Where do I look up a school zone by address?
Four public school districts serve the Charleston area. Each county runs its own address lookup. Find the county the home is in, open its lookup and enter the full street address.
| District | Areas it covers | Official address lookup | Choice and magnet info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston County School District (CCSD) | All of Charleston County: the City of Charleston (Peninsula, West Ashley, James Island, Johns Island), Mount Pleasant, the Charleston County part of North Charleston, Folly Beach, Kiawah, Seabrook, Wadmalaw, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, Awendaw, McClellanville, Hollywood, Ravenel and Meggett. Not Daniel Island or Cainhoy. | CCSD Find My School (Cropper Map) | CCSD School Choice |
| Berkeley County School District (BCSD) | Berkeley County: Goose Creek, Hanahan, Moncks Corner, Daniel Island and Cainhoy (City of Charleston), the Clements Ferry area, the Berkeley County part of Summerville (including Cane Bay, Nexton and Carnes Crossroads), the Berkeley County part of Ladson, Huger, St. Stephen, Cross, Bonneau and Pineville. | Berkeley County attendance zones, 2026-27 | BCSD specialty programs |
| Dorchester School District Two (DD2) | Lower Dorchester County: the Dorchester County part of Summerville, the Dorchester County part of North Charleston and the Dorchester County part of Ladson. | Dorchester County attendance zone lookup | Rollings Middle School of the Arts auditions |
| Dorchester School District Four (DD4) | Upper Dorchester County: St. George, Harleyville, Ridgeville, Reevesville, Grover and Dorchester. | Dorchester County attendance zone lookup | None published. Check with the district. |
The two Dorchester districts share one county lookup. It returns the elementary, middle and high school for an address. Dorchester Two also has a schools by subdivision list.
Why doesn’t the city name tell me the district?
School districts follow county lines, and Charleston-area cities cross them. Daniel Island and Cainhoy are in the City of Charleston but in Berkeley County, so they are in Berkeley County School District. A Summerville address can be in Dorchester Two, Berkeley County or Charleston County schools. North Charleston spans Charleston County, Dorchester Two and Berkeley County. A ZIP code won’t settle it either. Use the exact address.
For buyers: what about timing around closing?
Can a purchase contract count as proof of residency?
In three of the four districts, yes. That matters if you’re closing close to the start of the school year. Each district has its own rules:
- Charleston County School District: new students need a notarized Affidavit of Residency, one Category I document, one Category II document and a parent photo ID. A ratified purchase contract with a closing date (or a ratified construction contract) counts as a Category I document. Category II is a recent utility, phone or internet bill, car registration, pay stub or agency letter. CCSD required documentation.
- Berkeley County School District: two proofs of current residency in the parent or guardian’s name, plus photo ID. A real estate purchase contract is one of the accepted proofs. If you are buying or building in the district, you may enroll at the new home’s zoned school if you will move in within 90 days, with a statement of expected occupancy from the builder or seller. BCSD enrollment requirements.
- Dorchester School District Two: accepts a new home contract that shows the closing or occupancy date, with a utility bill due within 30 days of moving in. If closing is before the 45th day of school, the school approves it; after that, the District Office does. DD2 registration and residency checklist.
- Dorchester School District Four: check with the district about a purchase contract. DD4 Student Services, (843) 638-3920.
Are any attendance zones changing?
- CCSD Peninsula elementary lines. On March 9, 2026, the CCSD board approved new elementary attendance lines for the Charleston Peninsula. They take effect for all students in 2027-28. Current Peninsula elementary students may stay through their school’s grade span. CCSD release (PDF).
- CCSD North Charleston proposal (pending). A proposal to redraw some North Charleston attendance lines is scheduled for a full board vote on October 26, 2026. It has not been decided. Check CCSD after that date.
- BCSD Cane Bay enrollment caps. Cane Bay Elementary and Cane Bay Middle have board-approved enrollment caps. Living in the zone does not guarantee a seat, and BCSD says it cannot guarantee space before closing. BCSD Cane Bay cap FAQ.
The zone maps show current assignments. If a specific school assignment matters to you, confirm it with the district for the school year you need, before your due diligence period ends.
