Daniel Island School in Charleston | Military Town Advisor

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	10/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2024 End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP) Tests data from South Carolina Department of Education, and using 2024 College and Career Ready Assessments (READY) data from South Carolina Department of Education.
Student Growth	7/10	The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2024 Student Growth - Elementary Level data from South Carolina Department of Education, and using 2024 Student Growth - Middle Level data from South Carolina Department of Education.

Posted: September 12, 2023

We have had at least one child in this school for the past 14 years and have had a great experience for each of our three children. The teachers are amazing and truly care about the children and their education! Parents on the whole are very engaged and supportive which also helps. Our children went on to a challenging academic high school and were well prepared after going through Daniel Island School. We are sad that this is our last year at Daniel Island School and we feel blessed to have had this school for our children!

Posted: September 12, 2023

I'm currently in eighth grade at this school and it's a great school. The teachers motivate me to learn and I look forward to coming to Daniel Island School each day. Five stars, but bullying awareness could be better.

Posted: September 12, 2023

Posted: September 16, 2022

Having worked in six different schools in BCSD and after over 35 years of education, I can easily say that the leadership, support staff, teachers and parents are deeply committed to the personal growth and success of every student. Evidence of high expectations, concern for the students' social-emotional well-being, and the drive to ensure that every child meets and exceeds their goals is present in the actions and service of every employee. They care deeply about the community and strive to make each day one filled with energy, positivity and success. The children are absolutely adorable, so well-mannered and demonstrate respect for themselves and others. Wonderful environment for learning!

Posted: September 16, 2022

Posted: April 28, 2022

Teachers are mostly great. Principal Leigh is terrible, however, and was put in place thanks to nepotism. The biggest issue with the school is actually the parents who are about as entitled as they come and think any little thing is 'bullying', but judging the school based on teacher quality, it is a good school.

Posted: April 28, 2022

Posted: November 30, 2021

This school is really bad, myself do not struggle with bullying but I see it all the time and the teachers don't do anything about it. TEACHERS STEP YOUR GAME UP

Posted: November 30, 2021

This school dose not teach the students how lucky that have it everyone is snobby and rude

Posted: November 30, 2021

Posted: April 3, 2021

We love the school. Our two kids are very happy with the teachers and school environment. The teachers are very helpful and friendly.

Posted: April 3, 2021

Posted: September 20, 2020

Us as expatriates werent sure how the move from Europe would impact our kids. Communication was great so far, and the kids love going to school here.

Posted: December 28, 2019

When I went here, from about 2009 to 2016, it was an amazing experience despite a few frustrating issues, I really enjoyed it and was so upset to leave. Most teachers were great with the exception of about 5 in the 7 years I went, and some bullying did occur, but overall, I really enjoyed it and wouldn't change the fact that I went. It was an amazing place to go to school and really helped me build confidence, build character, and values of my own. I made some great friends, DI was a lovely place to grow up.

Posted: December 28, 2019

Posted: September 4, 2019

A great school. My 2 children love it and the teachers have been very helpful. They have made alot of new friends and just love it. Moving to Daniel Island 2 years ago was the best thing we ever did and this school has been a great influence on our two children! Thank you Daniel Island School!

Posted: September 4, 2019

Posted: June 10, 2018

Verypoor communication between school and parents. Very poor response and system in place for bullying and other issues between children.

Posted: June 3, 2018

This school seems to be filled with unintelligent people. The teachers are always trying to control the students and the principals are jokes that try to get kids in trouble for no reason. I dont see how the principal, Kori Brown, could be any worse.

Posted: November 29, 2015

DIS does try to develop honesty and integrity, but without parent support, children don't model it.

