Elementary and High School Education
The Trident Charleston area is comprise of four public school districts: Berkeley County School District, Charleston County School District, and Dorchester County School District Two and District Four.
Charleston County School District
75 Calhoun StreetCharleston, SC 29403843-937-6300www.ccsdschools.comThe Charleston County school district is made up of 80 schools, including 25 magnet schools and seven charter schools with over 40,000 students in the system. The Charleston County school district is the fourth largest employer in the region with over 5,000 employees.
The Charleston county school district have implemented a three year plan, Charleston Achieving Excellence, with a focus on improving the achievement of all students in the district, closing the gap between groups of students, and increasing the graduation rate.
The rewards can already be seen, the Charleston County school district increased it growth and improvement rating on the 2008 South Carolina School report card by two levels, thus earning an "Excellent Rating." In 2009, 34 schools in the Charleston County school district received 49 Palmetto Gold and Silver awards, the most of any of the school districts in South Carolina. The Palmetto awards are based on improvement and performance.
Every day, CCSD schools and students prove that Charleston is Achieving Excellence. To ensure that students receive a well-rounded education and develop into healthy young adults, the district has expanded existing collaborations in support of child health and nutrition, literacy, and arts and music. District-wide, CCSD employees, partners, and volunteers work to promote a college-bound culture beginning in the early grades, connecting all student learning in the classroom with positive future outcomes.
And the results of these efforts can be seen across the county. This year, students in grades 3 through 8 performed better on the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test (PACT) than ever before with the greatest percentage of students scoring at the Proficient or Advanced levels in both English-Language Arts (ELA) and Math than in the ten-year history of the test, outscoring the state at every level. Charleston County public schools are safer than ever—last year, office referrals, serious incidents, suspensions and expulsions all went down.
Berkeley County School District
Berkeley County School District, the fourth largest school system in the state, currently serves over 29,000 students and operates 40 schools (twenty-two elementary/intermediate schools, nine middle schools, eight high schools, and one alternative school). The district continues to invest in the best possible learning opportunities for students and the best possible working environment for employees.
The district strives to recruit and retain the best instructional staff. The district boasts one of the most accredited instructional teams in the state, with over 59% of the certified staff holding advanced degrees and an average of 13 years of teaching experience. Additionally, teachers from 39 schools have earned National Board Certification, bringing the district total to 261.
The district is committed to high performance and measured improvement. We believe in a strong academic emphasis in all grades, full day instruction at all levels and extended learning opportunities for students who need either remediation or enrichment. Additionally, opportunities for life-long learning are available through Adult and Community Education programs.
Needless to stay 2009-10 school year brought many financial challenges, but the district is in a stronger position now because of the introspective and innovative measures taken. The campuses are cleaner, safer, and more energy efficient. The instructional staff is better trained and the new team members bring an amazing level of talent to the district. Scores in the national Adequate Yearly Progress test and the Palmetto Academic State Standards test are markedly improved across the board. At the beginning of the school year, the district garnered the first National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence awarded in the district to Howe Hall Arts Infused Magnet School. The 2009-10 graduation class was the largest class ever, and received more scholarship money than any class in the district’s history.
Dorchester County District ll
102 Greenwave Blvd. Summerville, SC 29483 843-873-2901 www.dorchester2.k12.sc.usDorchester County District lV
500 Ridge StreetSt. George, SC 29477843-563-4535www.dorchester4.k12.sc.usDorchester County, which includes Summerville, part of North Charleston and several small towns such as Ridgeville, Saint George and Reeseville, is one of the fastest growing areas in the state. It is divided into two school disticts. District Two which mainly serves the Summerville area, and District Four which mainly serves the rural areas of Dorchester County.
District ll student enrollment in 2009 - 2010 school year is over 22,000 students, and continues to grow by about nine hundred students each year to its 21 schools. Community involvement in Dorchester County District ll is always visible with more than 600 business partnerships that provide mentoring, donations, and support for school projects. Dorchester County District ll had over 3,000 school volunteers log in hours at its 21 schools. Average SAT scores for 2008 - 2009 was 1478, which was above the state average of 1452.
District lV has over 2300 students in five schools that serves the Saint George and surrounding areas, including Woodland High School, Saint George Middle School and Harleyville-ridgeville Elementary.