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Schools & Programs

Welcome to DDTwo

Welcome to Dorchester School District Two, the educational leader in the Lowcountry! Dedicated to raising the bar, we honor our long-standing tradition of developing award-winning students, recruiting and retaining accomplished staff, and fostering thriving schools. 
Spanning 234 square miles of this beautiful region, we serve as a beacon of educational opportunity for more than 26,000 students and provide meaningful career opportunities for 4,000 professionals. Our district includes 15 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, and 3 high schools. Additionally, we provide specialized programs such as the RISE Academy alternative program, catering to students with diverse needs, and the Dorchester County Adult Education program, providing opportunities for lifelong learning and skill development.

We invite you to join us in this remarkable journey, as we continue to strive for educational innovation, community engagement, and the holistic development of our students, preparing them to excel in an ever-evolving world. Welcome to our thriving community, where education knows no bounds and opportunities are endless.

Get Started in DDTwo

DD2 Brochure

Comprehensive Excellence

High-Performing Schools

Our schools earned top marks on the Annual State Report Card. No DDTwo schools received an unsatisfactory or below average rating.

We serve families throughout Dorchester County in Summerville, Ladson and North Charleston, which is just 15 minutes from historic downtown Charleston.

Our award-winning schools are embedded in the fabric of our community, and we are proud to provide a high-quality education to our friends, neighbors, and stakeholders. 

We consistently have some of the highest performing schools in the state of South Carolina, according to the SC School Report Card.

On the local, state, and national levels, we are defined by the success of our high-achieving students, educators, staff, and leaders.

 

Distinguished Schools

Twelve Palmetto’s Finest Award Schools

Five National Blue Ribbon Schools

Ninety National Board Certified Teachers

Vision

Dorchester School District Two desires to be recognized as a "World Class” school district, expecting each student to achieve at his/her optimal level in all areas, and providing all members of our district family with an environment that permits them to do their personal best.


Mission

Leading the way, every student, every day, through relationships, relevance and rigor.


Military Family-Friendly

With 1,600 military-connected children, we work closely with Joint Base Charleston. We maintain our Purple Star designation, which means we ensure we are serving the unique needs of children in military families.

A group of students standing in front of banner - Purple Star - and next to banners for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy

Visit our Military Families page

Students, Passion, Accountability, Integrity, Community, Excellence, Relationships, Diversity, Recognition

 

By connecting educational achievement from previous schools, military-connected students receive the help they need to stay on track for academic success."Dorchester County Council Proclamation

Award-Winning Fine & Performing Arts Education

Outstanding fine arts programs and educators in all our schools have garnered state and national awards.

Some program honors include:

Three Kennedy Center Creative Ticket Awards

Best Communities for Music Education Award three years in a row

$86,307 in Arts Curricular Innovation Grants through the Distinguished Arts ProgramLearn more about our award-winning Fine Performing Arts education

Portrait of Lindsey

The young people I work with, day in and day out, not only make me a better teacher but a better person.”Lindsey Esterdahl
Fort Dorchester High School Director of Choirs
SCMEA Outstanding Young Music Educator Award

21st-Century Learning Environment

Rooted in tradition and a legacy of excellence, we prepare students to shape the future. Our 21st century learning environment includes a digital learning eco-system that empowers educators, supports students, and engages families.  

Student touching digital panel as teacher supervises

Learn more about our Educational Technology Services

Students in grades K-12 will be issued a device for use at school and home. 

More than 7,700 students are in our Career & Technology Education (CTE program)

Joseph R. Pye Elementary School is a National P21 Exemplar School by the Partnership for 21st Century Learning.

Ashley Ridge High School is recognized as a Distinguished School by PLTW, which advocates for STEM education.

Fort Dorchester High School's print shop gives students real-world professional printing experience. 

Summerville High School's Manufacturing Center provides hands-on opportunities in manufacturing, engineering, biomedical sciences, video technology and more.