Posted: November 29, 2015

Last year (2014-2015) was the first year my son had attended school. Being military, we homeschooled from preschool through 4th grade. My husband deployed last year and I could not manage homeschooling by myself. We decided to send our son to Daniel Island School. He was bullied the entire year, both physically and verbally by different children. I must say, his teachers and guidance counselor were wonderful. We had a great communicative relationship. I would report to them and they would report to me. The issue was the bullying reporting system. I suppose "minor" infractions were taken care of by the teachers, next in line by the guidance counselor, then egregious infractions went to the vice principle. There was a breakdown in communication amongst these levels. The vice principle had no idea my son had been bullied the entire year when a child who had bullied him multiple times was finally sent to see her in the spring. Reports from the teachers and guidance counselor did not reach her desk if they had been "taken care of." At the end of the year, I had a meeting with Mrs. French, all three of his teachers and his guidance counselor because of how hideous he had been treated and how the reporting system did not service him well. There were days he did not want to go to school and would cry and beg not to go. Fortunately, we moved, but I would not have sent him back regardless. I believe changes to the reporting system have taken place because of how horribly my son was treated. I've read the comments of how other children have not been bullied, but unfortunately, it does happen and it's terrible. If you start at DI in kindergarten, yay for you, you're in. If not, well, I guess you don't fit into the DI mold, especially if you aren't into sports, cheerleading, etc. I know of other students who withdrew from DI for bullying. Just know that the bullies are alive and well at DIS and some of the parents couldn't care less.

Posted: November 9, 2015

I have three kids attending DI. All three started at kindergarten.

My 7th grader has always been a small guy. He is also a certified band geek and makes good grades. He has never been bullied.

My 3rd grader has special needs. His teachers meet with me regularly to discuss his learning goals. He has come along way in the past few years and I couldn't be more proud of him. He has always been a happy kid and has never been bullied.

My youngest is in K-5 and she always comes home singing songs about manners and enjoys working with educational apps. Her reading skills are improving daily. Again, no bullies.

This has just been our personal experience at DI and I would do it all over again.

Posted: March 14, 2015

Part2: Another troubling issue would be; the band and strings program. I experienced the lack of instructions, and a feeling of hatred towards my instrument. As a result of the lack of instruction, the number of students participating in the band went from about 40, to 7. 100% of that problem being the instructor. He tries to manipulate kids into staying in his band for the next year, as most implore parents to drop out. He also advocates you to sell rotten fruit as a "fundraising" to go on field trips to places like Disney Land and Carrowinds, which never once took place. After taking private lessons on my instrument, i realized there is so much more to music than dreaded practicing and under instruction. The guy can't even explain how to play basic rhythms, let alone provide the support and positive reinforcement to become a well established musician. Daniel Island school is a prime example of why kids like myself have to come up with reasons to wake up in the morning just to be treated like 1st graders under the instruction of uneducated, insolent "teachers"

Posted: March 1, 2015

I have been a student at Daniel Island School since about second grade and now I am in eighth grade. Despite how hard as they try, and how peaceful it seems, almost everyone gets bullied someway or another. And we do have the guidance consoler to go to, but all she does is bring more people then it need to be in it. Then, you get into trouble for telling. Also, the Spanish class absolutely sucks. And not because its hard, but because a person that grew up in a Hispanic speaking home said herself that the class was teaching the wrong stuff. Finally, the food in unbearable in the cafeteria. I mean I once found a rubber band & hair in my mashed potatoes. And, whenever they serve some kind of melted cheese, they literally have to beat the spoon to get it on the plate. I mean, melted cheese is sticky, but not that sticky. Bottom line, it might look like a pretty school on the outside but on the inside is something that you would consider homeschooling as an option before that. Thank you for the time and I hope I have saved your child from what I've endured.

Posted: January 27, 2015

Our daughter has went there since 2nd grade and now she's in 7th grade. We withdrew her today due to bullying on and off the whole time she's been going there. I would report it and my daughter sent a message in the bully box and still no change. We are wanting our daughter to get the best education she can. If you don't fit in with the DI crowd, this is not the school for you or your kids.

Posted: August 16, 2014

Daniel Island School is super impressive. We moved here a year ago from the northeast and was concerned about attending a public school. The staff is lovely. The school is beautiful and clean. I cannot say enough about this educational gem for my children. A community school that continues to strive for higher education.

Posted: April 23, 2014

One of my children has attended here 5th-7th grade and my other child has gone here for Kindergarten -1st. I was very concerned about reading the bullying reviews but this school has been completely anti-bully since we arrived. They address it, have speakers, and prevention and it has never been a problem. The teachers are great at communicating, parents are involved, there is ample opportunity to be involved. The AR program is the only disappointment as it became non-existent this year. But they have other reading incentives and a Beta Club (my childs group has not done anything special for Beta yet though) Love the front office staff and teachers!

