Top 10 Best Beaufort County Public Schools (2024-25)

For the 2024-25 school year, there are 33 public schools serving 21,814 students in Beaufort County, SC (there are 16 private schools, serving 3,328 private students). 87% of all K-12 students in Beaufort County, SC are educated in public schools (compared to the SC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in Beaufort County, SC are Bluffton High School, May River High School and Coosa Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Beaufort County, SC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 44% (versus the South Carolina public school average of 41%), and reading proficiency score of 53% (versus the 52% statewide average). Schools in Beaufort County have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of South Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 62% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the South Carolina public school average of 52% (majority Black).

Best Public Schools in Beaufort County (2024-25)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Bluffton High School
Magnet School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
12 H. E. Mccracken Circle
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 706-8800
Grades: 9-12
| 1,350 students
Rank: #22.
May River High School
Magnet School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
601 New Riverside Road
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 836-4900
Grades: 9-12
| 1,601 students
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Coosa Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
45 Middle Road
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 322-6100
Grades: PK-5
| 461 students
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Whale Branch Early College High School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
169 Detour Road
Seabrook, SC 29940
(843) 466-2700
Grades: 9-12
| 476 students
Rank: #55.
Hilton Head Island High School
Magnet School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
70 Wilborn Road
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 689-4800
Grades: 9-12
| 1,345 students
Rank: #66.
Okatie Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
53 Cherry Point Road
Okatie, SC 29909
(843) 322-7700
Grades: PK-5
| 609 students
Rank: #77.
Beaufort High School
Magnet School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
84 Sea Island Parkway
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 302-2000
Grades: 9-12
| 1,191 students
Rank: #88.
River Ridge Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3050 River Ridge Drive
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 836-4600
Grades: PK-8
| 1,120 students
Rank: #99.
Pritchardville Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
9447 Evan Way
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 707-0500
Grades: PK-5
| 1,005 students
Rank: #1010.
Red Cedar Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
10 Box Elder Street
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 707-0600
Grades: PK-5
| 601 students
Rank: #1111.
Battery Creek High School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1 Blue Dolphin Drive
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-5500
Grades: 9-12
| 788 students
Rank: #1212.
Riverview Charter School
Magnet School
Charter School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
81 Savannah Highway
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 379-0133
Grades: K-8
| 703 students
Rank: #1313.
Bluffton Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
160 H.e. Mccracken Circle
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 706-8500
Grades: PK-5
| 696 students
Rank: #1414.
H. E. Mccracken Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
250 H. E. Mccracken Circle
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 706-8700
Grades: 6-8
| 889 students
Rank: #1515.
Michael C. Riley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
200 Burnt Church Road
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 706-8300
Grades: PK-5
| 772 students
Rank: #1616.
Hilton Head Island Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
30 School Road
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 342-4100
Grades: 1-5
| 709 students
Rank: #1717.
Beaufort Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1800 Prince Street
Beaufort, SC 29902
(843) 322-2600
Grades: PK-5
| 357 students
Rank: #1818.
Bluffton Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
30 New Mustang Road
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 707-0700
Grades: 6-8
| 872 students
Rank: #1919.
Port Royal Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1214 Paris Avenue
Port Royal, SC 29935
(843) 322-0834
Grades: PK-5
| 169 students
Rank: #20 - 2120. - 21.
Broad River Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
474 Broad River Road
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-8400
Grades: PK-5
| 455 students
Rank: #20 - 2120. - 21.
Mossy Oaks Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2510 Mossy Oaks Road
Beaufort, SC 29902
(843) 322-2900
Grades: PK-5
| 352 students
Rank: #2222.
Hilton Head Island School For The Creative Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
10 Bus Drive
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 342-4380
Grades: PK-5
| 556 students
Rank: #2323.
Hilton Head Island Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
55 Wilborn Road
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 689-4500
Grades: 6-8
| 856 students
Rank: #2424.
Lady's Island Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
73 Chowan Creek Bluff
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 322-2240
Grades: PK-5
| 227 students
Rank: #2525.
Lowcountry Montessori School
Magnet School
Charter School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
749 Broad River Drive
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-0577
Grades: PK-12
| 375 students
Rank: #2626.
Lady's Island Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
30 Cougar Drive
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 322-3167
Grades: 6-8
| 434 students
Rank: #2727.
Beaufort Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 18% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2501 Mossy Oaks Boulevard
Beaufort, SC 29902
(843) 322-5700
Grades: 6-8
| 384 students
Rank: #2828.
St. Helena Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1025 Sea Island Parkway
Saint Helena Island, SC 29920
(843) 838-0300
Grades: PK-5
| 347 students
Rank: #2929.
Robert Smalls International Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
43 W. K. Alston Drive
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-2500
Grades: PK-8
| 685 students
Rank: #3030.
Joseph S. Shanklin Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
121 Morrall Drive
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 466-3400
Grades: PK-5
| 427 students
Rank: #3131.
Whale Branch Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2009 Trask Parkway
Sheldon, SC 29941
(843) 466-3000
Grades: 5-8
| 331 students
Rank: #3232.
Whale Branch Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
15 Stuart Point Road
Sheldon, SC 29941
(843) 466-1000
Grades: PK-4
| 371 students
Rank: n/an/a
165 Pembroke Drive
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 689-0400
Grades: PK-K
| 300 students
[+] Show Closed Public Schools in Beaufort County, SC

Beaufort County Public Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Grades
Students
2 Albacore St.
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 846-9283
Grades: 3-8
| n/a students
22 Old Haig Point Rd
Daufuskie Island, SC 29915
(843) 842-1251
Grades: PK-5
| 17 students
10 Wilborn Rd.
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 689-7450
Grades: PK-5
| 2,023 students
2900 Mink Point Blvd
Beaufort, SC 29902
(843) 322-0733
Grades: 6-12
| 68 students
364 Kean Neck Rd
Seabrook, SC 29940
(843) 466-3600
Grades: PK-K
| 171 students
345 Elliott Dr
Beaufort, SC 29906
(912) 408-3380
Grades: PK-2
| n/a students
221 E. Cardinal Lane
Beaufort, SC 29906
(912) 369-6691
Grades: PK-2
| n/a students
81 Savannah Hwy
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-2825
Grades: PK-5
| 379 students

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked public schools in Beaufort County, SC?
The top ranked public schools in Beaufort County, SC include Bluffton High School, May River High School and Coosa Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Beaufort County?
33 public schools are located in Beaufort County.
What percentage of students in Beaufort County go to public school?
87% of all K-12 students in Beaufort County are educated in public schools (compared to the SC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Beaufort County?
Beaufort County public schools minority enrollment is 62% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the South Carolina public schools average of 52% (majority Black).
Which public schools in Beaufort County are often viewed compared to one another?

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