Education
As in most communities its size, the academic options in Greater Charleston are greatly varied. Newcomers to the area with school-age children need to know specific details about the public and private schooling options and make their educational decisions accordingly. Sometimes this information is closely guarded (especially when the news isn’t particularly good), but be diligent in your quest for detail. Finding good schools and good teachers is obviously extremely important.
If you’re new to the city, one of your first sources of information about schools in your residential area should be your realtor. Ask about the area schools’ comparative test scores, student teacher ratios, college placement percentages, and athletic options. Don’t hesitate to ask about any recorded incidents of violence. Another resource with reliable information is your county school district office. Addresses and phone numbers for offices in Charleston, Dorchester, and Berkeley Counties are listed in this chapter.
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Education
Address: 75 Calhoun St.
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Education
Address: 229 East Main St.
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Education
Address: 102 Green Wave Blvd.
4. Dorchester County School District 4
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Education
Telephone: (843) 563-4535
Address: 500 Ridge St.
Description: Dorchester District 4 serves the outer region of Dorchester County and, with only about 2,300 students, is one of the smallest districts in the state. The district has a pupil–teacher ratio of one instructor for every 18.5 students. Setting high standards for its faculty, the district provides incentives for the professional growth and advancement of its teachers and administrators through in-service training programs and membership in the Salkehatchie Consortium, which provides graduate courses at no cost to teachers. The district’s curriculum is designed for students looking to enter the workforce after high school as well as students heading for college. District 4 maintains 2 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school.
5. Addlestone Hebrew Academy
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Education
Telephone: (843) 571-1105
Address: 1639 Raoul Wallenberg Blvd.
Description: Addlestone accepts children from 18 months through grade 8 and provides secular as well as religious training. Conversational Hebrew classes are offered along with a full curriculum in the elementary grades.
6. Archibald Rutledge Academy
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Education
Telephone: (843) 887-3323
Address: 1011 Old Cemetery Rd.
Description: The Archibald Rutledge Academy, named for the South Carolina poet laureate, offers full college preparatory and general curricula for students in K4 through grade 12. The school’s small classes and updated facilities, as well as an emphasis on surrounding ecological and cultural resources, are important features.
7. Ashley Hall
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Education
Telephone: (843) 722-2854
Address: 172 Rutledge Ave.
Description: Founded in 1909, Ashley Hall is a college preparatory day school dedicated to educating girls from age 2 through grade 12. It remains the only all-girl independent school in the state. A full 100 percent of the school’s graduates are accepted by colleges and universities across the nation. The school’s early childhood program also admits boys ages 2 to 4.
8. Bishop England High School
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Education
Telephone: (843) 849-9599
Address: 363 Seven Farms Dr.
Description: Bishop England High School is a Roman Catholic coeducational secondary school operated under the auspices of the Diocese of Charleston. Grouping by academic ability is a unique feature of the school, whereby students of similar abilities are placed together for concentrated instruction. In summer 1998 the school relocated from its downtown campus to a state-of-the-art high school on a 40-acre site on Daniel Island.
9. Catholic Schools
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Education
Telephone: (843) 402-9115
Address: 1662 Ingram Rd.
Description: A full academic curriculum with all basic disciplines is offered at all 8 Lowcountry Catholic elementary, middle, and high schools, in addition to the study of religion and Christian values. The schools are Blessed Sacrament, Christ Our King-Stella Maris, Divine Redeemer, Nativity School, St. John’s Catholic School and the Charleston Catholic School, Summerville Catholic School, and Bishop England. For more information, contact the Catholic schools office at the address listed above.
10. Charles Towne Montessori School
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Education
Telephone: (843) 571-1140
Address: 56 Leinbach Dr.
Description: Situated on a 12-acre wooded campus in West Ashley, Charles Towne Montessori accepts children from 3 months through grade 6. The school offers a learning environment in keeping with Montessori principles, encouraging creative expression in all aspects of a child’s development. There is a studio program for the arts as well as an after-school sports program.
11. Charleston Collegiate School
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Education
Telephone: (843) 559-5506
Address: 2024 Academy Dr.
Description: Charleston Collegiate School, on a 30-acre site in the middle of Johns Island, offers a college preparatory curriculum stressing the fundamentals in all academic disciplines. The school accepts qualified students age 4 through grade 12.
12. Charleston Day School
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Education
Telephone: (843) 722-7791, ext. 2
Address: 15 Archdale St.
Description: Charleston Day School is a coed day school enrolling about 185 students in grades 1 through 8. Graduates go on to local secondary schools and a variety of preparatory schools around the country.
13. First Baptist Church School
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Education
Telephone: (843) 722-6646
Address: 48 Meeting St.
Description: First Baptist Church School, established in 1949, offers a college preparatory education in a Christian setting for children age 3 through grade 12. The academic curriculum is enriched by Bible study and extracurricular activities.
14. James Island Christian School
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Education
Telephone: (843) 795-1762
Address: 15 Crosscreek Dr.
Description: James Island Christian is a ministry of James Island Christian Church. It offers an interdenominational, comprehensive curriculum for students in K4 through grade 12. The school’s standards exceed the requirements for entrance into most colleges.
15. Mason Preparatory School
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Education
Telephone: (843) 803-6015
Address: 56 Halsey Blvd.
Description: The mission of Mason Preparatory School is to provide a solid academic foundation to students in grades 1 through 8. In addition to a well-rounded curriculum, a wide variety of after-school activities is offered.