For the 2026-27 school year, there are 32 public elementary schools serving 17,524 students in Charleston, SC.
The top-ranked public elementary schools in Charleston, SC are Buist Academy, Daniel Island School and Montessori Community School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Charleston, SC public elementary schools have an average math proficiency score of 52% (versus the South Carolina public elementary school average of 41%), and reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 47% statewide average). Elementary schools in Charleston have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of South Carolina public elementary schools.
Minority enrollment is 46% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the South Carolina public elementary school average of 54% (majority Black).
Best Public Elementary Schools in Charleston, SC (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Buist Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 93% | Reading: 96%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
103 Calhoun Street
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 724-7750
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 724-7750
Gr: 3-8 | 521 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #22.
Daniel Island School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2365 Daniel Island Drive
Charleston, SC 29492
(843) 471-2301
Charleston, SC 29492
(843) 471-2301
Gr: K-8 | 1,151 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #33.
Montessori Community School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2122 Wood Avenue
Charleston, SC 29414
(843) 769-0346
Charleston, SC 29414
(843) 769-0346
Gr: PK-8 | 280 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #44.
Orange Grove Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1225 Orange Branch Road
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 763-1520
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 763-1520
Gr: PK-8 | 1,170 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #55.
Stiles Point Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
883-a Mikell Drive
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-2767
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-2767
Gr: PK-5 | 866 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #66.
Harbor View Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1576 Harbor View Road
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-2749
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-2749
Gr: PK-5 | 621 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #77.
Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1871 Wallace School Road
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 763-1555
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 763-1555
Gr: PK-5 | 618 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #88.
St. Andrew's School Of Math And Science
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
30 Chadwick Drive
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 763-1503
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 763-1503
Gr: PK-5 | 769 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #99.
Philip Simmons Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2095 Seven Sticks Drive
Charleston, SC 29492
(843) 471-2580
Charleston, SC 29492
(843) 471-2580
Gr: PK-4 | 535 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #1010.
Drayton Hall Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3138 Ashley River Road
Charleston, SC 29414
(843) 852-0678
Charleston, SC 29414
(843) 852-0678
Gr: PK-5 | 640 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #1111.
Murray-lasaine Montessori
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
691 Riverland Drive
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-2765
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-2765
Gr: PK-8 | 347 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #1212.
James Island Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1872 Grimball Road
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-8240
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-8240
Gr: PK-5 | 580 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #1313.
Oakland Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
505-a Arlington Drive
Charleston, SC 29414
(843) 763-1510
Charleston, SC 29414
(843) 763-1510
Gr: PK-5 | 556 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #1414.
Camp Road Middle School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1825 Camp Road
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-2784
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-2784
Gr: 6-8 | 901 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #1515.
Charleston Charter School For Math And Science
Charter School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1002 King Street
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 720-3085
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 720-3085
Gr: 6-12 | 573 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #1616.
Carolina Voyager Charter
Charter School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
721 Wappoo Road
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 203-3891
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 203-3891
Gr: K-8 | 402 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #1717.
Springfield Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2130 Pinehurst Avenue
Charleston, SC 29414
(843) 763-1538
Charleston, SC 29414
(843) 763-1538
Gr: PK-5 | 679 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #18 - 1918. - 19.
Charleston Development Academy
Charter School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
233 Line Street
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 722-2689
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 722-2689
Gr: PK-8 | 151 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
Rank: #18 - 1918. - 19.
Green Charter School Lowcountry
Charter School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
8717 Old University Boulevard
Charleston, SC 29406
(843) 501-7911
Charleston, SC 29406
(843) 501-7911
Gr: K-8 | 301 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #2020.
James Simons Montessori
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
741 King Street
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 724-7763
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 724-7763
Gr: PK-8 | 392 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #2121.
Philip Simmons Middle School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2065 Seven Sticks Drive
Charleston, SC 29492
(843) 471-2590
Charleston, SC 29492
(843) 471-2590
Gr: 5-8 | 473 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #2222.
