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Matilda F. Dunston Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

643^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 661 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 3% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Matilda F. Dunston Elementary is a PK-5 school in North Charleston, SC, serving 569 students within the Charleston 01 school district, where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Dunston Elementary has experienced a significant decline in academic performance over the past decade, falling from the 65th percentile statewide in 2011-2012 to the bottom 3% of South Carolina elementary schools in recent years. The most current data shows proficiency gaps of 30-43 percentage points below district averages across all subjects and grade levels. For example, only 38.9% of 3rd graders are proficient in ELA compared to 68.8% district-wide, and 4th grade science proficiency sits at just 18% versus 60.7% for the district. The school also struggles with chronic absenteeism at 28.3%, notably higher than the state average of 22.3%. While the school spends a substantial $21,324 per student and maintains a favorable 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio, these resources have not yet translated into improved outcomes. Encouragingly, the most recent year shows meaningful gains in 3rd grade ELA (from 17% to 38.9% proficiency) and math improvements across several grades, suggesting recent interventions may be taking hold.

When compared to nearby schools, Dunston's challenges become clearer. Bowen's Corner Elementary in Berkeley 01, just 3.25 miles away, ranks in the 80th percentile with ELA proficiency rates of 74-77% while spending significantly less per student. Malcolm C. Hursey Montessori (3.04 miles away) achieves 71.7% 3rd grade ELA proficiency and ranks in the 59th percentile. Even North Charleston Creative Arts Elementary, just over a mile away, outperforms Dunston in most subjects. The brief improvement Dunston showed in 2022-2023 (13th percentile) demonstrates that progress is possible, but sustaining interventions and addressing attendance will be critical for the school to reverse its decade-long decline.

569

Students ?

12.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,324

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1825 Remount Road
North Charleston, SC 29406

(843) 745-7109

District: Charleston 01

Students who attend Matilda F. Dunston Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Morningside Middle
High:	North Charleston High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

63.6%

African American:

25.8%

White:

6.3%

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Compare Matilda F. Dunston Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 65th percentile in 2012 → 3rd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Carolina average (30% vs 58% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (3rd percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 62 percentile points since 2012

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school30%

District avg65%

South Carolina avg58%

643^rd of 661

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 3%▼ down 3 pts since 2021

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

43^rd of 46Elementary Schools in the Charleston 01

22^nd of 75Charleston 01 among South Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	8.2	643 of 661	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	4.4	635 of 639	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	4.1	640 of 643	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	14.8	563 of 644	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	7.6	604 of 625	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	9.2	589 of 622	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	44.6	355 of 638	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2014	53.8	317 of 630	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	39.1	399 of 599	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	65.6	209 of 594	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2011	14.0	553 of 597	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	24.3	502 of 589	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	44.6	351 of 580	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2008	14.1	532 of 577	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	26.0	468 of 566	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	25.1	458 of 559	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	15.8	507 of 557	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	11.2	513 of 550	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2003	20.1	465 of 542	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	14.3	366 of 380	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.8	341 of 369	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	43.1	211 of 394	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	18.4	359 of 393	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	23.7	299 of 350	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	12.2	103 of 106	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	7.8	104 of 104	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.9	79 of 79	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	21.5	58 of 72	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.2	77 of 84	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	5.3	592 of 599	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	3.4	579 of 580	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	3.6	567 of 568	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	18.1	498 of 580	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	7.4	551 of 573	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	8.2	533 of 554	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	9.5	154 of 159	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	5.7	154 of 156	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	5.6	114 of 114	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	15.9	102 of 115	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	10.2	112 of 115	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	21.8	74 of 86	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	13.5	595 of 634	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	7.2	606 of 612	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	8.8	584 of 602	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	31.7	443 of 608	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.7	528 of 600	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.6	504 of 580	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	11.8	545 of 591	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	5.9	574 of 585	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	5.7	559 of 571	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.5	528 of 582	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	7.5	554 of 579	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	9.3	526 of 561	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Male (2026)8th percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)6th percentile+3 vs school

African American (2025)4th percentile+3 vs school

Hispanic (2026)3rd percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2026)3rd percentile~ school

Female (2026)1st percentile~ school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics32%-22 vs state

