For the 2025 school year, there are 35 public schools serving 30,418 students in Dorchester County, SC (there are 12 private schools, serving 2,252 private students). 93% of all K-12 students in Dorchester County, SC are educated in public schools (compared to the SC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in Dorchester County, SC are Ashley Ridge High School, Rollings Middle School Of The Arts and Fort Dorchester High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Dorchester County, SC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 42% (versus the South Carolina public school average of 41%), and reading proficiency score of 54% (versus the 52% statewide average). Schools in Dorchester County have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of South Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 54% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public school average of 53% (majority Black).
Best Public Schools in Dorchester County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Ashley Ridge High School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 91%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
9800 Delemar Highway
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 695-4900
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 695-4900
Grades: 9-12
| 2,735 students
Rank: #22.
Rollings Middle School Of The Arts
(Math: 78% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1635 Beech Hill Road
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 873-3610
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 873-3610
Grades: 6-8
| 805 students
Rank: #33.
Fort Dorchester High School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
8500 Patriot Boulevard
North Charleston, SC 29420
(843) 760-4450
North Charleston, SC 29420
(843) 760-4450
Grades: 9-12
| 2,301 students
Rank: #44.
Summerville High School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1101 Boone Hill Road
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 873-6460
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 873-6460
Grades: 9-12
| 3,293 students
Rank: #55.
Beech Hill Elementary School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1001 Beech Hill Road
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 821-3970
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 821-3970
Grades: PK-5
| 1,209 students
Rank: #66.
Summerville Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
835 South Main Street
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 873-2372
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 873-2372
Grades: PK-5
| 556 students
Rank: #77.
William M. Reeves Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1003 Dubose School Road
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 695-2450
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 695-2450
Grades: PK-5
| 941 students
Rank: #88.
Sand Hill Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
324 Gnarly Oak Lane
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 695-5201
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 695-5201
Grades: PK-5
| 1,241 students
Rank: #99.
Fort Dorchester Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
5201 Old Glory Lane
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 832-5550
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 832-5550
Grades: PK-5
| 860 students
Rank: #1010.
James H. Spann Elementary School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
901 John Mckissick Way
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 873-3050
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 873-3050
Grades: PK-5
| 580 students
Rank: #1111.
Nexton Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
200 Scholar Way
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 900-3222
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 900-3222
Grades: PK-5
| 973 students
Rank: #1212.
Knightsville Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
847 Orangeburg Road
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 873-4851
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 873-4851
Grades: PK-5
| 744 students
Rank: #1313.
Dr. Eugene Sires Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
301 Chandler Creek Road
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 695-5205
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 695-5205
Grades: PK-5
| 886 students
Rank: #1414.
Woodland High School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4128 Highway 78
Dorchester, SC 29437
(843) 563-5956
Dorchester, SC 29437
(843) 563-5956
Grades: 9-12
| 669 students
Rank: #1515.
Flowertown Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
20 King Charles Circle
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 871-7400
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 871-7400
Grades: PK-5
| 850 students
Rank: #1616.
Newington Elementary School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
10 King Charles Circle
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 871-3230
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 871-3230
Grades: PK-5
| 742 students
Rank: #1717.
Windsor Hill Arts Infused Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
8600 William Moultrie Drive
North Charleston, SC 29420
(843) 760-9820
North Charleston, SC 29420
(843) 760-9820
Grades: PK-5
| 658 students
Rank: #1818.
Eagle Nest Elementary School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
8640 River Oaks Drive
North Charleston, SC 29420
(843) 695-2460
North Charleston, SC 29420
(843) 695-2460
Grades: PK-5
| 681 students
Rank: #1919.
William Memorial Elementary School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
290 South Metts Street
Saint George, SC 29477
(843) 563-3231
Saint George, SC 29477
(843) 563-3231
Grades: PK-5
| 597 students
Rank: #2020.
Gregg Middle School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
500 Green Wave Boulevard
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 871-3150
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 871-3150
Grades: 6-8
| 864 students
Rank: #2121.
