Charleston County School District educators, families, and community members:

Thank you for taking the time to review our district’s State Report Card. As I reflect on the 2025–2026 school year, I am incredibly proud of all we have accomplished together. This year has been defined by continued growth, student success, innovative learning opportunities, and the unwavering dedication of our educators, staff, families, and community partners. From academic achievements and artistic excellence to athletic accomplishments and student wellness initiatives, our schools continue to create opportunities that prepare every student for success.

Charleston County continues to outperform the state in percentage of schools rated “Good” or “Excellent” (62%) compared to 49% statewide, and equity gains are becoming evident across poverty levels.

Charleston County School District (CCSD) achieved historical gains on their SC READY assessments, with 67.2% of students meeting or exceeding expectations in English Language Arts (ELA), 59.2% in math, and 60.4% in science. These are the highest district-wide proficiency rates recorded on the exam.

A breakdown of the district's overall performance highlights:

• English Language Arts (ELA): 67.2% of students met or exceeded expectations, representing a massive 17.8% increase compared to 2019 levels.

• Mathematics: 59.2% of students scored at or above grade level, reflecting a more than 10.7% jump since the pandemic began in 2019.

• Science: 60.4% of students are meeting or exceeding benchmarks.

Historically underserved student groups, including multilingual learners, special education students, and students living in poverty, also demonstrated significant percentage-point improvements. 

Since adopting the current Goals and Guardrails framework in 2022, Charleston County School District has made measurable progress across several priority areas. The percentage of Black/African American and Hispanic 5th grade students reading on grade level increased over +14 percentage points. College and career readiness rates for students in the four-year cohort increased from 67.7% in 2021 to 84.8% in 2025, while the percentage of high school students successfully completing a financial literacy course increased from 5.0% in 2022 to 51.5% in 2025.

The unanimously approved Fiscal Year 2027 budget reflects CCSD’s continued focus on investing in employees, expanding student opportunities, and supporting the district’s long-term strategic priorities while addressing rising operational costs impacting school systems nationwide.

Key priorities included in the FY 2027 budget include employee compensation, creation of Universal Pre-K opportunities, implementation of Peninsula Promise initiatives, the launch of the CCSD/MUSC Residential Day Treatment Program, expanded special education services and supports, expansion of employee childcare, and the continued investment of Weighted Student Funding for Students with Disabilities, Multilingual Learners, and Pupils in Poverty. Weighted Student Funding allocates resources based on student needs, giving schools greater flexibility to invest in programs and supports that make the greatest impact for their students. The budget also continues CCSD’s commitment to recruiting and retaining high-quality educators and staff by maintaining teacher salaries among the highest in the nation.

For the first time, CCSD also launched an interactive online budget book and financial transparency portal, providing employees, families, and community members with expanded access to detailed district financial information. The portal offers a comprehensive view of how district funds are received, allocated, and spent across multiple funding areas, including the General Operating Fund, Weighted Student Formula Fund, Food Services, Education Improvement Act funding, Special Revenue Funds, Expanded Learning, Head Start, Title I, IDEA, and Debt Service. The platform will also include supplemental reporting related to Weighted Student Funding utilization by school, procurement contracts exceeding $250,000, and district positions with salaries exceeding $50,000. Designed to increase transparency and accessibility, the portal will allow community members to better understand how resources support students, staff, schools, and district operations.

Many partnership opportunities and expansions were initiated this year to better serve students. CCSD expanded innovative educational pathways and partnerships during the 2025–2026 school year to provide students with greater access to college, career, and workforce opportunities. New initiatives included the MUSC Health Science Cohort at Early College High School, the Academy of Advanced Academics at St. John’s High School, and the CSU-CCSD Collegiate Pathways Program, which offers dual enrollment opportunities and direct admission pathways to Charleston Southern University. The district also launched the Peninsula Promise, a comprehensive effort to strengthen educational opportunities on the Charleston Peninsula through expanded early learning, family resources, career exploration, and arts programming. Additional partnerships with the American College of the Building Arts, the College of Charleston, and Trident Technical College's LAUNCH workforce development program provide students with hands-on learning experiences, industry certifications, dual credit opportunities, and direct connections to high-demand careers, further preparing them for success after graduation.

CCSD entered the final weeks of the school year with approximately 63 classroom vacancies districtwide for the 2026-2027 school year, compared to nearly 300 at this same point just two years ago, marking one of the lowest teacher vacancy totals in recent district history. 

The improvement reflects continued progress in both teacher recruitment and retention across the district. CCSD’s employee retention rate has increased from 95% in FY25 to 98% heading into the 2026-2027 school year, while contract declines dropped from 163 in FY25 to 87 in FY27. 

This year also marked the formation of the CCSD Education Foundation, a new philanthropic initiative focused on strengthening public education through community partnerships and private support. The Foundation’s mission is to expand opportunities and resources for CCSD’s students, educators, and families, helping to ensure that every child has access to the tools and support needed to succeed in school and beyond. The CCSD Education Foundation will serve as the center for innovation, investment, and collaboration, aligning community generosity with the district's strategic priorities. It will help drive progress across Charleston County’s public schools by enhancing classroom instruction, recognizing outstanding educators, and supporting family engagement and student well-being. 

At Charleston County School District, our work is Powered by Purpose. This theme reflects our unwavering commitment to ensuring every student is supported, challenged, and prepared for success in school and beyond. Purpose drives our decisions, inspires innovation, and unites our educators, staff, families, and community partners around a shared vision of excellence. Throughout the 2025–2026 school year, this commitment was evident in the academic growth of our students, the dedication of our employees, and the meaningful opportunities we provided to help every learner thrive. By remaining focused on our purpose, we continue to create schools where students are empowered to reach their full potential and build a strong foundation for the future.

Anita Williams Huggins

Superintendent, Charleston County School District