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Weighted Student Funding at CCSD

Resources follow student needs to ensure fairness, transparency, and school-level autonomy across Charleston County School District.

Weighted Student Funding (WSF) – FY27

Charleston County School District | FY2027

Funding that follows
student need.

The Weighted Student Funding Formula distributes resources based on who students are and what they need, not on legacy staffing patterns or historical allocations. WSF is a best-practice model used by school districts across the country to better support all students.

Subgroup Pupils in Poverty (PIP)
Subgroup Students with Disabilities (SWD)
Subgroup Multilingual Learners (ML)

What WSF enables

School leaders make investments that will…

01
Sustain academic gains
Protect and build on student progress through targeted, data-driven strategies.
02
Increase support for all students
Ensure students with the greatest need have access to the most effective resources.
03
Increase school autonomy
Empower principals to direct funding toward what their community actually needs.
04
Align investments with outcomes
Connect every dollar to a measurable academic result with no ambiguity and no waste.

FY27 Base Allocation Formula

Each eligible student generates additional funding above the base school allocation based on their subgroup weight. Schools with an allocation increase exceeding $500,000 receive funding at 80% of the per-pupil calculation.

$1,446.15
FY27 Base Per Pupil Amount
A 6.8% increase from FY26, applied above and beyond each school's base allocation
Student Group Weight Per Pupil Value
Full Per Pupil Calculation — Base: $1,446.15
Students with Disabilities (SWD) 0.85 $1,229.23
Pupils in Poverty (PIP) 0.70 $1,012.31
Multilingual Learners (ML) 1.00 $1,446.15
80% Per Pupil Calculation — schools with allocation increase exceeding $500,000
Students with Disabilities (SWD) 0.68 $983.38
Pupils in Poverty (PIP) 0.56 $809.84
Multilingual Learners (ML) 0.80 $1,156.92

FY26 45-day enrollment data was used to determine subgroup counts.

Literacy Enhancement Allocation

The new model distributes literacy funding based on actual student data. Both elementary and middle schools are included, and resources are allocated proportionally so that schools with greater intervention needs receive a greater share of funding. The result is a more transparent, equitable model where staffing and instructional supports are targeted where they can have the greatest impact on student literacy outcomes.

Student Group / Measure Weight Per Pupil Value
WSF Literacy Base — Per Pupil: $471.31
Students with Disabilities (SWD) 1.00 $471.31
Pupils in Poverty (PIP) 0.70 $329.92
Multilingual Learners (ML) 1.00 $471.31
Intervention Tier — Per Pupil: $876.64 (iReady-based)
Does Not Meet benchmark (grades 3–5) 1.00 $876.64
Below 30th percentile — Winter 2026 iReady 1.00 $876.64

How WSF Dollars Are Used

Literacy Math College & Career Readiness Chronic Absenteeism

Each investment must support one of the academic focus areas below and meet all four requirements.

01
Tied to a formative and a summative success measure
02
Directly supports a WSF subgroup: ML, PIP, or SWD
03
Aligned to school-identified needs and the School Renewal Plan
04
Grounded in a data-driven, research-based strategy

Resources

Public Dashboard
School-level allocation data
Presentations
Board & stakeholder decks
WSF in the News
Press coverage & features
Media Resources
Photos & graphics
“Weighted Student Funding ensures fairness and opportunity for every student in the Charleston County School District.”

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.

Resources