English Language Arts32%-33 vs state

Science18%-34 vs state

★

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Schools Near Matilda F. Dunston Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SC READY English Language Arts (2026)						SC READY Mathematics (2026)						SC READY Science (2026)		EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2024)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SC READY English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 4th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 5th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 6th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 7th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 8th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 3rd Grade	SC READY Mathematics 4th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 5th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 6th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 7th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 8th Grade	SC READY Science 4th Grade	SC READY Science 6th Grade	EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Matilda F. Dunston Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1825 Remount Road	North Charleston	29406	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 745-7109	569	44	12.9	100.0%	36 (6.3%)	147 (25.8%)	362 (63.6%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (3.9%)	8.2	643^rd of 661 public elementary schools	2.7%		4.4	635^th of 639 public elementary schools	0.6%	8	38.9	24.6	29.6				36.1	29.5	27.8				18.0			$21,324	$3,979	$1,821	$5,801	$12,531	$2,992	$15,523
North Charleston Creative Arts Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5200 Lackawanna Boulevard	North Charleston	29405	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 529-2831	399	38	10.5	100.0%	78 (19.5%)	176 (44.1%)	109 (27.3%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (8.5%)	20.6	532^nd of 661 public elementary schools	19.5%		16.9	549^th of 639 public elementary schools	14.1%	17	38.6	50.0	50.7				31.5	36.2	33.8				41.7			$8,489	$2,604	$1,112	$3,717	$3,819	$954	$4,773
Compass Collegiate Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	5010 Wetland Crossing Road	N Charleston	29418	Charleston County	School Public Charter School District	Yes	No	No	No	(843) 410-9765	155	12	13.4	39.5%	20 (12.9%)	115 (74.2%)	6 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (9.0%)	17.6	562^nd of 661 public elementary schools	15.0%					(n/a)	41.2	47.1	60.0				32.4	26.4	28.0				35.3			$16,078	$395	$360	$755	$8,952	$6,371	$15,324
North Charleston Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	4921 Durant Avenue	North Charleston	29405	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	Yes	No	Yes	(843) 745-7107	329	28	11.9	100.0%	31 (9.4%)	196 (59.6%)	85 (25.8%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.3%)	4.9	652^nd of 661 public elementary schools	1.4%		21.9	511^th of 639 public elementary schools	20.0%	141	32.2	29.0	29.2				32.8	18.6	16.7				22.8			$36,935	$9,663	$3,128	$12,791	$17,851	$6,292	$24,143
Midland Park Primary	Public	PK-K	2415 Midland Park Road	North Charleston	29406	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 574-2183	357	32	11.1	100.0%	10 (2.8%)	102 (28.6%)	236 (66.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.2%)								(n/a)																$49,289	$10,165	$4,897	$15,062	$24,681	$9,546	$34,227
Hanahan Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4000 Mabeline Rd	Hanahan	29410	Berkeley County	Berkeley 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 553-3290	957	59	16.1	65.3%	385 (40.2%)	157 (16.4%)	293 (30.6%)	25 (2.6%)	10 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	87 (9.1%)	38.3	408^th of 661 public elementary schools	38.3%		31.9	436^th of 639 public elementary schools	31.8%	28	56.8	56.8	55.5				51.4	52.5	34.2				45.3			$12,407	$920	$961	$1,881	$8,858	$1,667	$10,526
Meeting Street Brentwood	Public	PK, KG-8	2685 Leeds Avenue	North Charleston	29405	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(843) 529-3130	806	109	7.3		38 (4.7%)	451 (56.0%)	290 (36.0%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	22 (2.7%)	35.1	429^th of 661 public elementary schools	35.1%					(n/a)	33.9	47.7	33.4	63.9	61.5	50.0	59.3	46.2	25.0	37.5	32.3	51.5	23.9	59.7
Malcolm C. Hursey Montessori	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-8	3910 Verde Avenue	North Charleston	29405	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	Yes	No	Yes	(843) 745-7105	471	36	13.0	100.0%	202 (42.9%)	161 (34.2%)	62 (13.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	43 (9.1%)	56.1	270^th of 661 public elementary schools	59.2%		42.1	360^th of 639 public elementary schools	43.7%	90	71.7	64.1	53.3	55.5			71.8	50.0	40.0	48.1			56.4	48.1		$25,470	$4,315	$1,521	$5,836	$16,107	$3,527	$19,634
Bowen's Corner Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1174 Williams Lane	Hanahan	29410	Berkeley County	Berkeley 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 572-5567	766	48	15.9	36.4%	484 (63.2%)	63 (8.2%)	119 (15.5%)	29 (3.8%)	6 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (8.5%)	78.3	133^rd of 661 public elementary schools	79.9%		68	207^th of 639 public elementary schools	67.6%	74	75.5	76.5	74.4				73.6	65.8	59.5				59.0			$12,345	$627	$999	$1,626	$9,006	$1,712	$10,718
Lambs Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6800 Dorchester Road	North Charleston	29458	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 767-5900	580	37	15.5	100.0%	95 (16.4%)	204 (35.2%)	222 (38.3%)	11 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (8.3%)	19.3	543^rd of 661 public elementary schools	17.9%		14.6	567^th of 639 public elementary schools	11.3%	24	47.6	37.1	49.3				42.8	40.5	33.3				28.6			$20,944	$3,825	$1,775	$5,600	$12,359	$2,985	$15,344

Frequently Asked Questions about Matilda F. Dunston Elementary

What district is Matilda F. Dunston Elementary in?

Charleston 01

What schools do graduates of Matilda F. Dunston Elementary attend?

Students who attend Matilda F. Dunston Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Morningside Middle
High : North Charleston High

How many students attend Matilda F. Dunston Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 569 students attended Matilda F. Dunston Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Matilda F. Dunston Elementary?

Students at Matilda F. Dunston Elementary are 64% Hispanic, 26% African American, 6% White, 4% Two or more races.

Is Matilda F. Dunston Elementary a good school?

Matilda F. Dunston Elementary ranks in the bottom 2.7% of South Carolina elementary schools.

Rate Matilda F. Dunston Elementary!

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Latest South Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 EOCEP & SC READY test scoresAug 10, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataNov 3, 2025

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 3, 2025

2024–25 EOCEP & SC READY test scoresSep 2, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the South Carolina Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.