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Charleston Development Academy

Q: Is Charleston Development Academy a good school?

Charleston Development Academy ranks 423 rd of 649 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades PK, KG-8

423^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 649 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 35% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Charleston Development Academy is a small, tight-knit elementary and middle school (PK-8) in downtown Charleston, SC, serving 151 students within the Charleston 01 school district.

One of the most remarkable things about this school is its students' attendance. The chronic absenteeism rate is just 5.2%—far below the district average of 20.5% and the state average of 22.3%. This means kids are showing up ready to learn, which is especially impressive given that 100% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch. For context, nearby Sanders-Clyde Elementary has a chronic absenteeism rate of 43.8%, and even James Simons Montessori sits at 14.0%. The school also shines in English Language Arts, particularly in middle school. In 2024-2025, 8th graders hit an 87.5% proficiency rate in ELA—dramatically beating the district (63.6%) and state (55.7%) averages. The school also shows strong results for its African American students, ranking in the 75th percentile statewide for that group in the most recent data.

However, there are challenges. Mathematics proficiency is a significant concern, with 6th and 8th grade math scores around 15%—well below district and state averages. The school's overall state ranking has also dipped recently, falling from the 68th percentile in 2022-2023 to the 35th percentile in 2025-2026, though it remains far above its 1-star rating from 2018-2019. With a low student-teacher ratio of 10.2:1 and high per-student spending of $16,960, the school invests heavily in its students. While it doesn't match the academic performance of top nearby schools like Orange Grove Charter School, it significantly outperforms Mitchell Elementary and offers a stable, engaged community that many larger schools lack. For families prioritizing attendance, strong ELA instruction, and a supportive environment, this school is worth a close look.

151

Students ?

10.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

233 Line Street
Charleston, SC 29403

(843) 722-2689

District: Charleston 01

Racial breakdown:

African American:

100.0%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

Compare Charleston Development Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 65th percentile in 2012 → 35th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Carolina average (39% vs 50% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 30 percentile points since 2012

!Mathematics scores 27 pts below the South Carolina average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school39%

District avg61%

South Carolina avg50%

Elementary school

423^rd of 649

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 35%▲ up 16 pts since 2016

From bottom 19% (2016) to bottom 35% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

217^th of 335

South Carolina public middle schools ?

Bottom 35%▼ down 29 pts since 2016

From top 36% (2016) to bottom 35% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

27^th of 45Elementary Schools in the Charleston 01

21^st 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	35.2	423 of 649	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	66.7	208 of 644	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	25.5	490 of 643	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	49.2	311 of 624	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	53.5	291 of 639	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2016	24.3	500 of 619	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	38.2	407 of 638	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2014	61.2	253 of 630	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	67.9	183 of 599	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	66.0	206 of 594	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	75.1	125 of 597	79.1%	★★★★☆
2010	58.6	255 of 589	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2009	78.6	90 of 580	84.5%	★★★★☆
2008	30.5	450 of 577	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	0.5	559 of 559	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	43.9	355 of 557	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2004	58.7	239 of 550	56.5%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	66.4	96 of 379	74.7%	★★★★☆
2023	93.5	14 of 394	96.4%	★★★★★
2019	53.8	180 of 421	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	91.5	18 of 412	95.6%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2018	67.4	178 of 588	69.7%	★★★☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	36.5	217 of 335	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	49.5	148 of 320	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.2	106 of 325	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.7	93 of 325	71.4%	★★★★☆
2017	62.3	104 of 317	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	61.9	108 of 303	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2015	55.4	120 of 301	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2014	75.0	62 of 291	78.7%	★★★★☆
2013	72.2	60 of 276	78.3%	★★★★☆
2012	75.7	54 of 271	80.1%	★★★★☆
2011	73.0	64 of 269	76.2%	★★★★☆
2010	56.6	133 of 261	49.0%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	63.4	63 of 257	75.5%	★★★★☆
2025	64.2	60 of 252	76.2%	★★★★☆
2024	80.4	22 of 248	91.1%	★★★★★
2023	93.5	8 of 253	96.8%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	73.2	57 of 307	81.4%	★★★★☆

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)

Elementary school

African American (2026)75th percentile+40 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2018)70th percentile+20 vs school

Middle school

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)81st percentile+14 vs school

African American (2026)75th percentile+40 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts61%+3 vs state

Science42%-10 vs state

Mathematics15%-27 vs state

★

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Schools Near Charleston Development Academy

