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Best Elementary Schools in the Charleston, SC Area

BBest Elementary Schools in the Charleston, SC Area Best Elementary Schools in the Charleston, SC Area Are you looking for information on the top public elementary schools in the Charleston area? Below you'll find rankings on some of the best Charleston-area elementary schools including Mt. Pleasant Academy, Charles Pinckney Elementary School, Buist Academy, and Daniel Island School. We also have data to help you compare such top traditional public elementary schools to the area's best charter schools including Orange Grove Charter School, East Cooper Montessori Charter School, Cape Romain Environmental Education Charter School, and Carolina Voyager Charter School.

The list below is not meant be used as a definitive guide to which Charleston-area elementary school would be best for any individual child. For schools that are close to one another in rankings, differences in available data are in most cases very small.



Top Elementary Schools in the Charleston Area

Rank School Name City
School
Type
 
Grades
Served
1 Buist Academy Charleston, SC Regular 2-8
2 Mt. Pleasant Academy Mt. Pleasant, SC Regular PK-5
3 Charles Pinckney Elementary School Mt. Pleasant, SC Regular 3-5
4 Daniel Island School Charleston, SC Regular PK-8
5 Orange Grove Charter School Charleston, SC Charter PK-8
6 Belle Hall Elementary School Mt. Pleasant, SC Regular PK-5
7 Beech Hill Elementary School Summerville, SC Regular PK-5
8 Carolina Park Elementary School Mt. Pleasant, SC Other PK-5
9 Harbor View Elementary School Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
10 Ashley River Creative Arts Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
11 Mamie Whitesides Elementary School Mt. Pleasant, SC Regular PK-5
12 Sullivan's Island Elementary School Sullivan's Island, SC Regular PK-5
13 Jennie Moore Elementary School Mt. Pleasant, SC Regular PK-5
14 Stiles Point Elementary School Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
15 Montessori Community School Charleston, SC Regular PK-8
16 James B. Edwards Elementary School Mt. Pleasant, SC Regular PK-5
17 East Cooper Montessori Charter School Mt. Pleasant, SC Charter PK-8
18 Howe Hall AIMS Elementary School Goose Creek, SC Regular K-5
19 St. Andrew's School of Math and Science Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
20 Philip Simmons Elementary School Wando, SC Regular PK-4
21 Drayton Hall Elementary School Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
22 Summerville Elementary School Summerville, SC Regular PK-5
23 Murray LaSaine Elementary School Charleston, SC Regular PK-8
24 William M. Reeves Elementary School Summerville, SC Regular PK-5
25 GREEN Charter School of the Lowcountry N Charleston, SC Other K-7
26 Fort Dorchester Elementary School Summerville, SC Regular PK-5
27 Sand Hill Elementary School Summerville, SC Regular PK-5
28 Marrington Elementary School Goose Creek, SC Regular PK-5
29 Bowen's Corner Elementary School Hanahan, SC Other PK-5
30 Oakland Elementary School Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
31 James H. Spann Elementary School Summerville, SC Regular PK-5
32 James Simons Elementary School Charleston, SC Regular PK-8
33 James Island Elementary School Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
34 Nexton Elementary School Summerville, SC Regular PK-5
35 Knightsville Elementary School Summerville, SC Regular PK-5
36 Joseph R. Pye Elementary School Ladson, SC Regular PK-5
37 Cape Romain Environmental Education Charter School McClellanville, SC Charter PK-8
38 Carolina Voyager Charter School Charleston, SC Charter K-8
39 Cane Bay Elementary School Summerville, SC Regular PK-4
40 Springfield Elementary School Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
41 Flowertown Elementary School Summerville, SC Regular PK-5
42 Cane Bay Middle School Summerville, SC Regular 5-8
43 Westview Elementary School Goose Creek, SC Regular 3-5
44 Newington Elementary School Summerville, SC Regular PK-5
45 Dr. Eugene Sires Elementary School Summerville, SC Regular PK-5
46 Oakbrook Elementary School Ladson, SC Regular PK-5
47 Windsor Hill Arts Infused Elementary North Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
48 Angel Oak Elementary School Johns Island, SC Regular PK-5
49 William Memorial Elementary School St. George, SC Regular PK-5
50 Malcolm C. Hursey Montessori North Charleston, SC Regular PK-8
51 Foxbank Elementary School Moncks Corner, SC Other PK-5
52 Hanahan Elementary School Hanahan, SC Regular PK-5
53 Philip Simmons Middle School Wando, SC Regular 5-8
54 Clay Hill Elementary School Ridgeville, SC Regular PK-5
55 Eagle Nest Elementary School North Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
56 Henry E. Bonner Elementary School Moncks Corner, SC Regular PK-5
57 Charleston Progressive School Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
58 Hunley Park Elementary School North Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
59 Boulder Bluff Elementary School Goose Creek, SC Regular PK-5
60 Whitesville Elementary School Moncks Corner, SC Regular PK-5
61 Mt. Zion Elementary School Johns Island, SC Regular PK-5
62 Alston-Bailey Elementary School Summerville, SC Regular PK-5
63 Lambs Elementary School North Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
64 Sangaree Intermediate Summerville, SC Regular 3-5
65 Minnie Hughes Elementary School Younges Island, SC Regular PK-5
66 Cross Elementary School Cross, SC Regular PK-6
67 Devon Forest Elementary School Goose Creek, SC Regular PK-5
68 Mount Holly Elementary School Goose Creek, SC Regular PK-5
69 Moncks Corner Elementary School Moncks Corner, SC Regular PK-5
