Berkeley County School District (BCSD) is creating and maintaining an excellent school system that prepares students for both current and futuristic jobs. Through the adoption of our district Work and Life Skills, the vision of BCSD is to “create a future we dare to imagine and make a positive difference” in the lives of the children we serve. In partnership with the workforce, community, and other stakeholders, our schools are committed to providing personalized and innovative learning opportunities, along with leadership development, to help students achieve their goals.
Over the past several years Berkeley County has experienced tremendous growth which has impacted the economy and school system. The district and community have worked diligently to ensure that the focus continues to be on student learning and safety, along with meeting the social emotional needs of our children and staff. It is the district’s vision to “Create a future we dare to imagine and make a positive difference” for all students in our schools.
With over 230,000 residents in 2020 and a 27.8% population increase since 2010 (177,843 residents), the Berkeley County community continues to be one of the fastest growing counties in South Carolina. The diverse student population in Berkeley parallels the continued growth in the area. Based on the 2022-2023 student enrollment data, approximately 46% are white, 27% are African American/black, 17% are Hispanic or Latino, 8% identify as two or more races, 1% are Asian, and less than 1% identify as other. Our multilingual learner population increases about 7% annually and encompasses over 61 different languages.
Berkeley County School District has over 5,200 employees. More than 62% of the certified staff hold advanced degrees and 136 educators have earned National Board Certification. The district has over 37,000 students enrolled. Students attend grades PK-12 in 47 schools (twenty-five elementary/intermediate schools, one K-8 school, eleven middle schools, one 7-12 school, seven high schools, a middle college, and one alternative program).
The district's overall yearly enrollment continues to climb, adding an average of 1,000 students to the system each school year. BCSD is excited to be opening Carolyn Lewis School, another K-8 school, in fall 2023. The rapid growth in student enrollment is attributed to a healthy growing economy. Over the past decade six Boeing facilities, Google, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Wal-Mart, W International, and other large employers have moved or expanded to the Lowcountry. In addition, major employers specific to Berkeley County such as Naval Information Warfare Center, Santee Cooper, SPAWAR, Blackbaud, the Ports Authority, Charleston International Airport, Benefitfocus, along with the medical and hospitality sectors have increased employment opportunities to meet the workforce needs in the area. Advanced manufacturing, health science, and information technology continue to increase the employment opportunities for our families; therefore, our district has added two new cybersecurity programs at two high schools.
An increased number of elementary and middle schools are incorporating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) instructional approaches that focus on solving real-world, relevant, and local challenges across all areas of the curriculum. Arts-infused programs allow students to participate in drama, creative writing, dance, music, visual arts, etc. Comprehensive career and technical education programs continue to expand and reflect the future career aspirations of students while aligning to the areas of high demand in the job market. Most importantly, systems of support have been developed that allow school-level leaders the opportunity to innovate and re-imagine school structures.
BCSD continues its OneBerkeley Connects technology initiative in which all students in grades K-12 are equipped with an electronic device for learning. As a part of this initiative, District support staff collaborate with teachers to further develop skill sets and strategies to enhance instructional experiences both in and out of the classroom. Through grant funding and a local business partnership, BCSD has acquired a mobile innovation lab, iTOW (Innovative Technology on Wheels), that provides a flexible learning environment for students and adult learners to engage with the latest technologies using work and life skills to design, create, and problem solve. As evidenced by the variety of innovative and personalized opportunities and strategies, BCSD is committed to providing our students with a premium school experience on their journey to meeting the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate.
BCSD achieved national re-accreditation status and was awarded with above average ratings in Leadership, Instruction, and Resources by Cognia. Berkeley County School District is special because of the location, diverse communities, strong businesses and residents who call Berkeley home, and the mindset to be innovative and futuristic for our children. BCSD is an influential and innovative school system that facilitates and supports student-driven learning experiences by unleashing the power and potential of education. Children are our heart and the purpose for which we come to work everyday.
We are proud to be #BCSDStrong!
