb: Large
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,873
State avg $7,165
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Dorchester 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 Dorchester County?
What is the graduation rate in Dorchester County?
How much does Dorchester County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Dorchester County, South Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Dorchester County, South Carolina?
Dorchester County manages a robust system of 33 public schools that serve nearly 28,690 students. The landscape consists of 18 elementary schools, nine middle schools, and five high schools across three districts. This extensive infrastructure makes it one of the larger educational hubs in the region.
What are the major school districts in Dorchester County, South Carolina?
Dorchester 02 is the county's primary educational driver, educating 26,135 students across 25 different schools. The county also includes one charter school, which accounts for 3% of the total school portfolio. Smaller districts like Dorchester 04 serve the remaining rural student population.
What is the school experience like in Dorchester County?
Education here is primarily suburban, with 16 schools in suburban locales and an average school size of 897 students. Massive campuses like Summerville High, which enrolls 3,308 students, contrast with more intimate rural settings in the county's outskirts. Families can choose between large-scale academic powerhouses and smaller, local community schools.
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.