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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)		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	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	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
Charleston Development Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	233 Line Street	Charleston	29403	Charleston County	Charleston 01	Yes	No	No	Yes	(843) 722-2689	151	15	10.2		0 (0.0%)	151 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35.2	423^rd of 649 public elementary schools	34.8%					(n/a)				57.7		65.0				15.3		15.0		42.3
Mitchell Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	2 Perry Street	Charleston	29403	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	Yes	No	Yes	(843) 724-7261	188	24	7.8		6 (3.2%)	167 (88.8%)	5 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (5.3%)	8.7	628^th of 649 public elementary schools	3.2%		7.3	622^nd of 640 public elementary schools	2.8%	6	28.5	25.1	45.0				33.4	12.6	40.0				18.7		$36,173	$8,691	$2,278	$10,969	$18,813	$6,391	$25,204
James Simons Montessori	Public	PK, KG-8	741 King Street	Charleston	29403	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 724-7763	392	28	14.2		219 (55.9%)	111 (28.3%)	34 (8.7%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (6.4%)	63	233^rd of 649 public elementary schools	64.1%		63.7	234^th of 640 public elementary schools	63.4%	1	81.1	61.1	70.0	90.9			62.1	30.6	60.0	50.0			41.6	81.8	$26,187	$3,838	$1,653	$5,491	$17,053	$3,643	$20,696
Charleston Progressive	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	382 Meeting Street	Charleston	29403	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	Yes	No	Yes	(843) 720-2967	184	21	8.5		2 (1.1%)	173 (94.0%)	3 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.3%)	54.5	278^th of 649 public elementary schools	57.2%		44.8	342^nd of 640 public elementary schools	46.6%	64	68.9	70.0	58.8				62.0	45.0	38.2				65.0		$36,481	$7,724	$2,465	$10,188	$20,136	$6,156	$26,292
Sanders-Clyde Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	805 Morrison Drive	Charleston	29403	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 724-7783	369	40	9.2		9 (2.4%)	326 (88.3%)	12 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	21 (5.7%)	25.2	488^th of 649 public elementary schools	24.8%		26	480^th of 640 public elementary schools	25.0%	8	46.0	52.3	46.2				50.0	34.1	30.8				43.2		$39,483	$8,228	$3,738	$11,966	$22,862	$4,655	$27,517
Memminger Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	20 Beaufain Street	Charleston	29401	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	Yes	No	Yes	(843) 724-7778	438	37	11.8		221 (50.5%)	176 (40.2%)	11 (2.5%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (5.9%)	33.3	430^th of 649 public elementary schools	33.7%		30.2	450^th of 640 public elementary schools	29.7%	20	53.0	55.5	37.1				53.0	47.2	31.5				52.8		$26,342	$4,773	$1,844	$6,616	$15,297	$4,429	$19,726
St. Andrew's School of Math and Science	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	30 Chadwick Drive	Charleston	29407	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	Yes	No	No	(843) 763-1503	769	52	14.8		450 (58.5%)	166 (21.6%)	82 (10.7%)	15 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	54 (7.0%)	82.8	102^nd of 649 public elementary schools	84.3%		86.3	75^th of 640 public elementary schools	88.3%	27	81.6	76.5	66.1				83.2	67.2	61.7				73.1		$18,113	$3,633	$1,283	$4,916	$10,805	$2,392	$13,197
Harbor View Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1576 Harbor View Road	Charleston	29412	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 762-2749	621	42	14.6		483 (77.8%)	71 (11.4%)	29 (4.7%)	7 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	28 (4.5%)	90.5	46^th of 649 public elementary schools	92.9%		91.1	41^st of 640 public elementary schools	93.6%	5	78.3	82.8	87.5				76.6	73.1	75.0				80.7		$16,949	$2,536	$1,313	$3,849	$10,363	$2,737	$13,100
Orange Grove Charter School	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	1225 Orange Branch Road	Charleston	29407	Charleston County	Charleston 01	Yes	No	No	No	(843) 763-1520	1,170	75	15.5		948 (81.0%)	95 (8.1%)	49 (4.2%)	24 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	53 (4.5%)	96.4	14^th of 649 public elementary schools	97.8%		96.6	11^th of 640 public elementary schools	98.3%	3	86.5	94.0	91.1	87.3	80.5	94.0	86.4	85.2	88.9	82.6	79.4	86.2	74.0	81.0	$14,448	$1,546	$1,080	$2,625	$10,296	$1,527	$11,823
Stono Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	314 Huntley Drive	Charleston	29407	Charleston County	Charleston 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 763-1507	337	25	13.4		56 (16.6%)	232 (68.8%)	23 (6.8%)	5 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (6.2%)	22.2	514^th of 649 public elementary schools	20.8%		16.8	551^st of 640 public elementary schools	13.9%	37	45.4	43.9	50.0				45.5	31.7	41.2				36.6		$28,562	$6,379	$1,956	$8,335	$15,932	$4,295	$20,227

Frequently Asked Questions about Charleston Development Academy

How many students attend Charleston Development Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 151 students attended Charleston Development Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Charleston Development Academy?

Students at Charleston Development Academy are 100% African American.

Is Charleston Development Academy a good school?

Charleston Development Academy ranks 423^rd of 649 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Charleston Development Academy in?

Charleston 01

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Latest South Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 EOCEP & SC READY test scoresNewAug 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.