Education

High-quality education is a hallmark of the Charleston region, with public options that consistently earn strong marks and give families diverse choices. Our public school districts, which support nearly 200 public schools and serve 247,000+ students across the region. They are:

• Berkeley County School District – 81,000 Enrollment
• Charleston County School District – 110,000 Enrollment
• Dorchester II County School District – 52,000 Enrollment
• Dorchester IV County School District – 4,200 Enrollment

Across the area, one in three public schools are rated excellent, from Beech Hill Elementary in Dorchester County to Berkeley County Middle College High School in Moncks Corner to the No.1 rated South Carolina Elementary school, Buist Academy in Charleston County.

Families also have high-performing alternatives that broaden the public-school landscape. Academic Magnet High School in North Charleston is a prime example — ranked #1 for magnet high schools in South Carolina and #2 among public high schools statewide.

Beyond public schools, the Charleston region offers a robust network of private, independent, and parochial schools, giving families additional high-performing options. Many high schools also partner with Trident Technical College and regional employers to provide dual-enrollment opportunities and career pathways that connect students to in-demand industries.

Find more information on private and parochial primary and secondary schools at the South Carolina Independent Schools Association.

Charleston makes it realistic to earn an advanced credential without putting your career on hold. By working with leading South Carolina colleges and universities, the Lowcountry Graduate Center (LGC) delivers tailored graduate programs and professional development courses for working adults in the region. The Lowcountry Graduate Center was created to expand access to graduate education in fields aligned with the region’s fastest-growing industries.

LGC member institutions include::

• College of Charleston Graduate School: A focused graduate experience with a broad menu of graduate degrees and certificates built to advance careers and serve working professionals.
• The Citadel Graduate College: 25+ graduate programs plus certificate options, built for flexibility (including online formats)
• MUSC College of Medicine: M.D. program that serves 740+ medical students and nearly 950 residents

Other graduate degree and professional programs include:

• Charleston Southern University Graduate School: Flexible online, in-person, and hybrid options across high-demand fields such as physician assistant studies, business, education, nursing, computer science/IT, counseling, and more.
• Clemson University (Charleston Innovation Campus): Master’s, doctoral, and certificate programs designed for engineers and computer scientists — taught at the Zucker Family Graduate Education Center in North Charleston.
• Charleston School of Law also offers multiple experiential programs designed to prepare students for success in the legal profession. As an ABA-accredited law school nationally recognized for its student-centric culture, Charleston School of Law offers a dynamic curriculum with a vast legal network for alumni that spans 49 states.

Trident Technical College also offers noncredit courses, workforce training, and industry-recognized certifications that help working adults quickly build skills and advance their careers.

Adult education in the Charleston region is built for working adults who want practical next steps — finishing a credential, improving English, or moving into college and career pathways.

These programs help adults build the skills employers need most while creating accessible pathways into higher education and career advancement.

• Charleston County School District’s Adult Education program supports GED preparation, English as a Second Language (ESOL), career-readiness credentialing (WIN/WorkKeys), and college and career transition services to help students move from coursework into training, employment, or higher education.
• Berkeley County School District makes access to Adult & Community Education easy with two sites, including Moncks Corner (Adult Learning Center) and Hanahan (Fishburne Educational Center). Both locations provide adult education services, including ESOL options.
• Dorchester County School Districts Two and Four offer adult and community education programs, serving 2,000+ residents and offering adult education coursework and ESOL support to help learners build skills for work and life in the Lowcountry.

To connect adult education to college credit, Trident Technical College also offers an Adult Education Dual Enrollment option. Eligible adult education students can take college-level courses, and completed courses become part of the student’s official Trident Tech transcript — helping students build momentum toward a degree or industry-recognized credential.