CCSD sees record teacher retention, dramatic drop in classroom vacancies

Charleston County School District (CCSD) is entering the final weeks of the school year with approximately 63 classroom vacancies districtwide for the upcoming school year, compared to nearly 300 at this same point just two years ago, marking one of the lowest teacher vacancy totals in recent district history.

The improvement reflects continued progress in both teacher recruitment and retention across the district. CCSD’s employee retention rate has increased from 95% in FY25 to 98% heading into the 2026-2027 school year, while contract declines dropped from 163 in FY25 to 87 in FY27.

The district is also seeing significantly stronger applicant pools across many teaching positions. CCSD currently averages approximately 70 to 75 applicants per open teaching position, with some schools receiving more than 200 applicants for individual classroom openings this hiring season. Positions that historically drew limited interest, including Special Education, middle school English, and elementary classroom positions, have seen substantial increases in applications compared to previous years.

The CCSD Board of Trustees unanimously approved the district’s FY27 budget this week, which includes pay increases for certified and classified staff and raises the district’s starting teacher salary to $67,500, which is the highest base teacher salary among non-union school districts in the country.

“This progress is the result of intentional work across our district over many years,” said Superintendent Anita Huggins. “We know that stability, consistency, and access to high-quality educators are critical to student achievement. We have focused not only on compensation but on creating an environment where educators feel supported, valued, and empowered to do their best work for students. When teachers want to stay in our district, our students benefit.”

CCSD currently averages approximately 70 to 75 applicants per open teaching position, also a significant shift from previous years and a sign of growing interest from educators across the region and state. This shift is due to several contributing factors, including competitive salaries, strong school leadership, expanded professional supports, additional planning opportunities for teachers, employee childcare options, and a continued focus on employee well-being and retention.

“We want teachers focused on students and instruction,” said Bill Briggman, Chief Human Resources Officer for Charleston County School District. “The investments being made by this district are helping create opportunities for educators to build long-term careers here while continuing to support students at the highest level.”

CCSD will continue investing in recruitment and retention strategies as part of the district’s ongoing commitment to attracting, supporting, and retaining high-quality educators in every classroom.