For the 2026 school year, there are 35 public schools serving 21,877 students in Beaufort County, SC (there are 15 private schools, serving 3,310 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 Whale Branch Early College High 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 43%), and reading proficiency score of 53% (versus the 52% statewide average). Schools in Beaufort County have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% 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 54% (majority Black).
Best Public Schools in Beaufort County (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Bluffton High School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
12 H. E. Mccracken Circle
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 706-8800
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 706-8800
Gr: 9-12 | 1,375 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #22.
May River High School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
601 New Riverside Road
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 836-4900
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 836-4900
Gr: 9-12 | 1,731 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #33.
Whale Branch Early College High School
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
169 Detour Road
Seabrook, SC 29940
(843) 466-2700
Seabrook, SC 29940
(843) 466-2700
Gr: 9-12 | 390 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #44.
Hilton Head Island High School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
70 Wilborn Road
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 689-4800
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 689-4800
Gr: 9-12 | 1,265 student Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #55.
Coosa Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
45 Middle Road
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 322-6100
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 322-6100
Gr: PK-5 | 467 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #66.
Okatie Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
53 Cherry Point Road
Okatie, SC 29909
(843) 322-7700
Okatie, SC 29909
(843) 322-7700
Gr: PK-5 | 648 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #77.
Beaufort High School
Magnet School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
84 Sea Island Parkway
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 322-2000
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 322-2000
Gr: 9-12 | 1,104 student Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #88.
Red Cedar Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
10 Box Elder Street
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 707-0600
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 707-0600
Gr: PK-5 | 636 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #99.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 887 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #1010.
Riverview Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
81 Savannah Highway
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 379-0133
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 379-0133
Gr: K-8 | 694 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #1111.
River Ridge Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3050 River Ridge Drive
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 836-4600
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 836-4600
Gr: PK-8 | 1,134 student Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #1212.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 709 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #1313.
Bridges Preparatory School
Charter School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
555 Robert Smalls Parkway
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 982-7737
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 982-7737
Gr: K-12 | 1,472 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #1414.
Port Royal Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1214 Paris Avenue
Port Royal, SC 29935
(843) 322-0820
Port Royal, SC 29935
(843) 322-0820
Gr: PK-5 | 179 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #1515.
Hilton Head Island Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
30 School Road
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 342-4100
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 342-4100
Gr: 1-5 | 702 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #1616.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 375 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #1717.
H. E. Mccracken Middle School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
250 H. E. Mccracken Circle
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 706-8700
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 706-8700
Gr: 6-8 | 846 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #1818.
Lady's Island Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
73 Chowan Creek Bluff
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 322-2240
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 322-2240
Gr: PK-5 | 241 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #1919.
Battery Creek High School
Magnet School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1 Blue Dolphin Drive
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-5500
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-5500
Gr: 9-12 | 809 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #2020.
Lowcountry Montessori School
Charter School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
749 Broad River Drive
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-0577
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-0577
Gr: PK-12 | 408 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 467 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 327 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #2323.
Bluffton Middle School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
30 New Mustang Road
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 707-0700
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 707-0700
Gr: 6-8 | 921 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #2424.
Michael C. Riley Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
200 Burnt Church Road
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 706-8300
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 706-8300
Gr: PK-5 | 704 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #2525.
Hilton Head Island Middle School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
55 Wilborn Road
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 689-4500
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 689-4500
Gr: 6-8 | 778 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #2626.
Hilton Head Island School For The Creative Arts
(Math: 38% | 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
Gr: PK-5 | 496 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #2727.
Beaufort Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2501 Mossy Oaks Boulevard
Beaufort, SC 29902
(843) 322-5700
Beaufort, SC 29902
(843) 322-5700
Gr: 6-8 | 348 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #2828.
St. Helena Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | 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
Gr: PK-5 | 325 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #2929.
Lady's Island Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
30 Cougar Drive
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 322-3100
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 322-3100
Gr: 6-8 | 338 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #3030.
Robert Smalls Leadership Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
43 W. K. Alston Drive
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-2500
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-2500
Gr: PK-8 | 785 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #3131.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 416 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #3232.
Whale Branch Middle School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2009 Trask Parkway
Seabrook, SC 29940
(843) 466-3000
Seabrook, SC 29940
(843) 466-3000
Gr: 6-8 | 243 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #3333.
Whale Branch Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
15 Stuart Point Road
Seabrook, SC 29940
(843) 466-1000
Seabrook, SC 29940
(843) 466-1000
Gr: PK-5 | 409 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: n/an/a
165 Pembroke Drive
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 689-0400
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 689-0400
Gr: PK-K | 301 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: n/an/a
Sea Islands Heritage Academy
Charter School
10-b Holly Hall Road
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 489-8433
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 489-8433
Gr: 6-7 | 38 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
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 Whale Branch Early College High 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 54% (majority Black).
Which public schools in Beaufort County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Beaufort County include: H. E. Mccracken Middle School vs. Bluffton Middle School, May River High School vs. Bluffton High School, Robert Smalls Leadership Academy vs. Broad River Elementary School
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