Posted: April 2, 2014

This school is terrible the 8th grade teacher team is terrible they got my son on trouble many times when he was the victim. And the teachers acted like it wasn't there fault but it was all there fault!!! It's terrible the person who bulled my son got away free but my son got in trouble when he acted in self defense against the kid who was hurting him. Guess they don't know about the stand your ground law. This school sucks!!!

Posted: November 16, 2013

My son has been going to D. I. school since he was in the 3rd grade. He is now in the 6th grade and seems really content. We were worried about all the bullying issues we were hearing about and offered to send him to a local private school, especially while in middle school. He declined...He swears he has never experienced any bullying or witnessed any bullying towards anyone else. I was a little concerned, because he is usually pretty quiet and to himself & doesn't follow the "norm". I think that the school has really started to turn the corner in a positive manner with the social aspect. The teachers seem to really care and are there for their students. Really can't complain!

Posted: April 7, 2013

Mrs. French is a bully! This school is not safe for younger children. If your children has special needs do not send them to Daniel Island School. I do not understand how anyone could send their child to this overcrowded school!

Posted: October 28, 2012

My child is in second grade at Daniel Island School She has an excellent teacher and we are very happy with her. She is very caring, yet has high expectations for her students. I really appreciate her effort to teach higher level thinking skills and creativity. My only concern is the size of the class ..26 students are too many for a 2nd grade class. This number puts a real strain on our teachers and hampers what they can do for our children.

Posted: September 25, 2012

The administration at DIS is extremely supportive of students and faculty. They value positive relationships and go out of their way to ensure the safety and best interest of each member of the school community. The teachers are dedicated to challenging students for high achievement and personal values. Rachel's Challenge has been a wonderful program implemented at DIS to encourage high moral standards and respect toward others. The guidance department is doing a great job of advocating for a safe, friendly learning environment for our students. I am honored to be a part of this learning community!

Posted: July 17, 2012

We moved to the area last summer from out of state. The staff made the transition process smooth and pleasant (we even got a lengthy personal tour around the school!) Our 2nd grader felt prepared for his first day at the new school thanks to all the staff. Our son's teacher made him comfortable and was very communicative to us about how he was settling in. The school year was good--involved parents, multiple 'Parent University' opportunities presented by the Vice-Principal (with support of the new principal), and a great neighborhood feel to the school are most notable. The new principal (enthusiastic and no-nonsense) made some changes to procedural things--which seemed good to me (but parents who were used the old way of doing things might not like the changes...) The school is big (K-8) but very focused on making a good environment for the kids, in particular undertaking some big anti-bullying efforts (winning some awards for this). I am pleased with the overall quality of the facilities and teaching staff. Of course, I wish there was more money for foreign languages, more computer time, etc. but this is a county/state issue not specific to our school.

Posted: July 6, 2012

Thank you for this websight. I am happy to receive positive news about DIS. I no longer have children in the school, but while we were there I recognized that there were some very dedicated teachers. I am happy that they now have the leadership that they and the children deserve. Good leadership is the key to unlocking all of that potential.

Posted: July 5, 2012

DIS is a fantastic school. We now have an amazing team of administrators. Thank you Mrs. French for your leadership--you lead with compassion, a high level of professional competency, and a truly student-centered approach. Daniel Island School is starting to realize its potential.

Posted: May 23, 2012

I attended a picnic today(5/24/12 for first graders. I witnessed two adult women one a nurse completely takeover a first grader's ( of color) blanket . When the child went over and stood there because there was no place to sit I told them it was her blanket. The nurse turned to the little girl and said "hank you for letting me use you blanket that is very sweet of you". The little girl went back to her grandmother . The two women left much later leaving all of there trash for others to pick up. They are a reflection of there children and vice versa. Reflection of the school? If it's on film Youtube

Posted: May 17, 2012

Mrs. French's first year at DIS has been amazing. She has tackled the Bullying problem HEAD ON! I have been very impressed by Ms. Wimmer the assistant vice principal for grades 3-5. The whole team is dedicated to arming the kids with tools to STAND UP against bullies and try to eliminate the problem. Our kids have loved the school and have not had any bullying problems. The PTA is amazing, very involved and active in raising money for our teachers. We are so fortunate to have this school in our neighborhood. It is so idyllic seeing all of the kids riding their bikes or walking to school. We wouldn't choose any place else.

