Total enrollment
19,212
+912 (+5%) vs SY 2017-18
33 schools in Charleston
South Carolina · Public K-12
Charleston's public schools total 33 across the city, with enrollment of about 19,212 and an average school size near 582.
7-year change in Charleston
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
31
-1 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
58%
was 54%
% Hispanic
7%
was 4%
% Black
28%
was 37%
% Asian
2%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
About Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina is home to 33 public schools, with combined enrollment of approximately 19,212 students. By school count, it is a wide-reaching city.
In terms of grade levels, the city consists of 20 elementary, 4 middle, 7 high, and 2 other.
Average school size in Charleston is around 582 students, 10% noticeably below the South Carolina average of about 646.
Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 19,212 students, rose 5% from the 18,300 reported in SY 2017-18. Over that span, Charleston lost 1 school, going from 32 to 31. On the demographic side, Black enrollment moved from 37% to 28% over the same window.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Charleston discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.