Weighted Student Funding at CCSD
Resources follow student needs to ensure fairness, transparency, and school-level autonomy across Charleston County School District.
Explore Public DashboardsCharleston County School District (CCSD) has adopted a Weighted Student Funding (WSF) model to ensure that financial resources are distributed equitably and transparently across its schools. Rather than relying solely on traditional staffing formulas, WSF directs funding based on the specific needs of students. Every child generates a base per-pupil allocation, and additional weights are applied for Poverty Index Pupils (PIP), Multilingual Learners (MLL), and Students with Disabilities (SWD). By making funding more responsive, CCSD is reinforcing its commitment to fairness, accountability, and student success.
Maximizes Support for Students
Dollars follow student needs, strengthening services for multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and those experiencing poverty.
Sustains Academic Gains
WSF helps maintain effective ESSER-era programs as one-time funds sunset.
School-Level Autonomy
Principals and teams have more flexibility to align resources with their students’ goals, increasing school autonomy and empowering local decision-making.
How It Works
Weighted Student Funding (WSF) provides additional dollars based on student characteristics so support is proportional to need. In CCSD, WSF layers above base allocations to better serve students in poverty, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities.
Funding Formula Per Pupil
Funding = Weight × Per-Pupil Allocation × Number of Students
FY26 Per-Pupil Allocation – $1,353.61
Poverty Index Pupils (PIP): 0.70
Multilingual Learners (MLL): 1.00
Students with Disabilities (SWD): 0.85
Example Calculation:
150 PIP students → 0.70 × $1,353.61 × 150 = $142,892
100 MLL students → 1.00 × $1,353.61 × 100 = $135,361
125 SWD students → 0.85 × $1,353.61 × 125 = $143,646
Total Weighted Funding = $421,899
This total is in addition to the base per-pupil allocations all students generate, ensuring that schools have both equitable foundations and targeted resources for students with greater needs.
“Weighted Student Funding ensures fairness and opportunity for every student in the Charleston County School District.”
Resources
WSF Matrix by School
View the school-level matrix for the current fiscal year.
Transparency Reporting
Financial dashboards and public reporting.
Budget Presentations
Board/committee materials and videos.
WSF in the News
Articles and coverage about WSF in CCSD.
FAQ
What is Weighted Student Funding?
WSF allocates additional dollars based on student characteristics—so funding follows student need.
Who receives additional weight?
Students in poverty, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities receive additional funding weights.