Summerville Catholic School Photo

Best Dorchester County Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 11 private schools serving 2,382 students in Dorchester County, SC (there are 35 public schools, serving 30,418 public students). 7% of all K-12 students in Dorchester County, SC are educated in private schools (compared to the SC state average of 8%).
The top-ranked private schools in Dorchester County, SC include Summerville Catholic School, Dorchester Academy, and Faith Christian School & Daycare.
The average acceptance rate is 88%, which is higher than the South Carolina private school average acceptance rate of 87%.
73% of private schools in Dorchester County, SC are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Baptist).

Top-Ranked Dorchester County Private Schools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Dorchester Academy
(Christian)
234 Academy Rd
Saint George, SC 29477
(843) 563-9511
Gr: PK-12 | 374 students
Faith Christian School & Daycare
(Assembly of God)
337 Farmington Rd
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 873-8464
Gr: PK-12 | 311 students Tuition listed
Pinewood Preparatory School
Pinewood Preparatory School Photo
(7)
1114 Orangeburg Road
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 873-1643
Gr: PK-12 | 661 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 14 | Extracurrculars: 27 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Summerville Catholic School
Summerville Catholic School Photo
(Catholic)
226 Black Oak Blvd
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 873-9310
Gr: PK-8 | 264 students Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 6 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Bethany Child Development Center
Daycare / Preschool (Methodist)
118 W 3rd South St
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 821-1946
Gr: PK-K | 159 students
New Alpha Christian School
(Christian)
100 Waring St
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 225-0203
Gr: PK-7 | 47 students Tuition listed
North Charleston KinderCare
Daycare / Preschool
8730 Dorchester Rd
North Charleston, SC 29420
(843) 552-0123
Gr: NS-PK
Oakbrook Child Development Center
Daycare / Preschool
901 Travelers Blvd
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 871-3053
Gr: NS-PK | 151 students
Ridge Christian Academy
(Baptist)
(1)
2168 Ridge Church Rd
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 873-9856
Gr: PK-12 | 156 students
St. Lukes Children's Center
Daycare / Preschool (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (formerly AELC, ALC, or LCA))
206 Central Avenue
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 871-6666
Gr: PK-K | 124 students
Trinity Classical Academy
Trinity Classical Academy Photo - 2022-2023 Student Council members
(Christian)
(2)
111 Waring Street
Summerville, SC 29483
(843) 885-1081
Gr: K-8 | 135 students Avg. class size: 15 students Extracurrculars: 8 Tuition listed
[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Dorchester County, South Carolina

Dorchester County Private Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Charis Academy (Closed 2025)
Special Education School
255 Stallsville Loop
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 934-7520
Gr: 4-8 | 5 students
505 Gahagan Rd
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 875-7667
Gr: PK-8 | 175 students

Overview

This County (Dorchester County)
This State (SC)
# Schools
11 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
2,382 Students
72,892 Students
% Average Students of Color
22%
18%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
182 Teachers
6,577 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
11:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
38%
50%
Average Class Size
15 students
14 students
Average Number of AP Courses
17 courses
12 courses

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$7,834
$10,691
Average % on Financial Aid
33%
29%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$1,875
$3,642
Average Acceptance Rate
88%
87%
Average Endowment Size
$50 million
$40.39 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.60
0.57
# American Indian Students
7 Students
198 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
35 Students
1,171 Students
% Asian Students
2%
2%
# Hispanic Students
86 Students
2,053 Students
% Hispanic Students
4%
3%
# Black Students
129 Students
3,584 Students
% Black Students
5%
5%
# White Students
1,209 Students
40,584 Students
% White Students
51%
56%
# Hawaiian Students
5 Students
34 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
911 Students
24,178 Students
% of Others Students
38%
34%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
13 extracurriculars
8 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
10 sports
8 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in Dorchester County, SC?
The top-ranked private schools in Dorchester County, SC include Summerville Catholic School, Dorchester Academy, and Faith Christian School & Daycare.
How many private schools are located in Dorchester County?
11 private schools are located in Dorchester County.
How diverse are private schools in Dorchester County?
Dorchester County private schools are approximately 22% minority students, which is higher than the South Carolina private school average of 18%.
What percentage of students in Dorchester County go to private school?
7% of all K-12 students in Dorchester County are educated in private schools (compared to the SC state average of 8%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Dorchester County?
73% of private schools in Dorchester County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Baptist).
Which private schools in Dorchester County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of private schools in Dorchester County include: St. Lukes Children's Center vs. Pinewood Preparatory School

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