U.S. News and World Report ranks several CCSD schools near the top of South Carolina
November 10, 2021
The U.S. News and World Report released their first set of rankings for elementary and middle schools recently (similar to their annual high school rankings), and multiple schools in Charleston County School District (CCSD) appeared near the top of the state. That includes Buist Academy, which is the number-one middle school magnet program in South Carolina. Buist is also ranked second in both the magnet elementary school and overall middle school rankings and fifth on the list for overall middle schools. Of the 80,000 public elementary and middle schools U.S. News evaluated, just over 1,000 earned both awards.
“I want to congratulate the entire Buist Academy community for this accomplishment,” said Buist’s principal, Shawntay White. “I appreciate the extraordinary commitment and dedication of our faculty, staff, students, and parents to maintain a positive and productive learning environment. Children are the heart of our work, and we will continue to foster hope and encourage academic excellence. It is an honor to share this recognition with so many phenomenal CCSD schools.”
The following CCSD schools are also in the top-25 of the state for magnet middle schools: Charleston County School of the Arts (second), Laing (fourth), and Haut Gap (eighth).
Four CCSD schools, Charleston County School of the Arts (fourth), Moultrie (sixth), and Thomas C. Cario (14th), and Laing (19th) join Buist on the overall middle school top-25 for South Carolina.
Ashley River Creative Arts (13th) joins Buist in the top-25 for elementary schools.
Following Buist on the magnet elementary school list is Ashley River (fourth), Jennie Moore Elementary (seventh), St. Andrew’s School of Math and Science (11th), and Sullivan’s Island (17th).
For each state, schools were assessed on their pupils’ proficiencies in mathematics and reading, as measured by state assessment tests. Half of the ranking formula was the results themselves; the other half was the results in the context of socioeconomic demographics. The top-ranked schools are considered highachieving ones if they succeeded in educating all of their students. All data for the rankings are from third-party sources, including the U.S. Department of Education.
U.S. News has published an in-depth methodology article that provides more information about how the rankings were calculated.
Contact CCSD’s Division of Strategy and Communication for more information at (843) 937-6303.
About the Charleston County School District
Charleston County School District (CCSD) is a nationally accredited school district committed to providing equitable and quality educational opportunities for all of its students. CCSD is the second-largest school system in South Carolina and represents a unique blend of urban, suburban, and rural schools spanning 1,300 square miles along the coast. CCSD serves approximately 49,000 students in 88 schools and specialized programs.
CCSD offers a diverse, expanding portfolio of options and specialized programs, delivered through neighborhood, magnet, IB (international baccalaureate), Montessori, and charter schools. Options include programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); music and other creative and performing arts; career and technical preparation programs; and military.
