School Choice

School Choice and Homeschool in South Carolina

Private school choice programs, charter schools, homeschool rules and private schools in South Carolina. Facts as of November 2026.

Choice programs2All limited by eligibility
Charter schoolsAllowedPublic charter law
Homeschool noticeYesTesting: Varies

Private school choice programs

How they work ›

Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF)

Education savings account Limited Enacted 2023

South Carolina resident K-12 students in households at or below 500% of the federal poverty guidelines for 2026-27 (priority for returning students, active-duty families, households at or below 300%, and prior-year public school students); 15,000-student funding cap reported for 2026-27.

Created by Act 8 of 2023 (S.39, signed May 4, 2023). Award is $7,634 for 2026-27. Students may not attend their zoned public school full time or be enrolled in a homeschool association under Options 1-3. Court history and 2025 re-authorization are described only in secondary sources (unverified).

Official source

Educational Credit for Exceptional Needs Children (Exceptional SC)

Tax-credit scholarship Limited Enacted 2013 (year not confirmed)

Students with exceptional needs (IDEA-evaluated, South Carolina residents eligible for public school) attending private schools approved by the Education Oversight Committee; donors to the scholarship organization Exceptional SC receive a state tax credit, and parents may claim a separate refundable credit for tuition.

Started by budget proviso in FY2013-14 and codified by Act 247 of 2018 (as amended).

Official source

Charter schools

South Carolina has a public charter school law.

Official source

Homeschool rules

Parents choose one of three options: instruction approved by the local school district board (Option 1, with records and participation in the statewide testing program) or membership in an approved homeschool association (Options 2 and 3). The association options set their own standards instead of district approval. Check your state's law before you start.

Notice: Yes Testing: Varies

Law: S.C. Code Ann. §§ 59-65-40, 59-65-45, 59-65-47. Official source

Notes

The original program was struck down by the South Carolina Supreme Court in 2024 and a revised ESTF operates for 2025-26 and 2026-27 (the court ruling itself was not read on an official page; unverified).

Some items in a note may rest on news reports rather than an official source.

Private schools in South Carolina

The private school list will appear here after the first scheduled update.

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Sources: SC Department of Education: ESTF FAQ, SC Legislature: S.39 (Act 8 of 2023), SC Education Oversight Committee: ECENC 2025 Report, SC Department of Education: Charter School Authorizers, SC Department of Education: Home School FAQ, NCES Private School Universe Survey. State facts as of November 2026. Check your state's law before you start.