Charleston County schools plan free pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds at three North Charleston schools from fall 2027, with new attendance lines. The board votes Oct. 26.
The Charleston County School District plans to open universal pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds at three North Charleston schools in fall 2027. To make room, it wants to redraw attendance lines for several elementary schools around Park Circle and north of Interstate 526.
The school board is scheduled to vote on the plan Monday, Oct. 26, according to the district’s flyers for families. One more community meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at North Charleston Elementary.
The three sites are North Charleston Elementary, Pepperhill Elementary and Hunley Park, the district says on its North Charleston universal pre-K page.
What the district proposes
At North Charleston Elementary (Park Circle):
- early learning classes now at North Charleston Creative Arts, Dunston and Hursey would move to North Charleston Elementary
- five to seven more early learning classes would be added there
- the zones of North Charleston Elementary, North Charleston Creative Arts and Dunston would become universal for 3K and 4K
At Pepperhill Elementary:
- three to six early learning classes would be added
- Pepperhill’s zone would become universal for 3K and 4K in fall 2027
- students who live within walking distance of Pinehurst Elementary but are zoned for Pepperhill would be rezoned to Pinehurst
At Hunley Park:
- Hunley Park’s second through fifth graders move to the new Skyview school in fall 2027
- five to seven early learning classes would be added, and Hunley Park becomes an early learning center
- a building addition is proposed for fall 2029
Which schools gain and lose students
The district’s Park Circle presentation and its Pepperhill presentation project these changes. Pepperhill has two options on the table.
| School | Projected change |
|---|---|
| North Charleston Elementary | About 80 fewer zoned students and 30 fewer out-of-zone students |
| Malcolm C. Hursey Montessori | Up to 80 more students at first |
| Mary Ford Early Learning and Chicora Elementary | Up to 80 more students at first, between them |
| North Charleston Creative Arts Elementary | 14 more students in 2027-28, possibly 30 or more later |
| Pepperhill Elementary | About 146 fewer (Option 1) or about 217 fewer (Option 2) |
| Midland Park Primary and Pinehurst Elementary | About 40 more (Option 1) or about 90 more (Option 2), between them |
| Matilda F. Dunston Elementary | About 30 more |
The district says the changes would let more children walk to school. Today, some students who live within walking distance of Hursey and Pinehurst are not zoned for them, its presentation says.
Who can stay put
- Rising fifth graders at North Charleston Elementary may choose to be grandfathered in.
- Current Hursey students would stay through the end of their term there, fifth or eighth grade.
- Current Pepperhill students who are rezoned may stay through fifth grade.
- Hursey remains a majority Choice school, and its sibling priority does not change.
What could still change
The district lists several factors that affect the rollout across the county. They include voter approval of the sales tax extension for school building projects, board support for recurring operating money and construction schedules.
What it means for you
- If your child is 2 or 3 now: a free pre-K seat could open at North Charleston Elementary, Pepperhill or Hunley Park in fall 2027. Check your zone on the district’s page.
- If your child attends Pepperhill, North Charleston Elementary, Hursey, Pinehurst, Midland Park, Dunston, Chicora or Mary Ford: look at the district’s maps for your school. The proposed lines are marked in each school’s handout on the district’s page.
- To ask questions in person: go to the meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at North Charleston Elementary.
- To comment in writing: the district’s flyers give planningrealestate@charlestoncountyschools.gov.
- Before the vote: the board is scheduled to vote Monday, Oct. 26.
Our guides to North Charleston Elementary, Pepperhill Elementary, Hursey Montessori and the city’s public schools have ratings and contacts for each school.
Have your say