Charleston SC Education 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
Sylvia Wright Pitches Statewide School Plan to SC Voters
Charleston SC Education COLUMBIA, S.C. — With the November election weeks away, Democrat Sylvia Wright is pressing a four-part education...
SC Opens First Veterinary Medicine College at Peeler
Charleston SC Education CLEMSON, S.C. — South Carolina’s first veterinary college took the spotlight Friday as leaders cut the ribbon...
Charleston Schools Post More Excellent Report Card Ratings
Charleston SC Education Charleston, S.C. — Charleston County’s new state report cards show 43 excellent schools — up nine from...
DD2 Lays Out $700 Million in School Needs Before Sales Tax Vote
Charleston SC Education DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — Dorchester School District Two says it needs about $700 million to repair, renovate...
Rotary, Miracle League Fund CharlestonLIFE Scholarship
Charleston SC Education CHARLESTON, S.C. — Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities heading to the College of Charleston in Charleston,...
CCSD Weighs Pre-K Expansion and Rezoning in North Charleston
Charleston SC Education North Charleston, S.C. — Charleston County School District leaders are moving forward with a plan to expand...
Right School. Right Neighborhood. HERE!
Tell us what matters to your family — schools, community feel, budget — and we'll match you to the right Charleston neighborhood.
What grades are you shopping schools for?
What matters most to you in a school? (Select up to 3)
What kind of community feels like home?
Which part of Charleston County?
Tell us about your move
Where should we send your neighborhood match?
We'll email your personalized school & neighborhood report — free, no obligation.
No spam. We match you with a local real estate expert only if you want us to.
Your Charleston Neighborhood Match
Charleston offers a range of neighborhoods that match different school and lifestyle priorities. Connect with a local real estate expert to explore what fits your family best.
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
Charleston Schools Post More Excellent Report Card Ratings
Charleston SC Education Charleston, S.C. — Charleston County’s new state report cards show 43 excellent schools — up nine from...
DD2 Lays Out $700 Million in School Needs Before Sales Tax Vote
Charleston SC Education DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — Dorchester School District Two says it needs about $700 million to repair, renovate...
Rotary, Miracle League Fund CharlestonLIFE Scholarship
Charleston SC Education CHARLESTON, S.C. — Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities heading to the College of Charleston in Charleston,...
CCSD Weighs Pre-K Expansion and Rezoning in North Charleston
Charleston SC Education North Charleston, S.C. — Charleston County School District leaders are moving forward with a plan to expand...
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).
Report card data loading.
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.
The HERE Decision Maker
6 questions, a personalized education & career roadmap. Free. No sign-up.
Where are you right now?
What matters most to you?
How do you learn best?
How much time can you commit?
What career field interests you most?
Where should we send your personalized roadmap?
We'll email your free education & career plan — no obligation.
Your Charleston Education & Career Plan
Based on your answers, here are the top 3 paths we recommend in Charleston.
We'll send a PDF summary plus local scholarship and program contacts.
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.
Charleston is in Charleston County, South Carolina. Colleges serving the area: College of Charleston and The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.
Latest Charleston Education News
Sylvia Wright Pitches Statewide School Plan to SC Voters
COLUMBIA, S.C. — With the November election weeks away, Democrat Sylvia Wright is pressing a four-part education plan in her bid to unseat Republican Ellen Weaver as South…
SC Opens First Veterinary Medicine College at Peeler
CLEMSON, S.C. — South Carolina’s first veterinary college took the spotlight Friday as leaders cut the ribbon on the Peeler College of Veterinary Medicine, a campus built to…
Charleston Schools Post More Excellent Report Card Ratings
Charleston, S.C. — Charleston County’s new state report cards show 43 excellent schools — up nine from last year — across 90 campuses in the district’s statewide release.…
DD2 Lays Out $700 Million in School Needs Before Sales Tax Vote
DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — Dorchester School District Two says it needs about $700 million to repair, renovate and improve its schools over the next 15 years, ahead of…
Rotary, Miracle League Fund CharlestonLIFE Scholarship
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities heading to the College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C., will have a new source of help with tuition, the…
CCSD Weighs Pre-K Expansion and Rezoning in North Charleston
North Charleston, S.C. — Charleston County School District leaders are moving forward with a plan to expand universal pre-K to North Charleston Elementary and Pepperhill Elementary starting in…
Hochul opts New York into federal school choice tax credit
WASHINGTON — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday her state will join the new federal scholarship tax credit, becoming the second Democratic governor to opt in voluntarily…
Peninsula Promise Project Launches in Charleston
Charleston County School District Unveils New Educational Initiative The Charleston County School District launched the Peninsula Promise Project in August. Superintendent Anita Huggins previously committed to ensuring every…
College of Charleston Hosts Campus Events
College of Charleston Campus Activities Students at the College of Charleston are progressing through the fall semester, participating in various campus events. A carnival, specifically the Languages, Cultures,…
SC Schools Adapt to New Tech for Diabetes Monitoring
Charleston area schools, like others across South Carolina, are currently evaluating their role in monitoring students with diabetes as continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) become more prevalent. This ongoing…
Charleston school board within weeks of hiring vendor auditor
CHARLESTON COUNTY — The Charleston County School District is on track to seat an independent auditor within the next week or two to comb through payments the district…
16,000 US seniors named 2027 National Merit semifinalists
More than 16,000 high school seniors across the United States have been named semifinalists in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced this…
