Park Circle Schools

Park Circle Schools - The Ultimate Park Circle School Guide

Park Circle Schools - The Ultimate Park Circle School Guide

Park Circle Schools – The Ultimate Park Circle Public School Guide

Park Circle is a great place to raise children, but one thing every parent should know is once your child gets to school age, what are your public school options? When choosing a place to live in Park Circle, you definitely want to be knowledgeable about everything there is to know about the area, including what school the area is zoned for. If schools are important to you, then you’ve come to the right place! Below, I will list each of the schools located in Park Circle, what area they are zoned for, the differences between Neighborhood, Magnet, Partial Magnet, Charter, and Montessori, plus more importantly how you can get your child enrolled!

Typically, each school-aged child in Charleston County is assigned to a neighborhood school based on grade level and home address. The Charleston County School District offers specialized programs, magnets, and charter schools that parents and children can choose from so if you are in one zone, but wish to attend a school in another zone, it is possible, but for the most accurate information on “School Choice” visit the Charleston County School District website.

The first thing to understand is the types of schools North Charleston has to offer.

Neighborhood/Traditional
These are public schools that are state-funded and open to all South Carolina resident students. Students that are assigned to the school are determined by a geographic zone that is closest to their home. If you are zoned for this school, then there is no additional cost to attend other than what you pay in property taxes and perhaps an annual registration fee. Free transportation via school bus is typically provided to and from the school.

Countywide Magnet/Constituent District Magnet/Partial Magnet
Magnet schools are open to all students in Charleston County. They are considered a “choice option” where students can apply to attend, but they may or may not be accepted to attend. Magnet schools encourage a more diverse student body which has been proven to promote higher social learning.

Countywide Magnet

  • All students residing in Charleston County are eligible to apply.
  • There is no attendance zone.

Constituent District Magnet

  • The school has a focus or theme.
  • Most constituent magnets have defined attendance zones. Additional seats are allocated to students living outside the attendance zone but within the constituent district.

Partial Magnet

  • The school has a focus or theme and a defined attendance zone.
  • In addition, a specific number of seats are allocated to students who live outside the attendance zone but who still reside in Charleston County.

The similarities between all Magnet schools are that they often have a particular theme associated with them, ie. Arts, Science, Technology, Math. Most of these schools have waiting lists to attend.

Charter
Charter schools are a type of public school, with a few exceptions. Unlike neighborhood and magnet schools, charter schools do not have any specific admissions requirements other than to be a resident of South Carolina.

Charter Schools aren’t publicly funded so there are no buses to shuttle your kids to and from school, plus one other distinct difference is that instead of a district school board, a Charter school has an elected board that is responsible for making decisions and changes to policy.

The types of themes common to Charter schools are usually based on themes like environmental studies, or language immersion and even Montessori programming.

Montessori
Otherwise known as the “Montessori method,” which is an educational approach that is child-centered, and includes self-directed activity and hands-on learning. This method of schooling allows children to make creative choices in how they would like to learn. Both the teacher and the classroom serve as guides for the students to work in groups and individually in an exploratory way so that they learn in a more creative way.

Let’s move forward with the schools available to those who live in Park Circle and where they are zoned for:

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Park Circle Schools - The Ultimate Park Circle School Guide

1) North Charleston Creative Arts Elementary
Address: 5200 Lackawanna Blvd. North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 529-2831
Map Zone Color: Red
Grades: Early Childhood – 5th
Type of School: Partial Magnet

2) Malcolm C. Hursey Elementary School
Address: 4542 Simms St. North Charleston, SC 29406
Phone: (843) 745-7105
Map Zone Color: Purple
Grades: Primary Montessori (ages 3, 4, and 5) – 8th
Type of School: 
Partial Magnet

3) North Charleston Elementary School
Address: 4921 Durant Ave. North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 745-7107
Map Zone Color: Green
Grades: Child Development – 5th
Type of School: 
Neighborhood

MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Park Circle Schools - Ultimate Park Circle School Guide - Middle School
1) Morningside Middle School
Address: 1999 Singley Lane North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 745-2000
Map Zone Color: Blue
Grades: 6 – 8th
Type of School: Neighborhood – Single-Gender (Partial)

2) School of the Arts
Address: 5109-B West Enterprise St. North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 529-4990
Grades: 6th – 12th
Type of School: County Wide Magnet (Apply to attend)

3) Malcolm C. Hursey Middle School
Address: 4542 Simms St. North Charleston, SC 29406
Phone: (843) 745-7105
Grades: 6 – 8th
Type of School: 
Partial Magnet

High Schools
Park Circle Schools - Ultimate Park Circle School Guide - High Schools

1) North Charleston High School
Address: 1087 E. Montague Ave. North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 745-7140
Map Zone Color: Purple
Grades: 9 – 12
Type of School: 
Neighborhood

2) School of the Arts
Address: 5109-B West Enterprise St. North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 529-4990
Grades: 6th – 12th
Type of School: County Wide Magnet (Apply to attend)

3) Academic Magnet High School
Address: 5109-A West Enterprise St. North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone:
 (843) 746-1300
Grades: 9 – 12
Type of School: 
County Wide Magnet (Apply to attend)

REGISTERING YOUR CHILD TO ATTEND A SCHOOL
To register to attend any of these schools, you must go through the Charleston County School District registration page here.  There you will find helpful information on how to register your child if they are just starting or if they are returning for another year.

If you have questions concerning the online process, please contact the school for which you plan to register. If you do not know which school to contact or have general questions, contact the:

Department of Operational Planning: 843-746-7469 or 843-746-7470
Elementary Learning Community: 843-937-6401
Middle and Secondary/Post-Secondary Learning Communities: 843-937-6513

Alternative Options for Schooling are also available:

Palmetto Scholars Academy – Charter School
Address: 7499 Dorchester Road North Charleston, SC 29418
Phone: (843) 300-4118
Grades: 6 – 12.
PSA was formed by a group of parents and educators seeking a unique educational experience for high ability students.

Saint John Catholic School
Address: 3921 St Johns Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 744-3901
Saint John Catholic School welcomes children of all faiths, talents, and abilities in Grade K4 through Grade 8 who desire a Christian education in the Catholic tradition.

Charleston Bilingual Academy
Address: 5032 Lackawanna Blvd. North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843) 779-2472
Christ-centered, Spanish Immersion preschool, and summer camp. Ages 1-K.  Options of 2, 3 or 5 mornings a week.

Private Schools
Visit the South Carolina Independent School Association to see their member schools.

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