Public Schools in Mount Pleasant SC: A Driving Force in Home Prices

Mount Pleasant, South Carolina has the best public schools in all of Charleston.  In fact, this area has very few private schools compared to the other Charleston areas simply because most of its residents send their children to the public schools.  You’ll find a wide range of academic activities and clubs, including theater, film, computer science, chess, astronomy, and sailing clubs.  The Mount Pleasant schools also have a great athletic program – especially the high school, which is the home of the Wando Warriors.  In addition to the usual football, tennis, cross country, volleyball, basketball, softball, baseball, cheerleading, track and field, swimming, wrestling, and soccer, the high school has other sports that are growing in popularity in public schools (like lacrosse and golf).

As you look through MLS reports, you’ll see which elementary, middle, and high school the home is zoned for.  In many of the other areas of Charleston, some schools are avoided because of low test scores, etc.  However, this is not a concern in Mt. Pleasant because all of the schools are quite good.  Mount Pleasant has one high school, and it has received the S.C. School Report Card’s highest rating possible for the past five years.  I’ve included some more specific information below for the elementary and middle schools so that you can keep it in mind when comparing homes. 

Mt. Pleasant has five elementary schools.  Belle Hall, located on Egypt Road, has a total of almost 800 students and has received the highest rating (Excellent) for the past five years on the South Carolina School Report Card.  Charles Pinckney is the largest elementary school in Mount Pleasant, with just under 1,000 students.  It is located just past the Highway 41 junction in Mt. Pleasant and has also received all Excellent ratings for the past five years.  Jennie Moore is a Magnet school.  However, it is one of three elementary schools to not have the highest rating possible every year for the past five years.  In 2008, it received a rating of Good, which is second best in the S.C. School Report Card.  Jennie Moore’s student population is just under 700 students.  James B. Edwards is located on Von Kolnitz Boulevard, which is just over the Ravenel Bridge from downtown Charleston.  Like Jennie Moore, James Edwards also received a rating of Good for 2008.  Additionally, it is about the same size as Jennie Moore.  Mamie P. Whitesides is on Rifle Range Road, located just minutes from downtown Charleston.  Mamie Whitesides is the smallest elementary school in Mt. Pleasant, with a student population of about 600.  It received an Excellent rating in four of the past five years (in 2007, it received a rating of Good).

You’ll find three public middle schools in Mount Pleasant.  Moultrie is located just over the Ravenel Bridge and is a brand new school.  It has about 900 students.  Although it received a rating of Excellent in 2004 and 2005, it has been rated as Good for the past three years.  Thomas C. Cario has just over 1200 students and has identical ratings as Moultrie.  Laing is by far the smallest of the three middle schools, with a student population of about 500.  Laing is a Science and Technology Magnet school.  However, it has the lowest ratings of any Mt. Pleasant school.  It was rated Good from 2004 to 2006 and then Average (which is a step lower) for 2007 and 2008.