City: Charleston, SC

Category: Education

Telephone: (843) 873-2901

Address: 102 Green Wave Blvd.

Description: District 2 in Dorchester County has been designated one of the fastest-growing public school districts in the state. A study conducted for the school district by The Citadel indicated that 95 percent of the residential growth in Dorchester County occurred in District 2, the Greater Summerville area. In addition, 98 percent of this growth took place in the eastern or Oakbrook section of Summerville, where school enrollment bears this out by jumping from 10,106 in 1979–1980 to 21,201 in 2009–2010. District 2 operates 21 schools, specializing in extracurricular activities for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Students graduating from Summerville High School have consistently scored above the state norms on the Scholastic Aptitude Test. GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) is Dorchester 2’s state-mandated program for those students who qualify for special enrichment and academic challenges. Call (843) 821-3960 for more information on the qualifications needed to participate. Alternative programs for young people in District 2 high schools offer special counseling and basic skills aimed at lowering the dropout rate. These specialized programs are conducted at an off-campus site—during regular school hours. Based on high achievement in standardized testing, District 2 has several schools that earned “deregulation status” from the state for updating school curricula, allowing greater innovation in teaching methods, and meeting the increasingly complex needs of young people. There are 11 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, and 3 high schools in Dorchester District 2. The Givhans Alternative Program and Rollings School of the Arts complete the list of schools in this district.