Which School District In Summerville, SC Is Best?

Every fall, thousands of kids step into classrooms. But ahead of this moment, deciding on a school district can be tough. What classes do they offer? How is the school’s academic standing? What’s the student-teacher ratio? If you’re moving to Summerville, South Carolina, we’re here to help you tackle those questions. This article breaks down the three school districts in Summerville, SC: Dorchester School District Two, Charleston County School District, and Berkeley County School District.

Dorchester School District Two

Dorchester School District Two is an excellent district that serves students in Dorchester County in Summerville, Ladson, and North Charleston. Their schools rank very highly in academics and extracurricular offerings.

School Stats

• 24 schools in the district
  • 15 elementary schools
  • 6 middle schools
  • 3 high schools
• Over 26,000 students
• Student-teacher ratio of 16:1
• 45% of students are at least “proficient” in math; 57% of students are at least “proficient” in reading.
• 62.7% of students receive free or reduced lunch.

Fun Facts

• In this district, Rollings Middle School of the Arts offers students a unique variety of arts to participate in alongside their studies. Their offerings include piano, dance, string orchestra, theater, visual arts, choir, and traditional band.
• The school district is growing in both students and facilities. In fact, it recently opened a new classroom wing at Sand Hill Elementary School.
• The Summerville high school, Ashley Ridge, is very highly rated, ranking 38th within South Carolina and earning an “excellent” rating from the state. It does particularly well in terms of its graduation rate and its students’ college and career readiness.

Charleston County School District

Charleston County School District is a very large school system in Charleston, SC. Running along the Atlantic coast, the district is about 24 miles from Summerville. This district is a great choice for families who want academic rigor for their students and a variety of specialized programs to choose from.

School Stats

• 85 schools in the district
  • 46 elementary schools
  • 13 middle schools
  • 17 high schools
  • Other schools, like head start facilities.
• Over 50,000 students
• Student-teacher ratio of 13:1
• 51% of students are at least “proficient” in math; 57% of students are at least “proficient” in reading.
• 56% of students receive free or reduced lunch.

Fun Facts

• St. Andrew’s School of Math and Science offers state-of-the-art technology and science centers to give their students hands-on STEM experience from a young age. Fittingly, their mascot is the Astronauts.
• If arts are more your child’s thing, the district also offers the highly rated Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary School and Charleston County School of the Arts.
• Moreover, the district’s Academic Magnet High School is the second best in the state. It’s also, incredibly, the seventh best public high school in the entire county, with a 100% graduation rate. The school has a variety of courses and clubs not typically seen in high school. Just beware of the rigorous application process to attend.
• Teachers in this district receive the highest pay in South Carolina.
• Unlike many school districts, student proficiency in reading and math has actually increased in the last few years to an all-time high!

Berkeley County School District

Berkeley County School District is another large district. It’s in Moncks Corner, SC, a more rural community 16 miles from Summerville.

School Stats

• 40 schools in the district
  • 22 elementary schools
  • 9 middle schools
  • 8 high schools
  • 1 alternative school
• Over 37,000 students
• Student-teacher ratio of 16:1
• 33% of students are at least “proficient” in math; 50% of students are at least “proficient” in reading.
• 65.6% of students receive free or reduced lunch.

Fun Facts

• For artistically inclined students, Marrington Middle School of the Arts provides a top-notch education and allows students to major in band, chorus, dance, orchestra, theater, or visual arts.
• Berkeley County Middle College High School, which partners with a technical college, lets students earn associate degrees while in high school.
• The district provides Chromebooks to all students and partners with a company to bring internet to students who may lack home access.

Conclusion

Now you’re more prepared to move with your family to Summerville, SC. You’ve learned that Dorchester School District Two serves students in Summerville proper and offers a great education. Charleston County School District is located slightly outside of Summerville but has some of the best schools in the country. Lastly, Berkeley County School District serves students in a slightly more rural area and offers a wide range of options.

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