When are the choice and magnet application windows?
- CCSD, for 2027-28: the window opens January 13, 2027 at noon and closes February 18, 2027 at noon. Lottery results come out by April 16, 2027, and the deadline to accept a seat is April 27, 2027 at noon. Students who accept a choice seat still register at their zoned school. CCSD School Choice.
- DD2, Rollings Middle School of the Arts: audition registration for 6th-grade entry runs October 1 to December 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m., with no late registrations. It is open to 5th graders who live in the DD2 attendance zone, with proof of residence. RMSA auditions.
- BCSD: 2027-28 dates are not published yet. Each specialty program sets its own process. Check the district’s specialty programs page.
- DD4: no choice or magnet window is published. Check with the district.
Where do I find school performance data?
On the state’s South Carolina School Report Cards site. The state publishes a report card every year for each public school and district. A report card includes the state’s overall rating and indicator ratings, such as academic achievement, student progress, graduation rate, college and career readiness and school climate, plus test results and other school data. You can search by school name or browse by district, compare schools and download the data. The 2026 report cards were released on October 12, 2026. The SC Department of Education explains how they work.
What other public options are there?
- Charter schools. Charter schools in the area can be authorized by the local district (see CCSD’s charter school list), the SC Public Charter School District or the Charter Institute at Erskine. Each school runs its own application and lottery.
- Education Scholarship Trust Fund. This is a state program. For 2026-27, the official site says the program reached its enrollment cap and applications are closed. See the official ESTF site and the SC Department of Education FAQ for eligibility and 2027-28 updates.
Why don’t I rate schools?
Fair housing law and the REALTOR® Code of Ethics. I point you to official sources so you can decide what matters to you. I give every buyer the same links, and I’m glad to help you find the right office to call about a specific address.
Common questions
How do I find which school district a Charleston-area address is in?
Type the exact street address into the official lookup for the county: the CCSD Find My School map for Charleston County, the Berkeley County GIS attendance zone map, or the Dorchester County lookup for both Dorchester districts. Then confirm the assignment with the district before you rely on it.
Is Daniel Island in Charleston County School District?
No. Daniel Island and Cainhoy are in the City of Charleston but in Berkeley County, so they are served by Berkeley County School District. Look up the exact address in the Berkeley County attendance zone map.
Which school district is Summerville in?
It depends on the address. Summerville spans three counties, so a Summerville mailing address can be in Dorchester School District Two, Berkeley County School District or Charleston County School District. North Charleston also spans more than one district. Use the address lookup, not the city name or ZIP code.
Can I enroll my child before I close on a house?
Charleston County, Berkeley County and Dorchester Two all accept a purchase contract as part of proof of residency, each with its own conditions and follow-up documents. Dorchester Four lists a lease or utility bill; check with the district. Call the district’s registration office with your contract and closing date.
Does living in a school zone guarantee a seat at that school?
Not always. Berkeley County School District has enrollment caps at Cane Bay Elementary and Cane Bay Middle, and says living in the zone does not guarantee a seat. Boards can also redraw attendance lines. Confirm with the district for the school year you need.
Where can I see test scores and other school data?
On the South Carolina School Report Cards site, screportcards.com. The state publishes a report card for every public school and district each year. The 2026 report cards were released on October 12, 2026.
Sources
Checked October 21, 2026. Every link on this page goes to a school district, a county GIS office, the SC Department of Education, the SC report card site or a charter authorizer. Zone lines, caps, registration rules and application dates change; the district’s own page is the final word. Also used: CCSD Peninsula release (March 10, 2026) and ABC News 4 report on the North Charleston proposal (October 12, 2026).
- CCSD Find a School · CCSD Cropper Map · CCSD School Choice · CCSD required documentation
- Berkeley County attendance zones 2026-27 · BCSD enrollment requirements · BCSD Cane Bay cap FAQ · BCSD specialty programs
- Dorchester County attendance zone lookup · DD2 registration · DD2 RMSA auditions · DD4 Student Services
- SC School Report Cards · SC Public Charter School District · Charter Institute at Erskine · Education Scholarship Trust Fund
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