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Hilton Head Island Lighthouse June 2026Photo: Locust member · CC BY 4.0
B+
Schools in Hilton Head Island · Beaufort County School District

Hilton Head Island’s public schools outscore 74% of South Carolina districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Hilton Head Island, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within South Carolina, not nationally.

#69of 169 South Carolina townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From South Carolina state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
53%
▲ 1 pts vs SC 52%
2021–22
Math proficiency
44%
▲ 3 pts vs SC 41%
2021–22
Graduate on time
87%
▲ 3 pts vs SC 84%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.4K
▲ 15% vs SC $15.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
11.3
SC 14.3 · smaller classes
Schools in town
9
3,542 students on the public path
In brief

Hilton Head Island’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 88 South Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Hilton Head Island’s, its schools beat 53%, lower than their 74% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 53% and math 44% in spring 2022, against 52% and 41% statewide; 87% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 84%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,357 per student, against $15,090 across South Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Hilton Head Island Middle, then Hilton Head Island High. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Hilton Head Christian Academy (private), Hilton Head Preparatory School (private), St. Francis Catholic School (private) and Sea Pines Montessori Academy (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Hilton Head Island’s grade

B+ Test scoresB Graduation

B+: better than 74% of South Carolina school districts, #69 of 169 South Carolina towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the South Carolina average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

South Carolina school districts we grade (92)Better than 74%
Lower resultsHigher results
South Carolina towns with similar household incomes (88)Better than 53%
B+A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 11,062 test results and a graduating class of 1,625 could put Hilton Head Island anywhere from B+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Hilton Head Island’s students in the tested grades sat them (10,945 in math, 11,178 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Hilton Head Island, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB
6–8Hilton Head Island MiddleBeaufort County School DistrictC+
9–12Hilton Head Island HighBeaufort County School DistrictA+

Hilton Head Island’s public schools are run by Beaufort County School District, which also serves Beaufort, Bluffton, Port Royal and Yemassee. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Beaufort County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 32 schools · 21,050 students · 11.3 per teacher (SC 14.3)
$17,357SC $15,090 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading53%
State average 52.1% · 11178 students tested
Math44%
State average 41% · 10945 students tested

Hilton Head Island vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the South Carolina towns that share Hilton Head Island’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Hilton Head IslandB+Beaufort County

Every school in Hilton Head Island

9 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with South Carolina’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Hilton Head Islandby address
Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B
496 students10:1Rate it →
Hilton Head Island Early Childhood Center
Elementary · Grades PK–K
301 students10:1Rate it →
Hilton Head Island Elementary
Elementary · Grades 1–5
B
702 students9:1Rate it →
Hilton Head Island Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
778 students11:1Rate it →
Hilton Head Island High
High · Grades 9–12
A+
1,265 students13:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Hilton Head Christian Academy
Grades K–12
Private · Religious
628 students10:1Rate it →
Hilton Head Preparatory School
Grades PK–12
Private · Nonsectarian
419 students10:1Rate it →
St. Francis Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
210 students15:1Rate it →
Sea Pines Montessori Academy
Elementary · Grades K–6
Private · Nonsectarian
61 students6:1Rate it →

Questions about Hilton Head Island’s schools

Are Hilton Head Island’s schools good?

By South Carolina’s own tests, yes: the public schools Hilton Head Island children attend outscore 74% of South Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #69 of 169 South Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 53%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Hilton Head Island in?

Beaufort County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 21,050 students in 32 schools (2024–25).

Where do Hilton Head Island kids go to high school?

Hilton Head Island High, with 1,265 students; its own test results earn an A+.

What is Hilton Head Island’s graduation rate?

87% of the class of 2023 in Beaufort County School District graduated in four years, against 84% across South Carolina.

How much does Hilton Head Island spend per student?

$17,357 in Beaufort County School District (FY2024), against $15,090 across South Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Hilton Head Island?

Yes: Hilton Head Christian Academy (religious, grades K–12, 628 students), Hilton Head Preparatory School (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 419 students), St. Francis Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 210 students) and Sea Pines Montessori Academy (nonsectarian, grades K–6, 61 students).

Parents talk

What Hilton Head Island families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Hilton Head Island → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within South Carolina. Stars are from neighbors.