Charleston Schools News
HERE Education covers every school, deadline, and funding opportunity in Charleston County. From K-12 to College of Charleston — use our Right School Right Neighborhood quiz, search the full directory, and track what matters.
Charleston County is home to a unified school district serving students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. High schools serving Charleston families include Ashley Ridge High School, Cane Bay High School, Fort Dorchester High School, Goose Creek High School, James Island Charter High School, and 14 more. HERE Charleston covers every school board meeting, budget cycle, and academic milestone across Charleston County.
Charleston's higher-education landscape includes 2 institutions: College of Charleston, NCAA Division I; The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, NCAA Division I FCS. HERE Charleston covers admissions deadlines, scholarship windows, athletic schedules, and campus announcements for each institution.
SC's public-school governance flows through the SC Department of Education, which administers SC READY assessments each spring and enforces the Read to Succeed Act — requiring third-grade reading proficiency before promotion. The South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) — non-profit governing body for public high school athletics in SC (founded 1913). Private schools generally compete in the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA). SCHSL classifies schools 1A through 5A based on enrollment. Headquartered in Columbia, SC; website https://schsl.org. (SCHSL) governs interscholastic athletics across the state. Teacher pay begins at the state minimum and is locally supplemented — making salaries a perennial flashpoint at budget hearings.
HERE Charleston tracks school-board meetings across Charleston County — agendas, votes, and budget summaries published before local papers. Our reporters cover graduation rates and SC READY scores; teacher-contract negotiations; school resource officers; SAT and ACT data; Title I funding allocations; building bond referenda; and the Friday Night Football calendar. From dual-enrollment windows at local technical colleges to faculty announcements at area universities — if it happens in a Charleston classroom or on a Charleston County campus, it is HERE.
Education News
Burke High School Boosts Programs to Attract Students
Charleston County School District leaders and alumni of Burke High School are working to enhance the historic downtown Charleston institution’s...
Report Alleges Misconduct by Charleston School Board Member
A new report from the South Carolina Office of the Inspector General, released this week, details alleged violations and misconduct...
Three-Year Degrees Spread as Accreditors Ease Rules
The push to shorten the American undergraduate degree reached a federal milestone this month. The US Department of Education published...
Trump Criticizes Public Schools, Promotes School Choice Plan
President Trump on Monday criticized American public schools for what he described as a failure in education, advocating for his...
Poll: Americans seek stronger AI rules for K-12 schools
A new public opinion poll released this week indicates a strong bipartisan desire among Americans for stricter regulations regarding artificial...
Trump Admin Pushes to Shut Down Education Department
President Donald Trump and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon hosted a Back to School event at the White House on...
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Charleston School Directory, Report Cards, and School News
Charleston County High Schools
Charleston County School District
County: Charleston County
SC Governor's School for Science & Mathematics
Type: Residential magnet high school for SC students
Applications open annually
District & Local School News
Burke High School Boosts Programs to Attract Students
Charleston County School District leaders and alumni of Burke High School are working to enhance the historic downtown Charleston institution’s...
Report Alleges Misconduct by Charleston School Board Member
A new report from the South Carolina Office of the Inspector General, released this week, details alleged violations and misconduct...
Charleston Schools Embrace AI Literacy Training
The Charleston County School District is implementing a new strategy to integrate artificial intelligence into classrooms, focusing on AI literacy...
Charleston Educators Embrace AI as Teaching Tool
Charleston County School District educators are integrating artificial intelligence chatbots into classrooms, shifting from initial bans to a strategy of...
School Report Cards
Official annual ratings from the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee and the South Carolina Department of Education. Showing every rated public school in Charleston County for the 2024-25 school year.
Click any school to view the full report card on the official SC Report Cards site (graduation rate, academic progress, school climate, financial data).
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Statewide SC public school ratings are refreshed annually. Check back soon.
Featured Schools & Programs
College of Charleston serves Charleston and the surrounding Lowcountry region. NCAA Division I.
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina serves Charleston and the surrounding Lowcountry region. NCAA Division I FCS.
SC's elite residential magnet school for mathematically and scientifically gifted students. Open to all SC students.
$6,000 per year for high school seniors planning to teach in SC. Competitive program recognizing future educators.
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Your Charleston Education & Career Plan
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Online & Hybrid Education
Accredited programs for Charleston County residents who need flexibility.
Online and hybrid degree and certificate programs. SC in-state tuition rates available for eligible students.
Online and hybrid degree and certificate programs. SC in-state tuition rates available for eligible students.
Google, IBM, Meta, and other employer-backed certificates. Many are accepted by Charleston County's manufacturing and tech employers. Some WIOA-funded.
The SC Technical College System offers online certificates and associate degree programs through the state's 16 technical colleges.
School Board Meetings
HERE Charleston covers every public school board meeting in Charleston County — agendas published in advance, votes summarized after.
Location: Charleston County — district office
Key Education Policy Issues — Charleston County
Education FAQ — Charleston
How do I enroll my child in a Charleston County school?
Enrollment for Charleston County public schools is managed by the district office. Contact the Charleston County school district directly for enrollment forms, residency requirements, and deadlines. Visit the district website or the Charleston County government site for current instructions.
What colleges are in or near Charleston?
Charleston and Charleston County are served by 2 higher-education institutions: College of Charleston, The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. Use our Decision Maker tool above to find the right fit for your goals.
Is there financial aid available for Charleston students?
Yes — the SC LIFE and Palmetto Fellows scholarships are merit-based awards for students attending SC colleges. SC WINS is a workforce scholarship for technical programs. FAFSA is available for all eligible students. The SC Teaching Fellows scholarship provides $6,000/year for future educators.
How does high school athletics work in Charleston County?
High school athletics in Charleston County are governed by the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) — non-profit governing body for public high school athletics in SC (founded 1913). Private schools generally compete in the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA). SCHSL classifies schools 1A through 5A based on enrollment. Headquartered in Columbia, SC; website https://schsl.org. (SCHSL). Schools compete in classifications based on enrollment (1A–5A for most sports). HERE Charleston covers every home game, playoff bracket, and signing-day announcement.
How do I submit a tip or story idea to HERE Charleston?
Use the Submit an Education Tip form at the top of this page. We cover school board decisions, program announcements, scholarship opportunities, enrollment deadlines, and any issue affecting Charleston County students and families. Tips can be submitted anonymously.