Charleston County School District holds “State of the Schools” address

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Charleston County School District leaders hosted a “State of the Schools” address Thursday, which highlighted the progress and the challenges the district faces.

Superintendent Anita Huggins delivered her first address by recognizing school and elected officials, teachers and staff, and students. The event showcased student performances and remarks from Reggie Burgess, mayor of North Charleston, and Janice Malone, principal of Sanders-Clyde Elementary School. It also showed how far the district has come over the past year.

“I would say the increase of student achievement is one of the most significant things we’ve been able to do since I have had the pleasure in leading this district,” Huggins said.

Student achievement includes the improvement of math and reading scores, but also among other factors – student wellbeing. The superintendent said she has been able to raise teacher and staff salaries, making it one of the top-paying districts in the state, and helped with the shift towards a weighted student-based funding model. In 2025, $32 million will be invested all its schools on a student need basis.

Looking ahead, CCSD is working on Vision 2027. This entails getting all students reading on grade level by fifth grade.

“Getting students on grade level- it requires a lot of different things,” Huggins said. “It requires access to high-quality literature, rigorous instruction, mindset by educators that kids can and kids will. It requires a unique skill to intervene when students aren’t where they need to be. It requires me as a superintendent to make teachers have what they need to provide resources to children who need it the most.”

Huggins emphasized that being transparent with the district’s challenges is important.

“It’s critically important that we’re going to make sure kids have what they need to be successful after they leave us,” Huggins said. “That we tell the truth about the challenges we face, and the data associated with students, particularly students of color who are underachieving compared to the white peers. So, it’s really critically important that in this system we have honest conversations about our needs and get us where our children deserve to be.”

CCSD said their goals also include literacy, algebra readiness and achievement, and college and career readiness.