Berkeley/Dorchester county schools (Charleston, Summerville: upper-class, crime rates, home)

[raypsims]

We are a family with young children (military) considering a move to the Charleston area for a minimum of three years. There is no need to sell us on the area, we have lived there before, and can't think of a better place to call home......However, now that we have children our priorities are a little different......we know that the reputation of South Carolina schools is not great, and we are moving from a Maryland county that has one of the best school districts in the nation. Having done lots of research on school stats I have come to the conclusion that Hanahan has good elementary, middle and high schools, and that Summerville has good elementary and high, but not so good middle. As we hope to buy a single family home in the $250-300,000 range, these areas would suit us. My question is, what does "good" really mean and what are the standards based on? Do educated people with bachelor's degree or higher send their kids to public schools in this area or is the only option private school? As a teacher myself I firmly believe in public school education and I do believe you can find good schools in districts that might not score so great on paper, and that of course you can find bad public schools in area with good test scores. Any feedback would be most welcome.
My second and final question regards race relations. It has been 14 years since we lived in Charleston and back then as a mixed race couple we raised a few eyebrows. How accepting has Charleston really become? I do not want to bring my children into a minefield!

[blackraven]

Hi--I moved to Dorchester County from Charlotte, NC and it was a bit of a culture shock. I don't have kids, but I think Summerville stands very well in the schools in SC...however you want to measure that.

Your other question is perhaps more to the point in answer to both questions--keep in mind I'm white but totally taken aback by racism here. With race, it totally depends on where you land. I would personally stay away from Berkeley County, but that might be me being a snob. Some neighborhoods in Charleston would be much better--West Ashley, James Island, for example. Here in Summerville would probably be ok. I would stay completely away from N. Charleston. It has one of the highest crime rates in the nation--more than the DC area!

Race is still a loaded gun here--it doesn't fire often anymore, but you always know it's loaded. I dated someone black for about six months and had no problem. I also felt safer in the black community.

For what it's worth...
blackraven

[wlr107]

As for the schools, you will want to come visit personally and talk to some people in the schools, as S.C. is ranked 49th out of 50...Mississippi's scores dropped, SC's didn't change.

I am going to move back to SC to teach next year once I have my master's from Saint Vincent College...the way to create positive change is, in my opinion, to jump right in and show folks how it's done. I wish you and your family the VERY best!

I LOVE Charleston too!

[Karen S.]

Hello,

We don't have children, but we live in Summerville- having grown up in CA, and being from a very good school system there, I would be wary of any schools in the W. Ashley area- my friend's kids grew up there and she ended up home schooling them- because the kids were picking fights on the bus- because of race! I couldn't believe it. Here in S'ville (only 20 miles away) there seem to be no racial problems- everyone gets along so well. I've also heard good things about Summerville High. My firend next door who has two kids just moved to Mt. Pleasant- they seem to have a good school system and it is a little more upper-class. As far as Hanahan- the schools may be wonderful, (I don't know) but that wouldn't justify moving into that area- it's too close to N. Chas- a hotbed of crime. Just my 2 cents.

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Karen

[dcconnections]

I would really like to know from your point of view; what effects do you think the racism here has on the black community if any. I'm from Atlanta where i'm the majority being black and since i've been here in SC I almost feel like I'm forced to prove myself because I'm black. I Like living here it's just I hate when I have to **** near jump through firy hoops just to get the attention and service any civil person deserves when i go into prodiminantly white establishments.

[dcconnections]

Hello,
I fully understand your concern about the school systems here in SC.
I have a very intelligent daughter myself and I want her to be challenged in school. I believe the more challeging the stronger their learning skills become.
But it has to start from the beginning. The Elementary schools in summerville, Hanahan and berkely county are worth there weight. After that you may want to measure. With that being said there is a fast growing Home School community in these areas with well qualified people teaching. I think this a perfect way to monitor and tailor your childs education.

[Karen S.]

Hello disconnections,

I'm sorry I took so long to answer, but we just moved, (from one location in Summerville to about a mile away) and then when I tried to access city-data, it said I used the wrong password and locked me out:-)

Well, this is a hard question to answer- I, being from California, and being white, may have a completely slanted view. First, I think it depends on where you live in SC. I am in Summerville, and I have never experienced such harmony between blacks and whites. But I am from Los Angeles where there are constant racial divides. That's why it's pleasant for me to be here, and walk down the street and not be afraid to run into The Bloods or The Crips, or the Skinheads. But 15-20 miles from here, in West Ashley, a friend of mine (white) has taken her boy out of public school and is now being home-schooled, because of the racial problems there- mostly on the bus to and from school. The kids in the schools there (Charleston district) seem to really have problems getting along. I don't know if this is how they are raised, or if it's just a teenage- thing. (He was 15 when they took him out of school, he's now 17). She got to the point where she was afraid to let him take the bus.

I know what you are talking about, though. Unfortunately, I have some in-laws who feel that blacks really need to prove themselves. I haven't lived here as long as they have, (I've been here 6 years- they've been here most of their lives) but they have this idea that, "Mexicans will work- blacks don't." I don't know where they are getting that from. They are just bigoted.

I don't know if this helped,

Karen