About Our District

The Charleston County School District (CCSD) is the second-largest school system in South Carolina representing a unique blend of urban, suburban, and rural schools that span 1,000 square miles of coastal lands. The district serves just less than 50,000 students in 85 schools and several specialized programs.  Offering a diverse, expanding portfolio of options—including neighborhood, charter, magnet, IB (international baccalaureate), and Montessori schools—and is divided into early childhood and elementary, middle, and secondary Learning Communities, each led by an associate superintendent. With approximately 6,500 employees district-wide, CCSD is the fourth largest employer in the region.

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Meet Our Superintendent, Donald Kennedy

Charleston County School District (CCSD) announces and welcomes Donald R. Kennedy, Sr. as its Superintendent of Schools effective January 3, 2022. Kennedy has served as the district’s Chief Financial and Administrative Officer on two separate occasions, first from July 2004 to September 2007, and second from January 2018 to December 2021.

Throughout his career in public service, Kennedy has supported urban education throughout the country as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Baltimore City Public Schools, CFO for Boston Public Schools, Chief Operations Officer (COO) for Bridgeport Public Schools in Connecticut, and Chief Financial and Operations Officer for Seattle Public Schools. He also serves as a volunteer peer review consultant for the Council of the Great City Schools.

Kennedy holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Newberry College and a Master of Arts in Organizational Systems Renewal from Seattle University. He is also a Certified Public Accountant. Prior to public service, he held corporate financial positions with Boeing and Science Applications International Corporation, and served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force.

Kennedy named CCSD Superintendent >>

Students are The heart heart of our work!