Charleston County School District achieves ‘AA+’ credit rating from S&P Global Ratings

Highest Among School Districts in SC

Charleston County School District (CCSD) has earned the highest credit rating issued to a public school district in South Carolina, with S&P Global Ratings upgrading the district’s long-term general obligation bond rating from “AA” to “AA+” with a stable outlook.

With this upgrade, CCSD now holds the same ‘AA+’ long-term rating as Greenville County School District, the state’s other large, top-rated district, underscoring CCSD’s place among South Carolina’s most financially stable and well-managed school systems.

S&P cited CCSD’s “steady history of positive financial performance and solid reserves, supported by improved budgeting practices and policies” as key factors in the upgrade. The agency also highlighted the district’s reserves, approximately 30 percent of operating revenues, which sit above state and district policy requirements.

According to S&P, the new Stable outlook reflects confidence in CCSD’s large and growing economy, conservative financial management, and a manageable long-term debt profile. The change from a Positive to a Stable outlook follows the upgrade to AA+, which is S&P’s standard practice after a rating increase.