About Us
Charleston County School District (CCSD) is the second largest school system in South Carolina representing a unique blend of urban, suburban, and rural schools that span 1,000 square miles of coastal lands. CCSD serves approximately 45,000 students in 80 schools and several specialized programs. CCSD offers a diverse, expanding portfolio of options—including neighborhood, charter, and magnet schools—and is divided into elementary, secondary, and “Innovation Zone” Learning Communities, each led by an associate superintendent. With approximately 5,500 employees district-wide, CCSD is the fourth largest employer in the region.
- Printable Version of CCSD's Annual Report for Parents
- More Families Go Public With CCSD Public Schools: Graph of 10-Day Enrollment Trends
- "CCSD By the Numbers": Key Statistics and Facts About the District
- Teacher Development Cycle
- Graph-Rising Ninth Graders and Literacy Levels
- Literacy Strategic Triangle: How CCSD is Working to Improve Literacy Outcomes for All Students
- Possible Future "Four Year" Vision and Fact Sheet
CCSD’s superintendent, Dr. Nancy McGinley, was appointed by the Board in April 2007. Over the last five years, CCSD’s students have made significant progress. This year:
- 45% of CCSD students attend “Excellent” rated schools—over twice the state average of 20%;
- CCSD seniors earned $48 million in scholarships—their highest earnings on record;
- For the third year in a row, CCSD’s 3rd-through-8th graders earned higher “Exemplary” marks on the PASS test than their state peers in every grade and subject tested; and
- CCSD schools are safer and more high-tech than ever, with expulsions and suspensions at four-year lows.
Following nearly ten years of decline, student enrollment has now increased for three straight years. And the district’s capital plan—modernizing classrooms and pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy—was recently supported 2-to-1 by the taxpayers of Charleston County.
CCSD’s strategic plan, “Charleston Achieving Excellence,” centers on four priorities: Literacy Improvement, Effective Teaching and Leadership, World-Class Schools & Systems, and Strategic Partnerships. CCSD has three goals: 1) Close the achievement gap; 2) Elevate achievement overall; and 3) Raise the graduation rate. This year, CCSD will launch a new strategic plan—“Charleston Achieving Excellence: Vision 2016”—which will strengthen the district’s emphasis on literacy improvement and teacher effectiveness and create bold annual performance targets for all students.
