Why businesses and families choose Charleston

Charleston’s regional business and community leaders understand the critical role education plays in advancing our economy, and are committed to enlightening and empowering residents, from cradle through career.

Charleston’s higher education institutions are dedicated to attracting and retaining talent in the region to support local business success.

A Place for

Your Child to Thrive

This region offers some of best performing schools in South Carolina. All four public school districts received an Excellent rating on the School Report Card issued by the SC Department of Education. These districts support 150+ public schools and serve 106,000+ students.

36,000

Berkeley County School District Enrollment

49,000

Charleston County School District Enrollment

26,000

Dorchester County School District 2 Enrollment

2,500

Dorchester School District 4 Enrollment

Source: S.C. Department of Education

To learn more about the school districts or a particular public school, visit the SC Department of Education. For information on private schools by county, visit the SC Independent School Association.

Programs Built for Career Success

CAREER ACADEMIES

A region thrives when its people have the workforce skills that match the needs of its employers. The Chamber's talent team serves as a regional convener, creating business and education partnerships through collaborative and equitable initiatives. Employer-led needs assessments guide their efforts to cultivate relationships, educate on best practices and develop current and future employees.

CCSD Career & Technology

CCSD Career & Technology Education Programs of Study and Career Exploration opportunities are aligned with Charleston’s modern workforce demands and provide seamless pathways for all students to become “Future Ready” for College, Career, and Citizenship!

YOUTH APPRENTICE PROGRAM

Local high school juniors and seniors work as paid industrial mechanic apprentices. At the end of the two-year program, students earn a high school diploma, an Industrial Mechanics certificate from Trident Technical College, a journeyman credential from the U.S. Department of Labor, and two years of paid work experience. There are more than a dozen different pathways including fields such as manufacturing, health,  IT,  accounting, engineering, hospitality and construction trades.

YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP SOUTH CAROLINA

YEScarolina became an ECM program. YEScarolina has helped thousands of students in grades 9-12 from communities statewide build business skills and fuel their entrepreneurial spirit. To date, YEScarolina has trained and certified over 1,000 South Carolina teachers on the subject of entrepreneurship. YEScarolina became an Engaging Creative Minds (ECM) program in the fall of 2021.

TALLO assists all levels of talent in identifying career pathways, educators in recruiting top talent to their schools, and employers in developing a stable, continuous talent pipeline.

Opportunities for

Continued Education

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