²ÝÁñÉçÇø

²ÝÁñÉçÇø School Review - Established 2003
Pinewood Preparatory School Top 12 · Most AP Courses (SC)
Summerville Catholic School
Trinity Classical Academy

Best Dorchester County ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Schools (2026-27)

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 11 private schools serving 2,382 students in Dorchester County, SC (there are , serving 30,418 public students). 7% of all K-12 students are educated in private schools (compared to the SC state average of 8%).
The average acceptance rate is 88%, which is lower than the South Carolina private school average acceptance rate of 89%.
73% of private schools in Dorchester County, SC are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Methodist).

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Top Ranked Dorchester County ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Schools (2026-27)

Map of Dorchester Academy
Dorchester Academy
Gr: PK-12 | 374 students
Christian
234 Academy Rd
Saint George, SC 29477
(843) 563-9511
View Profile
Map of Faith Christian School & Daycare
Faith Christian School & Daycare
Gr: PK-12 | 311 students
Assembly of God
337 Farmington Rd
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 873-8464
View Profile
Pinewood Preparatory School Photo
Pinewood Preparatory School
Gr: PK-12 | 661 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Sports: 14 | Extracurriculars: 27
1114 Orangeburg Road
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 873-1643
(7)
View Profile
Summerville Catholic School Photo
Summerville Catholic School
Gr: PK-8 | 264 students
Avg. class size: 16 students
Sports: 6 | Extracurriculars: 3
Catholic
226 Black Oak Blvd
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 873-9310
(1)
View Profile
Map of Bethany Child Development Center
Bethany Child Development Center
Gr: PK-K | 159 students
Daycare / Preschool (Methodist)
118 W 3rd South St
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 821-1946
View Profile
Map of New Alpha Christian School
New Alpha Christian School
Gr: PK-7 | 47 students
Christian
100 Waring St
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 225-0203
View Profile
Map of North Charleston KinderCare
North Charleston KinderCare
Gr: NS-PK
Daycare / Preschool
8730 Dorchester Rd
North Charleston, SC 29420
(843) 552-0123
View Profile
Map of Oakbrook Child Development Center
Oakbrook Child Development Center
Gr: NS-PK | 151 students
Daycare / Preschool
901 Travelers Blvd
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 871-3053
View Profile
Map of Ridge Christian Academy
Ridge Christian Academy
Gr: PK-12 | 156 students
Baptist
2168 Ridge Church Rd
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 873-9856
(1)
View Profile
Map of St. Lukes Children's Center
St. Lukes Children's Center
Gr: PK-K | 124 students
Daycare / Preschool (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (formerly AELC, ALC, or LCA))
206 Central Avenue
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 871-6666
View Profile
Trinity Classical Academy Photo
Trinity Classical Academy
Gr: K-8 | 135 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Extracurriculars: 8
Christian
111 Waring Street
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 885-1081
(2)
View Profile
[+] Show Closed ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Schools in Dorchester County, South Carolina

Dorchester County ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Schools (Closed)

Map of Charis Academy
Charis Academy
Gr: 4-8 | 5 students
Special Education School
255 Stallsville Loop
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 934-7520
View Profile
Map of The Oaks Christian School
The Oaks Christian School
Gr: PK-8 | 175 students
Baptist
505 Gahagan Rd
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 875-7667
View Profile

Overview

Category
This State (SC)
US
# Schools
11 Schools

Trends in Total Number of ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Schools

YearDorchester County Total Schools
202511
202412
202310
202211
202113
202014
201913
201813
201712
201611
201511
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# Students
2,382 Students
72,865 Students

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per ²ÝÁñÉçÇø School

YearDorchester County AverageSouth Carolina (SC) AverageNational Average
2025238174179
2024225170172
2023235169174
2022237173185
2021210168180
2020212160171
2019272161175
2018272159172
2017247166180
2016247162178
2015242153167
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% Average Students of Color
22%
19%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearDorchester County AverageSouth Carolina (SC) AverageNational Average
202522%18%34%
202424%18%34%
202317%18%33%
202223%18%33%
202119%18%32%
202020%18%32%
201916%17%31%
201816%17%31%
201718%17%32%
201617%17%32%
201517%18%32%
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Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
182 Teachers
6,628 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
11:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearDorchester County AverageSouth Carolina (SC) AverageNational Average
202512:111:111:1
202413:111:111:1
202311:111:111:1
202212:111:111:1
202112:111:111:1
202012:111:112:1
201911:111:112:1
201811:111:112:1
201712:111:112:1
201612:111:112:1
201513:112:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
38%
50%

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)

YearDorchester County AverageSouth Carolina (SC) AverageNational Average
202538%50%55%
202438%50%54%
202338%48%54%
202238%48%54%
202138%48%54%
202038%48%54%
201938%49%53%
201838%47%53%
201738%48%53%
201660%48%52%
201554%49%52%
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Average Class Size
15 students
14 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearDorchester County AverageSouth Carolina (SC) AverageNational Average
2025151415
2024151415
2023161415
2022161415
2021161315
2020151315
2019151315
2018151415
2017151415
2016161415
2015161415
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Average Number of AP Courses
17 courses
11 courses

