Charleston County School District was recognized on May 6 as one of twelve school districts nationwide highlighted by the Center for Public Research and Leadership at Columbia University. The district is featured in a new project, “All Systems Go: How Shared, High-Quality Curriculums are Helping School Districts Reach Higher, Together,” which spotlights districts that have achieved notable improvements in reading and math after adopting high-quality curriculums and connected instructional systems.
The recognition is significant because it affirms the district’s approach to building sustainable educational systems that support both educators and students. The project includes interviews with leaders, educators, and families from Charleston County School District as well as other selected districts across the country.
“Being recognized in this national study affirms the intentional, long-term work happening across Charleston County School District,” said Superintendent Anita Huggins. “We have been committed to building strong, sustainable systems that support our educators every day, because we know that investing in our people is the most powerful way to improve outcomes for students. This recognition reflects the dedication of our teachers, leaders, and staff who are focused on delivering high-quality instruction in every classroom and ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed.”
The case study featuring Charleston County is titled “Built to Last: How Charleston County Schools prioritized durability over speed to improve student outcomes.” It details how the district focused on creating lasting systems rather than short-term initiatives. From 2019 to 2025, fifth graders meeting or exceeding expectations grew by 24 percentage points in English Language Arts and by 11.6 percentage points in math according to state assessments. Alisha Watts Burr, Managing Director at Leading Educators—a professional learning partner of CCSD—said: “It was pretty clear from the start: you have this huge lever of staff that if you invest in them and develop them, they have the potential to do really amazing things.”
The broader project features a series of case studies culminating with a final report scheduled for release on May 19. Elizabeth Chu, Executive Director of CPRL at Columbia University said: “The districts featured in ‘All Systems Go’ show that gap-closing growth in literacy and math is possible and provide a roadmap on what it can look like in practice. Our aim is that other districts will learn from the successes in service of great educational experiences for all kids, everywhere.”
The research behind this initiative was funded by organizations including the Gates Foundation.