Alston Middle School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
500 Bryan Street
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 873-3890
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 873-3890
Grades: 6-8
| 804 students
Rank: #2222.
Alston-bailey Elementary School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
820 West 5th North Street
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 695-5210
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 695-5210
Grades: PK-5
| 690 students
Rank: #2323.
Lowcountry Connection Academy
Charter School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1520 Old Trolley Road
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 695-9305
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 695-9305
Grades: K-12
| 697 students
Rank: #2424.
Charles B. Dubose Middle School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1005 Dubose School Road
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 875-7012
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 875-7012
Grades: 6-8
| 927 students
Rank: #2525.
Sangaree Intermediate
(Math: 30% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
201 School House Lane
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 820-3850
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 820-3850
Grades: 3-5
| 531 students
Rank: #2626.
Clay Hill Elementary School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
387 South Railroad Avenue
Ridgeville, SC 29472
(843) 851-7386
Ridgeville, SC 29472
(843) 851-7386
Grades: PK-5
| 173 students
Rank: #2727.
River Oaks Middle School
(Math: 17% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
8642 River Oaks Drive
North Charleston, SC 29420
(843) 695-2470
North Charleston, SC 29420
(843) 695-2470
Grades: 6-8
| 801 students
Rank: #2828.
Harleyville Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1650 East Main Street
Dorchester, SC 29437
(843) 462-7671
Dorchester, SC 29437
(843) 462-7671
Grades: PK-5
| 265 students
Rank: #2929.
Pepperhill Elementary School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 23%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
3300 Creola Road
North Charleston, SC 29420
(843) 767-5905
North Charleston, SC 29420
(843) 767-5905
Grades: PK-5
| 439 students
Rank: #3030.
Pinehurst Elementary School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 14%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
7753 Northside Drive
North Charleston, SC 29420
(843) 824-8728
North Charleston, SC 29420
(843) 824-8728
Grades: 1-5
| 690 students
Rank: #3131.
Northwoods Middle School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
7763 Northside Drive
North Charleston, SC 29420
(843) 764-2212
North Charleston, SC 29420
(843) 764-2212
Grades: 6-8
| 677 students
Rank: n/an/a
Dorchester Career And Technology Center
Vocational School
507 School House Road
Dorchester, SC 29437
(843) 563-2361
Dorchester, SC 29437
(843) 563-2361
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
1011 Beech Hill Road
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 695-2451
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 695-2451
Grades: 6-8
| 942 students
Rank: n/an/a
Macdougall High School
Alternative School
1516 Old Gilliard Road
Ridgeville, SC 29472
(803) 737-3036
Ridgeville, SC 29472
(803) 737-3036
Grades: 9-12
| 1 students
Rank: n/an/a
1460 Royle Road
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 820-3868
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 820-3868
Grades: PK-2
| 596 students
Dorchester County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
387 South Railroad Ave
Ridgeville, SC 29472
(843) 851-7386
Ridgeville, SC 29472
(843) 851-7386
Grades: 6-8
| 149 students
1650 East Main Street
Dorchester, SC 29437
(843) 462-2470
Dorchester, SC 29437
(843) 462-2470
Grades: 6-8
| 164 students
600 Minus Street
Saint George, SC 29477
(843) 563-3171
Saint George, SC 29477
(843) 563-3171
Grades: 6-8
| 292 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Dorchester County, SC?
The top ranked public schools in Dorchester County, SC include Ashley Ridge High School, Rollings Middle School Of The Arts and Fort Dorchester High School.
How many public schools are located in Dorchester County?
35 public schools are located in Dorchester County.
What percentage of students in Dorchester County go to public school?
93% of all K-12 students in Dorchester County are educated in public schools (compared to the SC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Dorchester County?
Dorchester County public schools minority enrollment is 54% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public schools average of 53% (majority Black).
Which public schools in Dorchester County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Dorchester County include: Sand Hill Elementary School vs. Beech Hill Elementary School, Summerville High School vs. Ashley Ridge High School, Newington Elementary School vs. Flowertown Elementary School
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