Charleston County School District launches community engagement process to develop 2027–2032 district goals

Charleston County School District (CCSD) is launching a districtwide strategic planning and community engagement process to support the development of its next five-year goals for 2027–2032.

In partnership with the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Center for Livable Communities at the College of Charleston, CCSD will gather feedback from families, staff, community members, business leaders, and stakeholders across Charleston County to help shape the district’s future priorities and direction.

The process will include districtwide surveys, focus groups, small-group meetings with Board of Trustees members, and facilitated working sessions with district staff. CCSD will also host a series of community engagement sessions throughout the county this summer to ensure families and stakeholders from every region of the district have opportunities to participate and share feedback.

Community members are encouraged to complete the district’s strategic planning survey here.

The development of the 2027–2032 Goals builds upon the district’s current CCSD Goals and Guardrails’ framework, adopted and approved by the Board in 2022, which established focused, measurable priorities centered on student outcomes, literacy, mathematics readiness, and college and career readiness.

Since adopting the current Goals and Guardrails, Charleston County School District has made measurable progress across several priority areas. The percentage of Black/African American and Hispanic fifth grade students reading on grade level increased by more than 14 percentage points. College and career readiness rates for students in the four-year cohort increased from 67.7 percent in 2021 to 84.8 percent in 2025, while the percentage of high school students successfully completing a financial literacy course increased from five (5) percent in 2022 to 51.5 percent in 2025. CCSD has also expanded stakeholder engagement opportunities, increasing public-facing community feedback interactions from one annually to more than 100 engagement opportunities so far this school year. CCSD has also continued to expand early childhood opportunities, strengthen employee retention efforts, grow career and workforce readiness programs, enhance academic and student support services, and increase access to college, career, and advanced learning opportunities for students across the district.

“Our community plays an essential role in shaping the future of Charleston County School District,” said Superintendent Anita Huggins. “This process is about listening, reflecting on the progress we’ve made together, and building a shared vision that will continue moving our district forward in support of every student.”

“This process is an opportunity for our community to help shape the future of Charleston County School District and ensure our Goals continue reflecting the needs, priorities, and aspirations of the students and families we serve,” said Board Chair Pam McKinney. “Over the past several years, we have seen meaningful progress across our district, and we look forward to building on that momentum together through thoughtful engagement, collaboration, and a continued focus on student outcomes.”

The district’s current Goals and Guardrails framework was intentionally designed around a focused set of measurable priorities tied directly to student outcomes and community values. The updated Goals framework is expected to include overarching goals and measurable interim milestones to guide district progress over the next five years while aligning with the evolving needs of students and the Charleston County community.

The district anticipates presenting a revised Goals framework to the Board of Trustees in fall 2026 following completion of the community engagement and planning process.

Additional information regarding community meetings, survey opportunities, and engagement events will be shared through the CCSD website and district communication channels throughout the summer.