Best Public Schools in Summerville, SC

Summerville, South Carolina, is served by 28 public and charter schools spanning elementary through high school, with the majority belonging to the Dorchester 02 district and a smaller presence from Berkeley 01, plus a few charter options.

For parents, the standout academic performers are clear. Rollings Middle School of the Arts is the top school in the area, ranking in the 98th percentile statewide with a 5-star rating and exceptional test scores—often 30-40 points above district averages—along with the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (11.7%). At the elementary level, Beech Hill Elementary is the other 5-star school, posting ELA and Science proficiency rates in the 80-90% range. Among high schools, Ashley Ridge High leads with a 4-star rating and an 81.8% Algebra 1 proficiency rate, nearly double the district average. East Edisto Middle is a strong non-magnet option, with 100% of its Algebra 1 test-takers proficient. In contrast, several schools struggle, particularly in math: Alston Middle and Gregg Middle have 6th-grade math proficiency around 30%, and Summerville High has only 42.9% Algebra 1 proficiency.

Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide concern, with the state average at 22.3% and several schools exceeding 30%, including Alston Middle, Charles B. DuBose Middle, and Summerville High. Graduation rates are a bright spot, with all three traditional high schools above the state average of 86.7%, led by Cane Bay High at 91.4%. Per-student spending varies widely ($8,993 to $16,175), but higher spending does not correlate with better results—top performers like Beech Hill Elementary spend modestly, while the highest-spending schools are mid-pack. Overall, Dorchester 02 schools generally outperform Berkeley 01 schools, and the magnet program at Rollings Middle creates a significant performance gap that parents should consider when evaluating middle school options.