Posted: August 31, 2011

We, too, made special contingencies when purchasing a home just to be in the DI district, and boy am I sorry we did. My child was bullied, taunted, teased.... NOTHING was done about it. I tried to contact the principal via email, phone call, and a personal visit, none of which were acknowledged. See comment below regarding principal leadership. Teacher quality: We did have a handful of teachers who were great, but the rest were sub-par. Principal leadership: What a joke; there is absolutely no stability. DI is currently on their 4th principal in 5 years. Parent involvement: Again, some were great, but there were a lot of really snotty volunteers, most of whom stood around doing nothing but gossiping. We had really high hopes for DIS, but they simply missed the mark. Unfortunately there are not a lot of options nearby. I would highly recommend looking into private, charter, online, or homeschooling as an option before choosing DIS.

Posted: July 2, 2011

As a student, i say this is an awful school. If there were a 0-star option, i would have clicked -100. The kids are way too aggressive, one even tried to drive a pair of scissors through my neck and wasn't in trouble even though i was yelling at him. Another peer of mine was slammed into a locker and his head was busted. The kid that did it was at school the next day, in class. On the bright side, a few of the teachers are amazing. (Thanks Ms. Karolyi!) I'm moving to PSA next year along with my friends to 1.- be challenged, 2.- have more fun, and 3.- not be threatened and/or hit/bullied. The school is small, yet excellent. I have personally spoken to the principal, and he said there wasn't a bully in sight. DIS- one star for good teachers

Posted: May 29, 2011

We moved here for this school and after three years will have pulled all our children out. The lower elem. grades are fine and have some great teachers throughout the school. The middle school grades are where the real problems are found. The attitude of entitlement from some students, along with the bullying that is swept under the rug is to much to ignore. We reported the multi. bullying problems but nothing happened even though a new program was supposed to be put into place. Things are still happening just like last year and the year before and the year before that year. The school is still fairly new (open 4yrs) but going to be looking for the 4th principal. So what does this tell you about how things are going at this school?? Why do so many of the good teachers leave every year??

Posted: February 15, 2011

Bullying got out of hand for my child at this school. The staff/admin were quick to respond, but it didn't keep the problem from happening again. And again. And again. My children attend elsewhere now and there is no more bullying. Also, a great or even good teacher is hit-or-miss.

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	Mt Pleasant	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Mount Pleasant	SC	4.7 mi
2	Ibis Glade in Tanner Plantation	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Hanahan	SC	8.9 mi
3	St James Estates	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Goose Creek	SC	9.7 mi
4	Village Green	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Charleston	SC	9.9 mi
5	Longleaf	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Goose Creek	SC	11.7 mi
6	Indigo Fields	Neighborhood/Subdivision	North Charleston	SC	12.2 mi
7	Brickhope Plantation	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Goose Creek	SC	13.4 mi
8	Coventry Green	Apartment Complex	Goose Creek	SC	14.8 mi
9	Wescott Plantation	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Summerville	SC	15.3 mi
10	Tranquil Acres	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Ladson	SC	16.1 mi
11	Summerville Place	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Ladson	SC	16.2 mi
12	Summerville Place	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Summerville	SC	16.4 mi
13	Cane Bay Plantation	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Summerville	SC	21.7 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	Mount Pleasant	Mount Pleasant	SC	4.8 mi
2	Naval Weapons Station Charleston	Goose Creek	SC	7.8 mi
3	West Ashley	Charleston	SC	9.3 mi
4	Downtown	Summerville	SC	19.4 mi
5	Summerville, SC	Summerville	SC	19.4 mi

Base	Distance
Coast Guard Charleston	5.5 mi.
Charleston AFB	8.4 mi.
Charleston Naval Weapons Station	10.9 mi.

Daniel Island School

Charleston, SC 29492

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Daniel Island School

Charleston, SC 29492

School Ratings

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