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

For the 2024-25 school year, there are 61 public schools serving 48,008 students in Horry County, SC (there are 17 private schools, serving 2,185 private students). 96% of all K-12 students in Horry County, SC are educated in public schools (compared to the SC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in Horry County, SC are Hcs Early College High School, Carolina Forest High School and St. James High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Horry County, SC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 48% (versus the South Carolina public school average of 41%), and reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 52% statewide average). Schools in Horry County have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of South Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 42% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the South Carolina public school average of 52% (majority Black).

Best Public Schools in Horry County (2024-25)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Hcs Early College High School
Magnet School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
2050 Highway 501 East Hgtc
Conway, SC 29528
(843) 349-3131
Grades: 9-12
| 313 students
Rank: #22.
Carolina Forest High School
Magnet School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 91%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
700 Gardner Lacy Road
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 236-7997
Grades: 9-12
| 3,059 students
Rank: #33.
St. James High School
Magnet School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
10800 Highway 707
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
(843) 650-5600
Grades: 9-12
| 1,837 students
Rank: #44.
North Myrtle Beach High School
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
3750 Sea Mountain Highway
Little River, SC 29566
(843) 399-6171
Grades: 9-12
| 1,643 students
Rank: #55.
Aynor High School
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
201 Jordanville Road
Aynor, SC 29511
(843) 488-7100
Grades: 9-12
| 882 students
Rank: #66.
Loris High School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
301 Loris Lions Road
Loris, SC 29569
(843) 390-6800
Grades: 9-12
| 875 students
Rank: #77.
Socastee High School
Magnet School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4900 Socastee Boulevard
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
(843) 293-2513
Grades: 9-12
| 1,719 students
Rank: #88.
Myrtle Beach High School
Magnet School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
3302 Robert Grissom Parkway
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 839-7148
Grades: 9-12
| 1,633 students
Rank: #99.
Ocean Bay Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
950 International Drive
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 903-8400
Grades: PK-5
| 1,054 students
Rank: #1010.
Conway High School
Magnet School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2301 Church Street
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 488-0662
Grades: 9-12
| 1,713 students
Rank: #1111.
St. James Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
9711 St. James Road
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
(843) 650-8220
Grades: PK-4
| 844 students
Rank: #1212.
Ocean Drive Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
901 11th Avenue North
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
(843) 663-0195
Grades: PK-5
| 827 students
Rank: #1313.
Forestbrook Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
4000 Panthers Parkway
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 236-8100
Grades: PK-5
| 881 students
Rank: #1414.
Palmetto Academy Of Learning Motorsports (Palm)
Magnet School
Charter School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
826 West Cox Ferry Road
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 903-6600
Grades: 9-12
| 162 students
Rank: #1515.
Lakewood Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1675 Highway 396
Myrtle Beach, SC 29575
(843) 650-6768
Grades: PK-5
| 880 students
Rank: #1616.
River Oaks Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
700 Augusta Plantation Drive
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 903-6300
Grades: PK-5
| 1,314 students
Rank: #1717.
Seaside Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1605 Woodland Drive
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
(843) 650-3490
Grades: PK-4
| 432 students
Rank: #1818.
Kingston Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
4580 Highway 472
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 365-3777
Grades: PK-5
| 442 students
Rank: #1919.
Carolina Forest Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
285 Carolina Forest Boulevard
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 236-0001
Grades: PK-5
| 1,246 students
Rank: #2020.
Burgess Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
9645 Scipio Lane
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
(843) 650-4600
Grades: PK-4
| 711 students
Rank: #2121.
Midland Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3011 Nichols Highway
Galivants Ferry, SC 29544
(843) 358-3036
Grades: PK-5
| 615 students
Rank: #2222.
Socastee Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
151 Sheffield Road
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
(843) 903-6051
Grades: 6-8
| 558 students
Rank: #2323.
Palmetto Academy Of Learning And Success Charter
Magnet School
Charter School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3021 Fred Nash Boulevard
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 293-1725
Grades: K-8
| 314 students
Rank: #2424.
Aynor Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
516 Jordanville Road
Aynor, SC 29511
(843) 488-7070
Grades: PK-5
| 810 students
Rank: #2525.
St. James Intermediate
Magnet School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
9641 Scipio Lane
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
(843) 903-6005
Grades: 5-6
| 861 students
Rank: #2626.
St. James Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
9775 St. James Road
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
(843) 650-5543
Grades: 6-8
| 920 students
Rank: #2727.
Riverside Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1287 Highway 57 South
Little River, SC 29566
(843) 399-8800
Grades: PK-5
| 691 students
Rank: #2828.
Waterway Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
700 Sandridge Road
Little River, SC 29566
(843) 399-2204
Grades: PK-5
| 810 students
Rank: #2929.
South Conway Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3001 Fourth Avenue
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 488-0272
Grades: PK-5
| 608 students
Rank: #3030.
Ocean Bay Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
905 International Drive
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 903-8420
Grades: 6-8
| 715 students
Rank: #3131.
Conway Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1101 Snowhill Drive
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 488-0696
Grades: PK-5
| 559 students
Rank: #3232.
Ten Oaks Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
150 Revolutionary War Way
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 488-8896
Grades: 6-8
| 1,134 students
Rank: #33 - 3433. - 34.
Green Sea Floyds High School
Magnet School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
4990 Tulip Grove Road
Green Sea, SC 29545
(843) 392-3131
Grades: 6-12
| 679 students
Rank: #33 - 3433. - 34.
Palmetto Bays Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
8900 Highway 544
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
(843) 236-6200
Grades: PK-5
| 594 students
Rank: #3535.
Waccamaw Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
251 Claridy Road
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 347-4684
Grades: PK-5
| 993 students
Show 26 more public schools in Horry County, SC (out of 61 total schools)
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[+] Show Closed Public Schools in Horry County, SC

Horry County Public Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Grades
Students
335 Four Mile Rd.
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 365-5534
Grades: 11-12
| 274 students
700 Gardner Lacy Rd.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 236-7997
Grades: 6-8
| 1,370 students
3301 Oak Street
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 626-5831
Grades: 4-5
| 740 students

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked public schools in Horry County, SC?
The top ranked public schools in Horry County, SC include Hcs Early College High School, Carolina Forest High School and St. James High School.
How many public schools are located in Horry County?
61 public schools are located in Horry County.
What percentage of students in Horry County go to public school?
96% of all K-12 students in Horry County are educated in public schools (compared to the SC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Horry County?
Horry County public schools minority enrollment is 42% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the South Carolina public schools average of 52% (majority Black).
Which public schools in Horry County are often viewed compared to one another?

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