32 public K-12 schools in Charleston from NCES Common Core of Data: enrollment, grade span, demographics, and Civil Rights Data Collection statistics for every active campus.
32 public schools ranked by quality score. NCES CCD 2024-25 data.
The highest-ranked of Charleston's 32 public schools is West Ashley High, scoring 41/100, against a city average of 48.4/100. Computed live across every Charleston campus reporting to NCES.
How the Charleston Public-School Landscape Breaks Down
Charleston, SC enrolls 19,674 students across 32 public schools reporting to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, 8 are charter schools, giving families genuine alternatives to the traditional neighbourhood assignment model. The average student-teacher ratio across the city is 14.5:1, and the composite quality score, derived from student-teacher ratio, counselor access, gifted-program availability, and CRDC attendance data, averages 48.4/100. Schools must report at least five campuses in a city to appear in this listing, which is why very small towns may redirect to the broader county or state view.
The most-resourced campus in Charleston on this index is West Ashley High, at 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index with 2,069 enrolled students. What the index does and doesn't measure; click any school below for its full component breakdown.
Charleston spans 3 districts, each filing its own NCES F-33 return, per-pupil spending can vary between neighbouring campuses. Sort the table below by enrollment, level, or district; click any school for its full profile.
Charleston school enrollment varies 39× across entities
Charleston school enrollment ranges from 53 students (lowest) to 2,069 students (highest), a spread of 2,016 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme heterogeneity inside a single city, small specialty programs sit alongside large comprehensive campuses, often serving very different family demographics inside walking distance. Per-school staffing, programme depth, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same city based on enrollment shape, a 200-student magnet runs a different operational model than a 2,000-student comprehensive high school.
Charleston has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 61.3% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch
free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.
Charleston student-teacher ratio is 14.5:1 — near the typical range (US average ~15.7) — aligned with the U.S. average of approximately 15.7:1
student-teacher ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE classroom teachers against total enrollment, push-in specialists, English-language aides, special-education co-teachers, and counselors are not included in most reporting Variation between sub-units within Charleston is typically wider than the Charleston-aggregate figure suggests.
Charleston has higher-than-average charter school authorisation eligibility — 25.0% of the population qualifies for charter-school enrollment options
charter-school enrollment options eligibility is the federal threshold for charter school authorisation funding allocations, established under the state-specific charter law. Eligibility here is approaching the 30% concentration-grant threshold; it does not yet unlock the extra funding tier but sits meaningfully above the baseline 10% majority mark. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.
Most racially and ethnically mixed schools in Charleston
Ranked by the Simpson student-body diversity index (0-100) from NCES race and ethnicity data, where higher means a more evenly mixed student body. It measures mix, not quality.
The highest-ranked school in Charleston is West Ashley High with a quality score of 41/100. There are 32 public schools in Charleston with 19,674 total students.
How many schools are in Charleston, SC? ▼
Charleston has 32 public schools with a total enrollment of 19,674 students. 8 are charter schools. Average student-teacher ratio: 14.5:1.
Data from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22. Quality scores based on student-teacher ratio,
counselor access, gifted programs, and attendance. Schools must have 5+ in the city to be listed.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology, which explains how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
