Track Every Dollar · South Carolina

Charleston County School District

Every dollar this school system reported for the 2023-24 school year: where it came from and where it went.

Where the money comes from

Select federal, state or local to see every line.

Federal $179 million13.3%
  • All other federal money$108 million60.4%
  • School meals$28.1 million15.7%
  • Title I: schools with many low-income families$23.6 million13.2%
  • Special education (IDEA)$12.7 million7.1%
  • Teacher and principal training (Title II)$2.0 million1.1%
  • Student support and enrichment (Title IV-A)$1.7 million0.9%
  • After-school programs (21st Century)$1.6 million0.9%
  • Career and technical education$781,0000.4%
  • English learners (Title III)$341,0000.2%
  • Impact Aid$112,000under 0.1%

Inside the federal total: $89.8 million of pandemic relief (ESSER and related funds), which ended in 2024.

State $312 million23.1%
  • All other state money$153 million49.1%
  • General formula aid$111 million35.6%
  • Staff improvement$24.0 million7.7%
  • Paid by the state for the district (benefits and other costs)$16.7 million5.4%
  • Transportation$4.3 million1.4%
  • Compensatory and basic skills programs$2.4 million0.8%
  • Special education$183,000under 0.1%
Local $860 million63.7%
  • Property taxes$591 million68.8%
  • Other local taxes (sales, utility, income)$161 million18.7%
  • Interest, rents, donations and other$63.0 million7.3%
  • Tuition, fees, meals and other charges$24.4 million2.8%
  • From cities and counties$19.8 million2.3%

Where it goes

  • Teaching (instruction)$480 million39.3%
  • Support services Details$393 million32.2%
    • Running and maintaining buildings$101 million25.6%
    • Teacher support: curriculum, training, libraries$81.0 million20.6%
    • School administration: principals' offices$63.8 million16.2%
    • Student support: attendance, guidance, health and psychological services$63.4 million16.1%
    • Business office and central services$38.7 million9.8%
    • Student transportation$29.8 million7.6%
    • Other support services and benefits paid by the state$11.2 million2.9%
    • District administration: the board and superintendent's office$4.8 million1.2%
  • Buildings and equipment Details$241 million19.8%

    Of this, construction: $235 million.

  • Food service and other$44.2 million3.6%
  • Interest on debt$22.7 million1.9%
  • Community services and adult education$19.3 million1.6%
  • Payments to state and local governments$752,000under 0.1%
  • Payments to other school districts$18.4 million1.5%

Inside these totals: $484 million in salaries and wages, $203 million in employee benefits. Long-term debt at year end: $775 million.

The record

Day-to-day spending per student is current spending (teaching, support and food service) divided by fall enrollment (50,400). Amounts are reported by the school system to the U.S. Census Bureau. Census ID 118585, NCES ID 4501440.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finances: Fiscal Year 2024. School year 2023-24. census.gov the data file

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