Charleston County School District serves most of Charleston, 843-937-6300. Schools close Nov. 3 and Nov. 23-27; winter break starts Dec. 21.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Facts on this page come from Charleston County School District, the South Carolina school report cards and the federal NCES school directory.

Every public school in Charleston, with its zone and report card: Charleston public schools.

Homes in the Charleston County parts of the city, the peninsula, West Ashley, James Island and Johns Island, are served by Charleston County School District (CCSD). Homes on Daniel Island and in Cainhoy are in Berkeley County and are served by Berkeley County School District. Your property tax bill shows which county you are in.

Who to call

Key dates this school year

From CCSD’s 2026-27 academic calendar (PDF):

Date What happens
Tuesday, Nov. 3 Election Day, schools closed
Nov. 23-24 No school (weather make-up days if needed)
Nov. 25-27 Fall break, schools and offices closed
Friday, Dec. 18 Half day
Dec. 21 to Jan. 1 Winter break
Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027 Students return; second semester begins
Monday, Jan. 18 Martin Luther King Jr. Day, closed
Monday, Feb. 15 Presidents Day, closed
March 29 to April 2 Spring break
Thursday, May 27 Last day for students (early release)

CCSD can use up to five eLearning days for emergencies such as storms before it uses weather make-up days.

Public schools with a Charleston address

These CCSD schools list a Charleston mailing address in the federal NCES directory for 2023-24. Enrollment is the official count for that year. A Charleston address does not always mean the school is inside city limits, and schools on Johns Island use a Johns Island address. Each linked name opens the school’s 2025 state report card.

High schools

School Area Grades Students (2023-24)
West Ashley High, 4060 W. Wildcat Blvd. West Ashley 9-12 2,043
James Island Charter High, 1000 Fort Johnson Road James Island 9-12 1,597
Charleston Charter School for Math and Science, 1002 King St. Peninsula 6-12 559
Burke High, 244 President St. Peninsula 9-12 359

Johns Island students are zoned for St. John’s High. Academic Magnet High, Charleston County School of the Arts and Military Magnet Academy, all in North Charleston, take students from across the county by application; see CCSD’s list of schools and programs that require an application.

Middle and K-8 schools: C.E. Williams Middle (1,241 students), Camp Road Middle (857), Simmons-Pinckney Middle (199) and Buist Academy, grades 3-8 (537); the Montessori schools James Simons, Murray-LaSaine and Montessori Community School; and the charter schools Orange Grove (1,169), Carolina Voyager and Charleston Development Academy.

Elementary schools: Ashley River Creative Arts, Charleston Progressive, Drayton Hall, Harbor View, James Island, Memminger, Mitchell, Oakland, Sanders-Clyde, Springfield, St. Andrew’s School of Math and Science, Stiles Point and Stono Park. Stiles Point is the largest, with 813 students in 2023-24.

Ratings: the state report card

South Carolina rates every public school each year on its school report cards, with an overall rating and the measures behind it. CCSD links every school’s 2025 card from its SC report cards page. Compare a school with the district and the state, not only with its neighbors, and read past the overall rating.

Enrolling a student

Enroll at your zoned school. CCSD’s required documents page lists what to bring:

  • Proof of age, such as a birth certificate or passport. A child must be 5 by Sept. 1 for kindergarten, and 4 by Sept. 1 for 4-year-old pre-K.
  • A South Carolina certificate of immunization.
  • One Category I residency document: a signed current lease, the latest real property tax bill, or a ratified purchase or construction contract.
  • One Category II residency document: a power, gas, water, landline, cable or internet bill, a car registration, a pay stub or agency mail.
  • A parent or guardian photo ID.

Families who share another household’s home can use the district’s notarized affidavit of residency (PDF). Transfers are covered on the student transfer page.

School board meetings

The CCSD Board of Trustees meets on Mondays; its 2026-27 meeting schedule lists:

Date Meeting
Monday, Oct. 26 Board, 5:15 p.m. open session
Monday, Nov. 9 Committee of the whole
Monday, Nov. 16 Swearing-in of new members and election of officers, 4 p.m.; board, 5:15 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 14 Combined committee and board meeting

Agendas and minutes are on the board’s agendas page.

What this means for you

  • Check the county line on your tax bill: it decides your district.
  • Election Day, Nov. 3, is a day off; plan child care now.
  • Read the full report card, not only the overall rating.

Related guides: voting in Charleston County, moving to Charleston and Friday night football.

Which schools each part of the city is zoned for is in our Charleston neighborhoods guide.

Frequently asked questions

What school district is Charleston, South Carolina, in?

Most of Charleston is in Charleston County and is served by Charleston County School District. Daniel Island and Cainhoy are in Berkeley County and are served by Berkeley County School District.

Is there school on Election Day in Charleston County?

No. Charleston County School District schools are closed Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, for Election Day.

When is Thanksgiving break for Charleston County schools?

Schools are closed Monday through Friday, Nov. 23-27, 2026. Nov. 23 and 24 are weather make-up days, so they could become school days if needed.

When does winter break start for Charleston County schools?

Dec. 18 is a half day, winter break runs Dec. 21 through Jan. 1, and students return Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027.

Where can I see a Charleston school’s rating?

Each school’s rating is on the South Carolina school report cards site, screportcards.com. Charleston County School District links every school’s 2025 report card from its SC report cards page.