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

YearDorchester County AverageSouth Carolina (SC) AverageNational Average
2025171213
2024171112
2023171111
2022171011
2021171011
202017911
201917911
201817911
201717910
2016171010
2015151010
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Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$7,834
$10,435

Tuition Cost Trends (2017-2025)

YearDorchester County AverageSouth Carolina (SC) AverageNational Average
2025$7,834$10,691$15,012
2024$7,224$8,286$13,254
2023$8,848$8,179$12,626
2022$8,590$7,395$12,187
2021$8,220$6,966$11,800
2020$7,028$6,762$11,512
2019$7,028$6,739$11,293
2018$7,028$6,539$11,017
2017$7,300$6,394$10,708
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Average % on Financial Aid
33%
29%

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)

YearDorchester County AverageSouth Carolina (SC) AverageNational Average
202533%29%34%
202433%29%34%
202333%30%34%
202233%28%33%
202133%29%33%
202033%24%32%
201933%24%31%
201833%22%30%
201733%23%30%
201635%19%29%
201531%22%28%
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Average Financial Aid Grant
$1,875
$3,688

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2015-2025)

YearDorchester County AverageSouth Carolina (SC) AverageNational Average
2025$1,875$3,642$7,073
2024$1,875$3,276$6,930
2023$1,875$3,241$6,469
2022$1,875$3,053$6,289
2021$1,875$3,001$6,055
2020$1,875$3,189$5,921
2019$1,875$3,863$5,795
2018$1,875$3,893$5,456
2017$1,875$3,907$5,319
2016$3,000$3,834$5,105
2015$3,000$3,645$5,030
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Average Acceptance Rate
88%
89%

Acceptance Rate Trends (2015-2025)

YearDorchester County AverageSouth Carolina (SC) AverageNational Average
202588%87%81%
202488%89%85%
202388%90%85%
202288%90%85%
202190%89%85%
202088%90%85%
201988%89%85%
201888%90%85%
201792%90%85%
201685%88%85%
201597%90%85%
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Average Endowment Size
$50 million
$24.77 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.60
0.57

Diversity Score Trends

YearDorchester County AverageSouth Carolina (SC) AverageNational Average
20250.600.570.65
20240.590.570.65
20230.550.560.65
20220.570.550.64
20210.570.550.64
20200.580.540.64
20190.510.530.63
20180.510.530.63
20170.520.510.61
20160.530.510.61
20150.550.520.61
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# American Indian Students
7 Students
198 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
35 Students
1,171 Students
% Asian Students
2%
2%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearDorchester County AverageSouth Carolina (SC) AverageNational Average
20252%2%5%
20242%2%5%
20231%2%5%
20221%2%4%
20212%2%4%
20202%2%4%
20193%2%4%
20183%2%4%
20171%2%4%
20161%2%4%
20151%2%4%
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# Hispanic Students
86 Students
2,053 Students
% Hispanic Students
4%
3%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearDorchester County AverageSouth Carolina (SC) AverageNational Average
20254%3%9%
20244%3%9%
20233%2%9%
20223%2%8%
20212%2%9%
20203%2%9%
20192%2%8%
20182%2%8%
20173%1%8%
20163%1%8%
20153%1%8%
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# Black Students
129 Students
3,582 Students
% Black Students
5%
5%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearDorchester County AverageSouth Carolina (SC) AverageNational Average
20255%5%7%
20246%5%7%
20236%6%8%
20226%5%7%
20216%5%7%
20207%6%8%
20196%6%7%
20186%6%7%
20175%5%7%
20165%5%7%
20156%6%8%
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# White Students
1,209 Students
40,580 Students
% White Students
51%
56%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearDorchester County AverageSouth Carolina (SC) AverageNational Average
202551%57%52%
202453%57%52%
202361%58%52%
202256%59%54%
202157%60%54%
202056%61%54%
201965%63%56%
201865%63%56%
201765%64%58%
201663%64%58%
201560%64%58%
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# Hawaiian Students
5 Students
34 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
911 Students
24,164 Students
% of Others Students
38%
34%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearDorchester County AverageSouth Carolina (SC) AverageNational Average
202538%33%26%
202435%33%26%
202329%32%25%
202234%32%25%
202133%31%25%
202032%29%24%
201924%27%24%
201824%27%23%
201726%28%22%
201628%28%22%
201530%27%21%
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All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
13 extracurriculars
8 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
10 sports
8 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Dorchester County, SC?
The top ranked private schools in Dorchester County, SC include Summerville Catholic School, Pinewood Preparatory School, and Dorchester Academy.
How many private schools are located in Dorchester County?
11 private schools are located in Dorchester County.
How diverse are private schools in Dorchester County?
Dorchester County private schools are approximately 22% minority students, which is higher than the South Carolina private school average of 19%.
What percentage of students in Dorchester County go to private school?
7% of all K-12 students in Dorchester County are educated in private schools (compared to the SC state average of 8%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Dorchester County?
73% of private schools in Dorchester County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Methodist).
Which private schools in Dorchester County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of private schools in Dorchester County include: St. Lukes Children's Center vs. Pinewood Preparatory School

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