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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Charleston Public Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 23 public preschools serving 11,442 students in Charleston, SC.
The top-ranked public preschools in Charleston, SC are Montessori Community School, Orange Grove Charter School and Stiles Point Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Charleston, SC public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 57% (versus the South Carolina public pre school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 48% statewide average). Pre schools in Charleston have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of South Carolina public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 49% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the South Carolina public preschool average of 55% (majority Black).

Best Public Preschools in Charleston, SC (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Montessori Community School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
2122 Wood Avenue
Charleston, SC 29414
(843) 769-0346
Gr: PK-8 | 280 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #22.
Orange Grove Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1225 Orange Branch Road
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 763-1520
Gr: PK-8 | 1,170 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #33.
Stiles Point Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
883-a Mikell Drive
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-2767
Gr: PK-5 | 866 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #44.
Harbor View Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1576 Harbor View Road
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-2749
Gr: PK-5 | 621 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #55.
Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1871 Wallace School Road
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 763-1555
Gr: PK-5 | 618 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #66.
St. Andrew's School Of Math And Science
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
30 Chadwick Drive
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 763-1503
Gr: PK-5 | 769 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #77.
Philip Simmons Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2095 Seven Sticks Drive
Charleston, SC 29492
(843) 471-2580
Gr: PK-4 | 535 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #88.
Drayton Hall Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
3138 Ashley River Road
Charleston, SC 29414
(843) 852-0678
Gr: PK-5 | 640 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #99.
Murray-lasaine Montessori
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
691 Riverland Drive
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-2765
Gr: PK-8 | 347 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #1010.
James Island Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1872 Grimball Road
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-8240
Gr: PK-5 | 580 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #1111.
Oakland Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
505-a Arlington Drive
Charleston, SC 29414
(843) 763-1510
Gr: PK-5 | 556 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #1212.
Springfield Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2130 Pinehurst Avenue
Charleston, SC 29414
(843) 763-1538
Gr: PK-5 | 679 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #1313.
Charleston Development Academy
Charter School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
233 Line Street
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 722-2689
Gr: PK-8 | 151 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
Rank: #1414.
James Simons Montessori
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
741 King Street
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 724-7763
Gr: PK-8 | 392 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #1515.
Charleston Progressive
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
382 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 720-2967
Gr: PK-5 | 184 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1616.
Stono Park Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
314 Huntley Drive
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 763-1507
Gr: PK-5 | 337 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #1717.
Memminger Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
20 Beaufain Street
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 724-7778
Gr: PK-5 | 438 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #1818.
Matilda F. Dunston Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1825 Remount Road
Charleston, SC 29406
(843) 745-7109
Gr: PK-5 | 569 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #1919.
Sanders-clyde Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
805 Morrison Drive
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 724-7783
Gr: PK-5 | 369 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2020.
Mitchell Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2 Perry Street
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 724-7261
Gr: PK-5 | 188 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2121.
A. C. Corcoran Elementary School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
8585 Vistavia Road
Charleston, SC 29406
(843) 764-2218
Gr: PK-5 | 743 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #2222.
Pattison's Academy For Comprehensive Education
Charter School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
721 Wappoo Road
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 402-7850
Gr: PK-12 | 53 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: n/an/a
Midland Park Primary
2415 Midland Park Road
Charleston, SC 29406
(843) 574-2183
Gr: PK-K | 357 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 97%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public preschools in Charleston, SC?
The top-ranked public preschools in Charleston, SC include Montessori Community School, Orange Grove Charter School and Stiles Point Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Charleston?
23 public preschools are located in Charleston.
What is the racial composition of students in Charleston?
Charleston public preschools minority enrollment is 49% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the South Carolina public preschools average of 55% (majority Black).
Which public preschools in Charleston are often viewed compared to one another?

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