For the 2025 school year, there are 19 public preschools serving 9,968 students in Beaufort County, SC.
The top ranked public preschools in Beaufort County, SC are Coosa Elementary School, Okatie Elementary School and River Ridge Academy. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Beaufort County, SC public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 45% (versus the South Carolina public pre school average of 45%), and reading proficiency score of 49% (versus the 48% statewide average). Pre schools in Beaufort County have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of South Carolina public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 64% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the South Carolina public preschool average of 54% (majority Black).
Best Public Preschools in Beaufort County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Coosa Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
45 Middle Road
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 322-6100
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 322-6100
Grades: PK-5
| 449 students
Rank: #22.
Okatie Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
53 Cherry Point Road
Okatie, SC 29909
(843) 322-7700
Okatie, SC 29909
(843) 322-7700
Grades: PK-5
| 599 students
Rank: #33.
River Ridge Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3050 River Ridge Drive
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 836-4600
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 836-4600
Grades: PK-8
| 1,138 students
Rank: #44.
Pritchardville Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
9447 Evan Way
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 707-0500
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 707-0500
Grades: PK-5
| 939 students
Rank: #55.
Red Cedar Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
10 Box Elder Street
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 707-0600
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 707-0600
Grades: PK-5
| 643 students
Rank: #66.
Bluffton Elementary School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
160 H.e. Mccracken Circle
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 706-8500
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 706-8500
Grades: PK-5
| 714 students
Rank: #77.
Michael C. Riley Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
200 Burnt Church Road
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 706-8300
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 706-8300
Grades: PK-5
| 718 students
Rank: #88.
Beaufort Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1800 Prince Street
Beaufort, SC 29902
(843) 322-2600
Beaufort, SC 29902
(843) 322-2600
Grades: PK-5
| 376 students
Rank: #99.
Port Royal Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1214 Paris Avenue
Port Royal, SC 29935
(843) 322-0834
Port Royal, SC 29935
(843) 322-0834
Grades: PK-5
| 192 students
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Broad River Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
474 Broad River Road
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-8400
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-8400
Grades: PK-5
| 460 students
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Mossy Oaks Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2510 Mossy Oaks Road
Beaufort, SC 29902
(843) 322-2900
Beaufort, SC 29902
(843) 322-2900
Grades: PK-5
| 365 students
Rank: #1212.
Hilton Head Island School For The Creative Arts
(Math: 39% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
10 Bus Drive
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 342-4380
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 342-4380
Grades: PK-5
| 528 students
Rank: #1313.
Lady's Island Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
73 Chowan Creek Bluff
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 322-2240
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 322-2240
Grades: PK-5
| 250 students
Rank: #1414.
Lowcountry Montessori School
Charter School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
749 Broad River Drive
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-0577
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-0577
Grades: PK-12
| 388 students
Rank: #1515.
St. Helena Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1025 Sea Island Parkway
Saint Helena Island, SC 29920
(843) 838-0300
Saint Helena Island, SC 29920
(843) 838-0300
Grades: PK-5
| 326 students
Rank: #1616.
Robert Smalls Leadership Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
43 W. K. Alston Drive
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-2500
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-2500
Grades: PK-8
| 729 students
Rank: #1717.
Joseph S. Shanklin Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
121 Morrall Drive
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 466-3400
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 466-3400
Grades: PK-5
| 427 students
Rank: #1818.
Whale Branch Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
15 Stuart Point Road
Sheldon, SC 29941
(843) 466-1000
Sheldon, SC 29941
(843) 466-1000
Grades: PK-5
| 400 students
Rank: n/an/a
165 Pembroke Drive
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 689-0400
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 689-0400
Grades: PK-K
| 327 students
Beaufort County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
2 Albacore St.
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 846-9283
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 846-9283
Grades: 3-8
| n/a students
22 Old Haig Point Rd
Daufuskie Island, SC 29915
(843) 842-1251
Daufuskie Island, SC 29915
(843) 842-1251
Grades: PK-5
| 17 students
10 Wilborn Rd.
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 689-7450
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 689-7450
Grades: PK-5
| 2,023 students
2900 Mink Point Blvd
Beaufort, SC 29902
(843) 322-0733
Beaufort, SC 29902
(843) 322-0733
Grades: 6-12
| 68 students
364 Kean Neck Rd
Seabrook, SC 29940
(843) 466-3600
Seabrook, SC 29940
(843) 466-3600
Grades: PK-K
| 171 students
345 Elliott Dr
Beaufort, SC 29906
(912) 408-3380
Beaufort, SC 29906
(912) 408-3380
Grades: PK-2
| n/a students
221 E. Cardinal Lane
Beaufort, SC 29906
(912) 369-6691
Beaufort, SC 29906
(912) 369-6691
Grades: PK-2
| n/a students
81 Savannah Hwy
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-2825
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-2825
Grades: PK-5
| 379 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public preschools in Beaufort County, SC?
The top ranked public preschools in Beaufort County, SC include Coosa Elementary School, Okatie Elementary School and River Ridge Academy.
How many public preschools are located in Beaufort County?
19 public preschools are located in Beaufort County.
What is the racial composition of students in Beaufort County?
Beaufort County public preschools minority enrollment is 64% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the South Carolina public preschools average of 54% (majority Black).
Which public preschools in Beaufort County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Beaufort County include: Robert Smalls Leadership Academy vs. Broad River Elementary School, Lady's Island Elementary School vs. Coosa Elementary School, Hilton Head Island Early Childhood Center vs. Hilton Head Island School For The Creative Arts
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