CCSD Superintendent Focuses on Absenteeism and Poverty
At the October 23 State of Schools Address, Charleston County School District (CCSD) was recognized for making meaningful gains following the pandemic. Superintendent Anita Huggins emphasized that the progress is encouraging, but challenges remain.
Academic Growth and Recognition
The event celebrated CCSD’s achievement of ranking first among large urban districts in the United States on the Harvard and Stanford National Education Recovery Scorecard. This distinction reflects the district’s significant academic growth in reading and math since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“[The distinction] demonstrates that recovery and real acceleration are possible when systems align around students,” Huggins told the Moultrie News.
Huggins attributes this success to “learner-centered, data-driven instruction and strategic support for teachers and schools.” Among 8,719 districts evaluated, CCSD is part of an elite group of just over 100 districts nationally that showed improved outcomes in both reading and math in 2025, placing it in the top 1 to 2 percent.
Ongoing Challenges: Absenteeism and Poverty
Despite these achievements, Superintendent Huggins highlighted two critical issues that continue to impact student success in CCSD:
- Chronic absenteeism
- Poverty
"Chronic absenteeism and poverty remain deeply interconnected,” Huggins stated.
Addressing these challenges is essential to sustaining and building upon the district’s academic progress.
Author's Summary
CCSD has made notable academic strides post-pandemic but continues to address chronic absenteeism and poverty as key barriers to student success.