James Island Elementary

James Island Elementary is one of the reasonably sized elementary schools in Charleston, South Carolina, overseen by Charleston 01, with 580 students on its rolls from grades pre-K through 5.

Within Charleston 01, which oversees 81 schools and 52,009 students, James Island Elementary is one campus in the system.

In terms of who attends, James Island Elementary reports that White students make up the majority at 65%. Other groups include 26% Black, 4% multiracial, 3% Hispanic. That mix tracks the wider county fairly closely.

Looking at the economic backdrop, On paper, James Island Elementary has 41 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 14.2:1. The state averages around 13.3:1, so this campus is higher than the state norm typical.

Zooming out to the county, Charleston County reports that median household income runs about $88,494, about 50% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 7%. James Island Elementary is one of 98 public schools in Charleston County (combined enrollment of about 55,933 students).

Nearest neighbor: Camp Road Middle, around 2.2 miles off. 6 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius.

Geographically, the school is in a bedroom-community area.

Five-year trend. James Island Elementary's enrollment has grew 3% since 2018, when it stood at 564 (now 580). Over the same period, the Black share ticked down from 36% to 26%. Class-load math has tightened: from 16.6:1 in 2018 to 14.2:1 in 2025.

On the community side, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.