70 St. Stephen Elementary School St. Stephen, SC Regular PK-5
71 Memminger Elementary School Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
72 Stono Park Elementary School Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
73 Harleyville Elementary School Dorchester, SC Regular PK-5
74 North Charleston Elementary School North Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
75 Ladson Elementary School Ladson, SC Regular PK-5
76 Edith L. Frierson Elementary School Wadmalaw Island, SC Regular PK-5
77 E.B. Ellington Elementary School Ravenel, SC Regular PK-5
78 Pepperhill Elementary School North Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
79 W. B. Goodwin Elementary School North Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
80 N Charleston Crtv Arts Elementary School North Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
81 Mitchell Elementary School Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
82 A. C. Corcoran Elementary School North Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
83 Cainhoy Elementary School Huger, SC Regular PK-5
84 Meeting Street Elementary School North Charleston, SC Regular PK-8
85 St. James Santee Elementary School McClellanville, SC Regular PK-8
86 College Park Elementary School Ladson, SC Regular PK-5
87 Sanders-Clyde Elementary School Charleston, SC Regular PK-5
88 Goose Creek Primary School Goose Creek, SC Regular PK-5
Rank School Name City
1 Buist Academy Charleston, SC
2 Mt. Pleasant Academy Mt. Pleasant, SC
3 Charles Pinckney Elementary School Mt. Pleasant, SC
4 Daniel Island School Charleston, SC
5 Orange Grove Charter School Charleston, SC
6 Belle Hall Elementary School Mt. Pleasant, SC
7 Beech Hill Elementary School Summerville, SC
8 Carolina Park Elementary School Mt. Pleasant, SC
9 Harbor View Elementary School Charleston, SC
10 Ashley River Creative Arts Charleston, SC
11 Mamie Whitesides Elementary School Mt. Pleasant, SC
12 Sullivan's Island Elementary School Sullivan's Island, SC
13 Jennie Moore Elementary School Mt. Pleasant, SC
14 Stiles Point Elementary School Charleston, SC
15 Montessori Community School Charleston, SC
16 James B. Edwards Elementary School Mt. Pleasant, SC
17 East Cooper Montessori Charter School Mt. Pleasant, SC
18 Howe Hall AIMS Elementary School Goose Creek, SC
19 St. Andrew's School of Math and Science Charleston, SC
20 Philip Simmons Elementary School Wando, SC
21 Drayton Hall Elementary School Charleston, SC
22 Summerville Elementary School Summerville, SC
23 Murray LaSaine Elementary School Charleston, SC
24 William M. Reeves Elementary School Summerville, SC
25 GREEN Charter School of the Lowcountry N Charleston, SC
26 Fort Dorchester Elementary School Summerville, SC
27 Sand Hill Elementary School Summerville, SC
28 Marrington Elementary School Goose Creek, SC
29 Bowen's Corner Elementary School Hanahan, SC
30 Oakland Elementary School Charleston, SC
31 James H. Spann Elementary School Summerville, SC
32 James Simons Elementary School Charleston, SC
33 James Island Elementary School Charleston, SC
34 Nexton Elementary School Summerville, SC
35 Knightsville Elementary School Summerville, SC
36 Joseph R. Pye Elementary School Ladson, SC
37 Cape Romain Environmental Education Charter School McClellanville, SC
38 Carolina Voyager Charter School Charleston, SC
39 Cane Bay Elementary School Summerville, SC
40 Springfield Elementary School Charleston, SC
41 Flowertown Elementary School Summerville, SC
42 Cane Bay Middle School Summerville, SC
43 Westview Elementary School Goose Creek, SC
44 Newington Elementary School Summerville, SC
45 Dr. Eugene Sires Elementary School Summerville, SC
46 Oakbrook Elementary School Ladson, SC
47 Windsor Hill Arts Infused Elementary North Charleston, SC
48 Angel Oak Elementary School Johns Island, SC
49 William Memorial Elementary School St. George, SC
50 Malcolm C. Hursey Montessori North Charleston, SC
51 Foxbank Elementary School Moncks Corner, SC
52 Hanahan Elementary School Hanahan, SC
53 Philip Simmons Middle School Wando, SC
54 Clay Hill Elementary School Ridgeville, SC
55 Eagle Nest Elementary School North Charleston, SC
56 Henry E. Bonner Elementary School Moncks Corner, SC
57 Charleston Progressive School Charleston, SC
58 Hunley Park Elementary School North Charleston, SC
59 Boulder Bluff Elementary School Goose Creek, SC
60 Whitesville Elementary School Moncks Corner, SC
61 Mt. Zion Elementary School Johns Island, SC
62 Alston-Bailey Elementary School Summerville, SC
63 Lambs Elementary School North Charleston, SC
64 Sangaree Intermediate Summerville, SC
65 Minnie Hughes Elementary School Younges Island, SC
66 Cross Elementary School Cross, SC
67 Devon Forest Elementary School Goose Creek, SC
68 Mount Holly Elementary School Goose Creek, SC
69 Moncks Corner Elementary School Moncks Corner, SC
70 St. Stephen Elementary School St. Stephen, SC
71 Memminger Elementary School Charleston, SC
72 Stono Park Elementary School Charleston, SC
73 Harleyville Elementary School Dorchester, SC
74 North Charleston Elementary School North Charleston, SC
75 Ladson Elementary School Ladson, SC
76 Edith L. Frierson Elementary School Wadmalaw Island, SC
77 E.B. Ellington Elementary School Ravenel, SC
78 Pepperhill Elementary School North Charleston, SC
79 W. B. Goodwin Elementary School North Charleston, SC
80 N Charleston Crtv Arts Elementary School North Charleston, SC
81 Mitchell Elementary School Charleston, SC
82 A. C. Corcoran Elementary School North Charleston, SC
83 Cainhoy Elementary School Huger, SC
84 Meeting Street Elementary School North Charleston, SC
85 St. James Santee Elementary School McClellanville, SC
86 College Park Elementary School Ladson, SC
87 Sanders-Clyde Elementary School Charleston, SC
88 Goose Creek Primary School Goose Creek, SC