Charleston Progressive
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
382 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 720-2967
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 720-2967
Gr: PK-5 | 184 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #2323.
C. E. Williams Middle School For Creative And Scientific Art
Magnet School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3090 Sanders Road
Charleston, SC 29414
(843) 763-1529
Charleston, SC 29414
(843) 763-1529
Gr: 6-8 | 1,299 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #2424.
Stono Park Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
314 Huntley Drive
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 763-1507
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 763-1507
Gr: PK-5 | 337 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #2525.
Memminger Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
20 Beaufain Street
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 724-7778
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 724-7778
Gr: PK-5 | 438 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #2626.
Matilda F. Dunston Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1825 Remount Road
Charleston, SC 29406
(843) 745-7109
Charleston, SC 29406
(843) 745-7109
Gr: PK-5 | 569 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #2727.
Sanders-clyde Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
805 Morrison Drive
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 724-7783
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 724-7783
Gr: PK-5 | 369 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2828.
A. C. Corcoran Elementary School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
8585 Vistavia Road
Charleston, SC 29406
(843) 764-2218
Charleston, SC 29406
(843) 764-2218
Gr: PK-5 | 743 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #2929.
Pattison's Academy For Comprehensive Education
Charter School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
721 Wappoo Road
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 402-7850
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 402-7850
Gr: PK-12 | 53 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #3030.
Deer Park Middle School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2263 Otranto Road
Charleston, SC 29406
(843) 990-5200
Charleston, SC 29406
(843) 990-5200
Gr: 6-8 | 315 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #3131.
Simmons Pinckney Middle School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
244 President Street
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 724-7789
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 724-7789
Gr: 6-8 | 190 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: n/an/a
3656 Tee Vee Road
Charleston, SC 29412
(803) 496-5197
Charleston, SC 29412
(803) 496-5197
Gr: 6-8 | 501 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Charleston, South Carolina Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
Apple Charter School (Closed 2015)
Charter School
1101 Camp Road
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 795-6877
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 795-6877
Gr: K-8 | 75 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
Charleston Advancement Academy High School (Closed 2023)
Charter School
1484 Camp Road
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 494-5521
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 494-5521
Gr: 9-12 | 424 students Student-teacher ratio: 39:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
2325 Charleston Regional Parkw
Charleston, SC 29492
(803) 734-8322
Charleston, SC 29492
(803) 734-8322
Gr: PK-2 | 39 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
1825 Camp Road
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-2740
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-2740
Gr: 6-8 | 465 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
63 Columbus Street
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 724-7767
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 724-7767
Gr: PK-6 | 217 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
1484 Camp Road
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-2784
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-2784
Gr: 6-8 | 332 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Mitchell Elementary School (Closed)
Magnet School
2 Perry Street
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 724-7261
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 724-7261
Gr: PK-5 | 188 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
1225 Orange Branch
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 763-1520
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 763-1520
Gr: PK-4 | 715 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
721 Wappoo Road
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 763-1533
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 763-1533
Gr: 6-8 | 323 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
1929 Grimball Road
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-2774
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-2774
Gr: 9-12 | 93 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Susan G. Boykin Charter (Closed 2011)
Charter School
4951 Rivers Ave
Charleston, SC 29406
(843) 744-8882
Charleston, SC 29406
(843) 744-8882
Gr: K-6
1776 William Kennerty Drive
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 763-1546
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 763-1546
Gr: 6-8
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public elementary schools in Charleston, SC?
The top-ranked public elementary schools in Charleston, SC include Buist Academy, Daniel Island School and Montessori Community School.
How many public elementary schools are located in Charleston?
32 public elementary schools are located in Charleston.
What is the racial composition of students in Charleston?
Charleston public elementary schools minority enrollment is 46% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the South Carolina public elementary schools average of 54% (majority Black).
Which public elementary schools in Charleston are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public elementary schools in Charleston include: Simmons Pinckney Middle School vs. James Simons Montessori, Springfield Elementary School vs. Drayton Hall Elementary School, Philip Simmons Middle School vs. Daniel Island School
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