Best Schools in Dorchester County, SC
Dorchester County, SC has 47 public schools (8 high, 11 middle, 23 elementary) serving 36,744 students. On average they score 52% on state proficiency tests against a projected 38%, so schools in Dorchester County meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Dorchester County, SC
The top high schools in Dorchester County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Ashley Ridge High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dorchester 02 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2542 Students
2. Fort Dorchester High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dorchester 02 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2312 Students
3. Branchville High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Orangeburg • Public • Grades 6 - 12 • 316 Students
4. West Ashley High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Charleston 01 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1935 Students
5. Woodland High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dorchester 04 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 612 Students
6. Summerville High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dorchester 02 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 3308 Students
7. Cross High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Berkeley 01 • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 294 Students
8. Bethune-bowman Middle/high
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Orangeburg • Public • Grades 6 - 12 • 374 Students
Best Middle Schools in Dorchester County, SC
The top middle schools in Dorchester County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Rollings Middle School Of The Arts
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dorchester 02 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 799 Students
2. East Edisto Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dorchester 02 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 879 Students
3. Oakbrook Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dorchester 02 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1006 Students
4. Charles B. Dubose Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dorchester 02 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 950 Students
5. C. E. Williams Middle School For Creative And Scientific Art
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Charleston 01 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1172 Students
6. Alston Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dorchester 02 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 822 Students
7. Gregg Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dorchester 02 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 850 Students
8. River Oaks Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dorchester 02 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 849 Students
9. Colleton County Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Colleton 01 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1121 Students
10. Harleyville-ridgeville Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dorchester 04 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 169 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Dorchester County, SC
The top elementary schools in Dorchester County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Beech Hill Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dorchester 02 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 1101 Students
2. William M. Reeves Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dorchester 02 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 914 Students
3. Drayton Hall Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Charleston 01 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 632 Students
4. Sand Hill Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dorchester 02 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 1133 Students
5. Fort Dorchester Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dorchester 02 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 892 Students
6. Joseph R. Pye Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dorchester 02 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 823 Students
7. Summerville Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dorchester 02 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 528 Students
8. James H. Spann Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dorchester 02 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 576 Students
9. Dr. Eugene Sires Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dorchester 02 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 858 Students
10. Newington Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dorchester 02 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 758 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Dorchester County, SC
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Dorchester County, SC has a total population of 161,540 with 25% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 91%, and 30% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Dorchester County, SC
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Dorchester County, SC.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
21.59 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
4.10 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
17.49 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Dorchester County, SC.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Dorchester County, SC.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Dorchester County, SC Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Dorchester County, SC
How many schools are in Dorchester County, SC?
Dorchester County, SC has 47 public schools: 8 high schools, 11 middle schools and 23 elementary schools, serving 36,744 students in total.
How do schools in Dorchester County perform on state tests?
On average, 47 schools in Dorchester County score 52% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 38%, so on average schools in Dorchester County meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Dorchester County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Dorchester County, SC
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 46%
- Projected: 36%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 52%
- Projected: 45%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 34%
- Projected: 28%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 35%
- Projected: 23%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 39%
- Projected: 26%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 46%
- Projected: 21%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 36%
- Projected: 34%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual: 42%
- Projected: 21%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 49%
- Projected: 36%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Dorchester County
4 places in Dorchester County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (4)
- Summerville (17)
- Dorchester (3)
- St George (2)
- Ridgeville (1)
School districts (2)
- Dorchester 02 (24 schools)
- Dorchester 04 (6 schools)