Rankings for the best elementary schools in the Charleston area were created independently by Carolina School Hub. The test data for this site was derived from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and South Carolina Department of Education.

You can click on a specific school name above for more information on elementary school test scores, student data and more.

Elementary Schools in Charleston SC Area - Click any of the pushpins below to see more details on each school


Choosing an Elementary School in the Charleston Area

When comparing regular Charleston-area elementary schools to charter and magnet schools, one should keep in mind the differences between charter schools, magnet schools and traditional public schools.

Magnet schools are in most cases alternative public schools that offer a specialized curriculum. At the highest level, North and South Carolina magnet schools and traditional elementary schools tend to be managed by the same entity - the county school superintendent's office. Magnet schools normally can accept students from anywhere in the county in which they are located, and often limit the acceptance pool through a lottery system.

Charter schools, on the other hand, are each independently managed. They tend to accept students not only from the county in which they're located, but surrounding counties as well. Like magnets, charters tend to use a lottery-based acceptance method.

Regular elementary schools are sometimes called "zoned schools," "neighborhood schools" or "zip code schools." This is because they accept students from a limited geographical area - such as a town or a specific set of subdivisions. Regular schools do not tend to use a lottery system. Regular elementary schools are the most common kinds of schools in North and South Carolina.

Which Elementary Schools are Covered in the Charleston Area

We hope you find the ratings and other information on elementary schools in the Charleston area to be useful. Elementary Schools on this page were drawn from the following counties: