Total enrollment
22,968
+358 (+2%) vs SY 2020-21
Beaufort County
South Carolina · Public K-12
Across all districts in Beaufort County, public schools number 35 and enroll approximately 22,968 K-12 students (20 elementary, 7 middle, and 6 high).
4-year change in Beaufort County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
35
+1 (+3%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Beaufort County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In South Carolina | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 22,968 | #12 of 44 | #438 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 35 | #12 of 44 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.6:1 | #3 of 44 | #412 of 2,655 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 69.6% | #1 of 42 | #115 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Beaufort County school rankings
Residents
195,289
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
35
2 districts
Enrollment
22,968
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$86,573
Above South Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
·
Enrollment-weighted
Elementary
20
10,902 students
Middle
7
3,512 students
High
6
6,674 students
Combined / other
2
1,880 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Beaufort 01
21,050 students · 2 districts in Beaufort County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Beaufort County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
46.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.6%
civilian labor
Median age
48
17.4% under 18
Test scores in Beaufort County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 27 schools ranked. South Carolina state average: 59.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Coosa Elementary· 80.0%
- Okatie Elementary· 73.2%
- Riverview Charter School· 73.0%
- Pritchardville Elementary· 72.6%
- Red Cedar Elementary· 71.5%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Joseph S. Shanklin Elementary· 36.0%
- Whale Branch Middle· 37.3%
- St. Helena Elementary· 39.8%
- Robert Smalls Leadership Academy· 42.4%
- Whale Branch Elementary· 43.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May River High | Bluffton | High | 09-12 | 1,731 | · |
| Bridges Preparatory School | Beaufort | Combined | KG-12 | 1,472 | · |
| Bluffton High | Bluffton | High | 09-12 | 1,375 | · |
| Hilton Head Island High | Hilton Head Island | High | 09-12 | 1,265 | · |
| River Ridge Academy | Bluffton | Elementary | PK-08 | 1,134 | · |
| Beaufort High | Beaufort | High | 09-12 | 1,104 | · |
| Bluffton Middle | Bluffton | Middle | 06-08 | 921 | · |
| Pritchardville Elementary | Bluffton | Elementary | PK-05 | 887 | · |
| H. E. McCracken Middle | Bluffton | Middle | 06-08 | 846 | · |
| Battery Creek High | Beaufort | High | 09-12 | 809 | · |
| Robert Smalls Leadership Academy | Beaufort | Elementary | PK-08 | 785 | · |
| Hilton Head Island Middle | Hilton Head Island | Middle | 06-08 | 778 | · |
| Bluffton Elementary | Bluffton | Elementary | PK-05 | 709 | · |
| Michael C. Riley Elementary | Bluffton | Elementary | PK-05 | 704 | · |
| Hilton Head Island Elementary | Hilton Head Island | Elementary | 01-05 | 702 | · |
| Riverview Charter School | Beaufort | Elementary | KG-08 | 694 | · |
| Okatie Elementary | Bluffton | Elementary | PK-05 | 648 | · |
| Red Cedar Elementary | Bluffton | Elementary | PK-05 | 636 | · |
| Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts | Hilton Head Island | Elementary | PK-05 | 496 | · |
| Broad River Elementary | Beaufort | Elementary | PK-05 | 467 | · |
| Coosa Elementary | Beaufort | Elementary | PK-05 | 467 | · |
| Joseph S. Shanklin Elementary | Beaufort | Elementary | PK-05 | 416 | · |
| Whale Branch Elementary | Seabrook | Elementary | PK-05 | 409 | · |
| Lowcountry Montessori School | Beaufort | Combined | PK-12 | 408 | · |
| Whale Branch Early College High | Seabrook | High | 09-12 | 390 | · |
| Beaufort Elementary | Beaufort | Elementary | PK-05 | 375 | · |
| Beaufort Middle | Beaufort | Middle | 06-08 | 348 | · |
| Lady's Island Middle | Beaufort | Middle | 06-08 | 338 | · |
| Mossy Oaks Elementary | Beaufort | Elementary | PK-05 | 327 | · |
| St. Helena Elementary | St. Helena | Elementary | PK-05 | 325 | · |
| Hilton Head Island Early Childhood Center | Hilton Head Island | Elementary | PK-KG | 301 | · |
| Whale Branch Middle | Seabrook | Middle | 06-08 | 243 | · |
| Lady's Island Elementary | Beaufort | Elementary | PK-05 | 241 | · |
| Port Royal Elementary | Port Royal | Elementary | PK-05 | 179 | · |
| Sea Islands Heritage Academy | Beaufort | Middle | 06-07 | 38 | · |
Cities in Beaufort County
About Beaufort County
Across the middle-population South Carolina county of Beaufort County of about 195,289 residents, the public-school footprint covers 35 schools and about 22,968 students.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $86,573 a year, roughly 46% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 7%. That income level is 47% noticeably above the South Carolina median.
In terms of grade levels, Beaufort County covers 20 elementary schools (10,902 students), 7 middle schools (3,512), 6 high schools (6,674), and 2 combined or other schools.
Beaufort 01 dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 21,050 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment remained close to its prior level: 22,610 students in SY 2020-21 versus 22,968 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Beaufort County gained 1 school, going from 34 to 35.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Beaufort County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data