Good Public Schools in Summerville, South Carolina

One of the biggest draws to Summerville real estate is the good public school systems.  While buyers avoid some of the other Charleston areas (like Johns Island and West Ashley) because of the schools, buyers flock to live in the Dorchester II school district in Summerville.  In fact, the only public schools in Charleston that beat Summerville’s are Mt. Pleasant (which has considerably higher real estate prices).

It’s important to note, though, that Dorchester School District 2 has the best schools in Summerville.  Some buyers think that simply buying a home in Summerville guarantees good schools for their children, but this is not necessarily the case.  A lot of homes are zoned for Dorchester School District 4, but these schools are not nearly the caliber as the District 2. 

So, if you’re considering buying a home in Summerville, be sure to get the school district confirmed before you buy.  You’ll see in MLS reports which elementary, middle, and high school each home is zoned for.  The elementary schools in Dorchester 2 are Beech Hill, Eagle Nest, Flowertown, Fort Dorchester, Knightsville, Newington, Oakbrook, Spann, Summerville, William Reeves, Windsor Hill.  The middle schools are Alston, Dubose, Gregg, Oakbrook, River Oaks, and Rollings Middle School of the Arts.  You’ll find 3 high schools:  Ashley Ridge, Fort Dorchester, and Summerville High.  Be sure to talk with your real estate agent if schools are important to you.  He or she can send you MLS listings for only the schools you want.  Your agent can also help you confirm that the home is zoned for the school you want before you buy.

From elementary to high school, Dorchester 2 schools consistently rank well.  The district also has relatively low teacher to student ratios: child development is 20:2; kindergarten is 24:1; first grade is 18:1; second through fifth grade is 20:1; sixth through twelfth grade is 25:1.  About 70 percent of its high school graduates enroll in a college, university, or technical program.  The average SAT score for 2007 to 2008 was 1015 (this is higher than the state average of 984 but slightly lower than the national average of 1021).  The average ACT score for 2006 to 2007 was 21.3 (higher than the state average of 19.6 and slightly higher than the national average of 21.2).

Dorchester District 2 is also a good option for buyers who are teachers.  The school district is the second largest employer in Dorchester Country (with the Bosch Corporation being the largest).

It’s also important to note that even if you don’t have children, schools are a good indicator for buying real estate.  Homes zoned for good public school districts are always in demand from home buyers.  This demand usually leads to good resale value down the road.  So, whether you’re a teacher, parent, or investor, Summerville real estate may be a good option for you to consider.