Homes have been built, and people have come to Summerville, in great numbers! (If you are looking for a home and curious to see the best buys in Summerville, you can see them here.) With the rise in population, more children have needed to be admitted to the school system and the Dorchester District II School system has been working overtime to accommodate the additional students.
The largest addition to Dorchester II is the new high school, Ashley Ridge High. Due to open its doors to ninth and tenth graders next year (August 2008), it will become the third high school for Dorchester District Two, following Summerville High and Fort Dorchester. I have been looking into this lately and have found some interesting information and details…
Stats on Ashley Ridge High: (Taken from Post & Courier, Dorchester District II)
School District:Dorchester District 2.
Location: S.C. Highway 165, just south of the Legend Oaks subdivision off S.C. Highway 61.
Total Square feet: 235,000.
Projected 2008 enrollment: 850 to 900 ninth- and 10th-graders.
Building capacity: 1,800 students.
Project budget: $55.4 million.
SPORTS
One of the concerns surrounding Ashley Ridge High has been the sports program. Just this month, school board members approved the decision to begin the high school with a varsity sports program in Region 6-AA. At this point, the Junior Varsity program will not be in place.“District officials said they hope the decision on varsity status would satisfy some families zoned for Ashley Ridge who are upset their children won’t get a chance to play on tradition-rich Summerville High and Fort Dorchester High athletic teams. Instead of waiting their turn at those schools, Ashley Ridge students can participate immediately in varsity sports.” (Post & Courier, October 16, 2007)
ENROLLMENT
When it opens its doors, Ashley Ridge High will serve ninth and tenth graders and plans on adding a grade each subsequent year. Current eighth graders that are zoned to go to Ashley Ridge will enter the ninth grade next year at the new school. However, current ninth graders at Summerville High School and Fort Dorchester are going to be given a choice to stay where they are, or go to Ashley Ridge. Officials are hoping that most students will be open to changing schools. This will relieve the large numbers found at the two high schools.
Kudos goes to Dorchester District II for working overtime to accomodate all of the great kids in our community. Contact me at Foster@homesofsummerville.com if you are interested in moving into an area which will allow your children to attend Ashley Ridge High School.
Website: 
Hey.
this is katelyn. i am a student at alston middle school i the 8th garde.
i have a question though.
what spaorts will you have and all that. tell me about the school more
Please visit our new school website at http://arhs.ddtwo.org
Hi Katelyn! Unfortunately, I don’t have information on the sports, however you might want to check out the website Jeff left us to find out more about Ashley Ridge as well as e-mail the staff from http://www.dorchester2.k12.sc.us/education/district/district.php?sectionid=10198
Thanks for leaving us the new website Jeff! Great to hear it’s up and running.
hi im a 8th gradr who goes to oakbrook middle school and i was wondering if you have to go to ashley ridge if you live in the bridges of summerville or can your parents take you to fort dorchester high
Hi Tommy,
I know that they are giving different options to students that would rather go to the other high schools instead of the new Ashley Ridge. However, my understanding was that those options would first go to those already enrolled in SHS and FDHS. But, I am not the authority on this! I would encourage you to visit their site http://arhs.ddtwo.org and e-mail them directly. Best of luck to you! Sincerely, Foster
why is that givhans is still going to summerville when they are closer to the new school just like club house.
Hi Ron, I don’t know the answer to your very good question, but i would check out this link for the zoning map…
http://wordpress.arhs.ddtwo.org/files/2008/01/arhs.pdf
If you still have a question, I would ask it at the Ashley Ridge website and I’m sure they’ll get back with you!
Have a great one, Foster
my eight grade student will be entering summerville hs in the fall, we live in southern magnolias off of orangeburg road. can she attend the new school if i can drive her daily? she went to dubose 6,7,8 and does not feel ready to go to a school with 4 grades and such a large population.
please let me know how to proceed.
thanks-randi barnard(mother)
HI Randi. Thanks for your comment. For your question, I’ll direct you to Ashley Ridge’s website. I think they should be able to help you with your question. Hope this helps!
http://arhs.ddtwo.org
An amazing fact: Build the schools and the people will come. This will be the deline of Dorchester County as most people know it.
That’s an interesting statement Doc. I agree that the building of more schools is allowing more people to receive quality education in Dorchester II, but I don’t think it will be our decline. I hope that more children with more talents are being invested in and will build Summerville into a stronger community. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.