Orange Grove Charter School, Charleston SC

Original Research by School Decision on Orange Grove Charter School

Orange Grove Charter School is a public charter school in Charleston, South Carolina, serving students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. It operates within the Charleston 01 school district but functions as its own independent school. Because the school ends at eighth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. The charter structure means enrollment is by application, not by neighborhood attendance zone.

Academically, Orange Grove delivers strong results across its tested grades and subjects. In both reading and math, the proportion of students scoring at proficient or above on the state’s SC Ready assessments is well above what one typically sees. This pattern holds consistently from third grade through seventh grade, with particularly high marks in the elementary years. Science results for fourth and sixth graders also reflect strong performance. A parent considering this school can expect a student body that, on the whole, meets or exceeds grade-level standards by a wide margin through the end of middle school.

There is one area a parent may want to explore further. In eighth-grade math, the proficiency rate drops noticeably compared to the earlier grades. While still above average in a national context, it represents a clear step down from the steep results in third through seventh grades. This could reflect a more challenging curriculum, a change in student population, or something else entirely. A conversation with the school about how it supports eighth graders in math would be a sensible step.

Social studies data is available only from several years ago and used a different test, so it offers little for a current assessment. The state testing program has undergone changes in recent years, including adjustments to cut scores in reading and science, which makes direct year-over-year comparisons uncertain. Still, the single-year snapshot is strong enough to give a clear picture of a school performing at a high level.

The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Black, Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial students. About a fifth of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a rate that is low compared to many public schools nationally. This economic context matters because the school serves a community where housing costs are high. The typical home value in the area is well above the national median, and rents are similarly elevated. Charleston itself is a city built on tourism, the port, aerospace, and a growing technology sector, and its historic downtown and coastal appeal draw families with means. The school’s demographic profile reflects that.

Orange Grove is a regular charter school, not a magnet or alternative program. Data on discipline, chronic absenteeism, staffing, and special education services was not available in the records provided. A parent may want to ask the school directly about these areas, as they can shape the day-to-day experience.

No recent district-level changes of parent relevance were found in publicly available sources, so there is no new bond, curriculum overhaul, or rezoning to consider.

For families looking for a PK-8 charter option with a record of strong academic performance through middle school, particularly in elementary grades, Orange Grove presents a consistent and well-regarded choice. The drop in eighth-grade math is the main question mark worth investigating. Otherwise, the available evidence points to a school where most students are meeting high academic expectations in a stable, resource-rich community setting.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 391%

School 91% · District 63% · ▲ 28 pts above district

▲ 38 pts above state median · ▲ 36 pts above county median

Grade 487%

School 87% · District 60% · ▲ 28 pts above district

▲ 37 pts above state median · ▲ 39 pts above county median

Grade 583%

School 83% · District 57% · ▲ 26 pts above district

▲ 38 pts above state median · ▲ 42 pts above county median

Grade 678%

School 78% · District 49% · ▲ 29 pts above district

▲ 44 pts above state median · ▲ 45 pts above county median

Grade 778%

School 78% · District 49% · ▲ 29 pts above district

▲ 50 pts above state median · ▲ 51 pts above county median

Grade 854%

School 54% · District 45% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▲ 28 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 391%

School 91% · District 65% · ▲ 26 pts above district

▲ 32 pts above state median · ▲ 28 pts above county median

Grade 489%

School 89% · District 66% · ▲ 23 pts above district

▲ 27 pts above state median · ▲ 26 pts above county median

Grade 585%

School 85% · District 67% · ▲ 18 pts above district

▲ 25 pts above state median · ▲ 30 pts above county median

Grade 680%

School 80% · District 63% · ▲ 17 pts above district

▲ 27 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

Grade 789%

School 89% · District 65% · ▲ 24 pts above district

▲ 33 pts above state median · ▲ 32 pts above county median

Grade 883%

School 83% · District 64% · ▲ 19 pts above district

▲ 29 pts above state median · ▲ 18 pts above county median

Science

Grade 482%

School 82% · District 54% · ▲ 28 pts above district

▲ 37 pts above state median · ▲ 38 pts above county median

Grade 675%

School 75% · District 55% · ▲ 20 pts above district

▲ 31 pts above state median · ▲ 28 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 592%

School 92% · District 68% · ▲ 24 pts above district

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 28 pts above county median

Grade 792%

School 92% · District 68% · ▲ 24 pts above district

▲ 27 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

This schoolCharleston 01, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income75%Higher-income97%22 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income75%Higher-income94%19 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income68%Higher-income90%22 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income50%Higher-income89%39 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income75%Higher-income93%18 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income70%Higher-income86%16 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income81%Higher-income95%14 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income67%Higher-income95%28 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income64%Higher-income88%24 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income43%Higher-income89%46 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income58%Higher-income82%24 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income39%Higher-income58%19 pp gap