Fort Dorchester Elementary

Fort Dorchester Elementary, a roomy elementary campus in Summerville, South Carolina, overseen by Dorchester 02, hosts 801 students, covering grades pre-K through 5. Compared to the state average of about 526 students per school, that is 52% larger than typical.

Across the 25 schools in Dorchester 02 (25,928 students total), Fort Dorchester Elementary accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Demographically, Fort Dorchester Elementary lists that the largest single group is White at 41%, but no single group is in the majority; the rest is composed of 27% Black, 16% Hispanic, 9% multiracial, 6% Asian. By comparison, Dorchester County as a whole is about 62% White, so the school skews meaningfully less White than its surroundings.

In terms of school funding signals, Fort Dorchester Elementary records 57 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 13.9:1. The state averages about 13.3:1, putting this campus right in line with peers.

Zooming out to the county, the surrounding county (Dorchester County) logs that median household income runs about $78,198, 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Across Dorchester County's 35 public schools (combined enrollment of about 29,832 students), Fort Dorchester Elementary is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: Oakbrook Middle, around 1.5 miles off. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

Fort Dorchester Elementary operates from a high-density location.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Fort Dorchester Elementary has edged down 18%, going from 972 students in 2018 to 801 in 2025. The White share of enrollment ticked down from 55% to 41% over that span. The student-to-teacher ratio tightened from 15.4:1 in 2018 to 13.9:1 today.

Within the allk12 community for this school, members of the Fort Dorchester Elementary community share and discuss pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.