Lower School
In the lower school (Kindergarten–5th Grade) at Charleston Collegiate School, we build confident learners with the skills and curiosity to thrive. By the time students move from lower school to our middle school, they are joyful learners, thoughtful collaborators, and self-assured problem-solvers, fully prepared for the opportunities and challenges ahead.
In kindergarten at CCS, curiosity grows into confidence. Through a hands-on, centers-based approach, students build strong foundations in reading, writing, and math while learning through exploration and purposeful play. With intentional, research-based phonics instruction grounded in the Orton-Gillingham approach, students become confident early readers and writers while developing strong number sense and problem-solving skills. Our study of community helpers connects learning to the real world, helping students understand how individuals contribute to a thriving community.
By the end of the school year, Kindergarten students are proud readers, emerging writers, and thoughtful members of their classroom and community.
Please contact the admission office to discuss your child’s Kindergarten readiness.
In first grade at CCS, students deepen their sense of community while expanding their understanding of the world around them. Through the study of geography, culture, and service, they develop empathy and a growing awareness of their role as global citizens.
Academically, students gain independence as readers, writers, and problem-solvers. They engage with diverse literary genres, strengthen comprehension and fluency, apply evidence-based reasoning in science investigations, and deepen number sense through collaborative, real-world math experiences.
By year’s end, first grade students are confident learners who approach new challenges with curiosity, compassion, and growing independence.
In second grade at CCS, students take greater ownership of their learning through project-based experiences centered on economics, service, and community impact. Each project culminates in authentic demonstrations of learning, building both mastery and confidence.
Students navigate increasingly advanced texts, write for a variety of purposes, and refine their ability to revise and communicate clearly. In science, they apply the scientific method through hands-on investigations and immersive experiences outside of the classroom. In math, they explore multiple problem-solving strategies, building flexibility and accuracy.
By the end of the year, students demonstrate responsibility for their learning and a deeper understanding of how they can contribute meaningfully to the world around them.
In third grade at CCS, students broaden their understanding of community by exploring the geography, history, and resources of South Carolina. As they examine how natural resources shape regions and influence growth, they strengthen their ability to think critically about the connections between people and place. Field trips around the Lowcountry and guest speakers bring these studies to life.
Academically, students grow in independence and application. They study different types of literature such as poetry, letters, non-fiction, realistic fiction, and historical fiction and compose their own writing across forms, developing stronger voice and revision skills. In science, they design investigations and draw evidence-based conclusions. In math, they build multiplication fluency and apply mathematical thinking to increasingly complex problem-solving.
Throughout the year, students share their learning through research projects, persuasive writing, and oral presentations, building confidence as capable communicators and independent thinkers.
SUMMIT is a distinctive two-year program designed to guide students thoughtfully from lower school into middle school at CCS. During these pivotal years, students are given the time, structure, and support to grow academically and socially into confident, capable scholars ready for greater independence.
In fourth grade, students strengthen academic perseverance as they expand their study of community to the national level. Through an in-depth exploration of the United States and the five themes of geography, they examine what unites us as Americans while recognizing the diversity that shapes our nation. In literacy, students engage with increasingly complex texts across genres and deepen vocabulary through the study of Greek and Latin roots, building strong foundations for advanced reading and writing.
In fifth grade, students refine their intellectual independence. They read closely and compare themes across texts and examine how authors develop meaning. In mathematics, they focus deeply on fractions, decimals, and volume, strengthening conceptual understanding and precision. A yearlong study of American history culminates in a fully immersive experience in Washington, D.C., bringing their learning to life and reinforcing their readiness for the next stage of their academic journey.
By the end of SUMMIT, students are prepared not only for middle school coursework at CCS, but for the increased responsibility, leadership, and independence that lie ahead.
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