Total enrollment
29,376
+2,591 (+10%) vs SY 2020-21
Dorchester County
South Carolina · Public K-12
35 public K-12 schools operate inside Dorchester County, with roughly 29,832 students enrolled, an average of 852 per school. By grade band, the county runs 19 elementary, 10 middle, and 5 high schools.
4-year change in Dorchester County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
32
+2 (+7%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Dorchester County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In South Carolina | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 29,832 | #10 of 44 | #346 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 34 | #13 of 44 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.2:1 | #36 of 44 | #1,826 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 100.0% | #4 of 13 | #11 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 67.1% | #5 of 42 | #232 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Dorchester County school rankings
Residents
167,201
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
35
5 districts
Enrollment
29,832
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$78,198
Above South Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
100.0%
Above South Carolina avg
Elementary
19
13,288 students
Middle
10
6,817 students
High
5
8,984 students
Combined / other
1
743 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Dorchester 02
25,928 students · 5 districts in Dorchester County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Dorchester County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
29.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.9%
civilian labor
Median age
38
24.1% under 18
Test scores in Dorchester County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 26 schools ranked. South Carolina state average: 59.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Rollings Middle School of the Arts· 87.9%
- Beech Hill Elementary· 83.9%
- William M. Reeves Elementary· 79.9%
- Sand Hill Elementary· 77.8%
- Fort Dorchester Elementary· 73.9%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Harleyville Elementary· 36.4%
- Clay Hill Elementary· 38.3%
- River Oaks Middle· 46.9%
- Lowcountry Connection Academy· 49.5%
- Alston Middle· 51.1%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summerville High | Summerville | High | 09-12 | 3,361 | · |
| Ashley Ridge High | Summerville | High | 09-12 | 2,599 | · |
| Fort Dorchester High | North Charleston | High | 09-12 | 2,344 | · |
| Sand Hill Elementary | Summerville | Elementary | PK-05 | 1,169 | · |
| Beech Hill Elementary | Summerville | Elementary | PK-05 | 1,079 | · |
| East Edisto Middle | Summerville | Middle | 06-08 | 1,031 | · |
| Charles B. DuBose Middle | Summerville | Middle | 06-08 | 947 | · |
| William M. Reeves Elementary | Summerville | Elementary | PK-05 | 930 | · |
| Newington Elementary | Summerville | Elementary | PK-05 | 862 | · |
| Oakbrook Middle | Ladson | Middle | 06-08 | 861 | · |
| Knightsville Elementary | Summerville | Elementary | PK-05 | 833 | · |
| Gregg Middle | Summerville | Middle | 06-08 | 810 | · |
| Fort Dorchester Elementary | Summerville | Elementary | PK-05 | 801 | · |
| Rollings Middle School of the Arts | Summerville | Middle | 06-08 | 797 | · |
| Dr. Eugene Sires Elementary | Summerville | Elementary | PK-05 | 791 | · |
| Flowertown Elementary | Summerville | Elementary | PK-05 | 783 | · |
| Joseph R. Pye Elementary | Ladson | Elementary | PK-05 | 775 | · |
| Lowcountry Connection Academy | Summerville | Combined | KG-12 | 743 | · |
| Alston Middle | Summerville | Middle | 06-08 | 732 | · |
| River Oaks Middle | North Charleston | Middle | 06-08 | 728 | · |
| Woodland High | Dorchester | High | 09-12 | 680 | · |
| Eagle Nest Elementary | North Charleston | Elementary | PK-05 | 653 | · |
| Oakbrook Elementary | Ladson | Elementary | PK-05 | 649 | · |
| Alston-Bailey Elementary | Summerville | Elementary | PK-05 | 646 | · |
| Windsor Hill Arts Infused Elementary | North Charleston | Elementary | PK-05 | 622 | · |
| Summerville Prep | Summerville | Elementary | KG-08 | 595 | · |
| James H. Spann Elementary | Summerville | Elementary | PK-05 | 577 | · |
| Williams Memorial Elementary | St. George | Elementary | PK-05 | 553 | · |
| Summerville Elementary | Summerville | Elementary | PK-05 | 548 | · |
| Woodland Middle School | Dorchester | Middle | 06-08 | 455 | · |
| St. George Middle | St. George | Middle | 06-08 | 292 | · |
| Harleyville Elementary | Dorchester | Elementary | PK-05 | 248 | · |
| Clay Hill Elementary | Ridgeville | Elementary | PK-05 | 174 | · |
| Harleyville-Ridgeville Middle | Dorchester | Middle | 06-08 | 164 | · |
| Dorchester Career and Technology Center | Dorchester | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Dorchester County
About Dorchester County
Dorchester County is a middle-population South Carolina county of about 167,201 residents, home to 35 public schools and roughly 29,832 students.
For perspective, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $78,198, roughly 30% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 33% meaningfully above the South Carolina median.
In terms of grade levels, Dorchester County is built around 19 elementary schools (13,288 students), 10 middle schools (6,817), 5 high schools (8,984), and 1 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Dorchester County is Dorchester 02, which alone enrolls about 25,928 students.
Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Dorchester County has expanded 10% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 26,785 students to 29,376. Over that span, Dorchester County gained 2 schools, going from 30 to 32.
On this page, the community for Dorchester County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data