Since Carlotte Bailey joined the Charleston County School Board, District 5 has added 17 more schools rated Good or Excellent, raised starting teacher pay by over $12,000, and lifted third-grade reading scores by 10.6 points. These numbers sit at the center of the CCSD student achievement Charleston County conversation heading into the 2026 election.
North Charleston parents want to know if their schools are actually getting better. Test scores, teacher pay, and school ratings tell most of that story. Here’s what the record shows for District 5 under Carlotte Bailey.
Read more in Meet Carlotte Bailey: A Champion for District 5 Families and Schools for more details.
Who Is Carlotte Bailey?
Carlotte Bailey is a longtime Charleston County parent and Teacher’s Assistant of 16 years. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Charleston County School Board, representing District 5.
She’s also a mother of six daughters who all attended District 5 schools, a Marine Corps Reserves veteran, and a children’s minister of more than 25 years. Family and classroom experience shape how she approaches board decisions.
- Teacher’s Assistant, Charleston County School District (16 years)
- Vice Chair, Charleston County School Board
- Mother of six District 5 graduates
- U.S. Marine Corps Reserves veteran
Want to help get Carlotte re-elected on November 3rd? Sign up to volunteer with Bailey for Family — a few hours can help reach hundreds of District 5 voters.
District 5 School Ratings Improvement: What Changed Since 2022
School ratings are one of the clearest ways to track progress. In 2022, 40 schools countywide were rated Good or Excellent, about 45% of the district. By 2025, that number rose to 57 schools and programs, or 62%.
That’s a jump of 17 more schools earning strong marks. For families choosing where to enroll their kids, that shift matters more than any campaign slogan.
CCSD Student Achievement District 5: Reading Scores on the Rise
Third-grade reading is often the single number educators watch most closely, since early reading skills predict later success. In 2022, 53.9% of Charleston County third graders met or exceeded ELA expectations.
By 2025, that figure climbed to 64.5%, a gain of 10.6 percentage points. Reading gains at this age tend to carry forward into middle and high school performance.
- 2022 baseline: 53.9% of third graders met ELA expectations
- 2025 result: 64.5% of third graders met ELA expectations
- Net change: +10.6 percentage points
Ready to see what else Carlotte Bailey is working on for District 5? Explore her full platform and priorities here.
Charleston County Teacher Pay Increase: Closing the Gap
Teacher pay affects whether a district can recruit and keep good educators. In 2022, starting teacher pay in Charleston County sat around $43,000 a year.
Today, that starting figure is over $55,000, an increase of more than $12,000. Districts across South Carolina compete for the same pool of teachers, so pay increases like this help District 5 hold onto experienced staff instead of losing them to neighboring counties.
A First for District Budget Transparency
In 2025, Charleston County School District earned its first-ever national budget transparency award. No prior board had brought home that recognition.
Budget transparency isn’t flashy, but it tells parents and taxpayers exactly where school funding goes. That kind of accountability builds trust between the district and the families it serves. Read more in From 17 Schools to National Recognition: Carlotte Bailey’s Impact on District 5 for more details.
Carlotte Bailey’s First Term Accomplishments in Context
Taken together, these four data points, school ratings, reading scores, teacher pay, and budget transparency, paint a picture of steady progress rather than a single dramatic change. Carlotte Bailey’s first term accomplishments line up with priorities she’s talked about since her first campaign: supporting teachers, backing parents, and pushing for results families can actually measure.
None of this happened because of one person acting alone. A nine-member board, district staff, and thousands of teachers all played a role. Still, Bailey’s role as Vice Chair put her in the room for these decisions.
Have a question only Carlotte can answer? Call (843) 637-7123 to talk with the campaign team directly — no forms, no wait.
Carlotte Bailey School Board Results Compared to 2022
| Measure | 2022 | Now | Change |
| Schools rated Good or Excellent | 40 (45%) | 57 (62%) | +17 schools |
| Third graders meeting ELA expectations | 53.9% | 64.5% | +10.6 points |
| Starting teacher pay | ~$43,000 | $55,000+ | +$12,000+ |
| National budget transparency award | None | First in district history | New |
Source: CCSD and publicly reported district data, as compiled by the Bailey for Family campaign.
Ready to help finish what Carlotte started? Donate to Bailey for Family and help fund the final stretch before Election Day.
What’s Still Ahead for District 5
Progress on paper doesn’t mean the work is finished. Parents in North Charleston still raise concerns about classroom resources, communication from the district, and how curriculum decisions get made.
Carlotte Bailey’s stated priorities for a second term include parental transparency, continued teacher support, and open communication between families and the district. Voters in the Charleston County School Board Election 2026 will decide whether that agenda continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
1 What are Carlotte Bailey’s main priorities?
Parental rights and transparency, respect and support for teachers, open communication with families, and servant leadership on the board.
2 Who is Carlotte Bailey District 5?
A Carlotte Bailey District 5 School Board member and Vice Chair, a 16-year CCSD Teacher’s Assistant, and a District 5 School Board Candidate running for re-election.
3 When is the Charleston County School Board Election?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026. District 5 voters will choose their representative that day.
4 What has changed in District 5 since 2022?
Schools rated Good or Excellent rose by 17, third-grade reading scores rose 10.6 points, and starting teacher pay rose over $12,000.
5 How can I get involved with the campaign?
You can volunteer, attend an event, or reach out directly by phone or email listed on the campaign site.
Want to hear directly from Carlotte about what’s next for District 5? Get event details and RSVP here.
Final Thoughts
District 5’s numbers since 2022 point in one direction: more schools rated Good or Excellent, stronger third-grade reading scores, higher starting teacher pay, and a first-ever national budget transparency award. That’s the record behind the CCSD student achievement Charleston County discussion this election season.
For parents deciding who to support as a Charleston County School Board District 5 Candidate, results like these are worth weighing alongside a candidate’s classroom experience and community ties. Carlotte Bailey has spent 16 years inside CCSD classrooms and now asks voters to extend that work another term. Bailey for Family invites District 5 families to look at the numbers and decide for themselves.
Have questions about Carlotte Bailey’s plans for District 5, want to volunteer, or just want to talk with the campaign directly? Reach the Bailey for Family team at (843) 637-7123 or info@baileyforfamily.com, and someone will follow up with you personally.
