For the 2025 school year, there are 26 public elementary schools serving 14,717 students in Beaufort County, SC.
The top ranked public elementary schools in Beaufort County, SC are Coosa Elementary School, Okatie Elementary School and Red Cedar Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Beaufort County, SC public elementary schools have an average math proficiency score of 40% (versus the South Carolina public elementary school average of 41%), and reading proficiency score of 48% (versus the 47% statewide average). Elementary schools in Beaufort County have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of South Carolina public elementary schools.
Minority enrollment is 63% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the South Carolina public elementary school average of 53% (majority Black).
Best Public Elementary Schools in Beaufort County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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 | 449 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #22.
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 | 599 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #33.
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 | 643 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 939 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #55.
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 | 698 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #66.
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 | 1,138 student Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #77.
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 | 714 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #88.
Port Royal Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1214 Paris Avenue
Port Royal, SC 29935
(843) 322-0834
Port Royal, SC 29935
(843) 322-0834
Gr: PK-5 | 192 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #99.
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 | 723 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #1010.
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 | 376 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #1111.
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 | 892 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #1212.
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 | 250 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #1313.
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 | 388 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
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 | 460 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
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 | 365 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #1616.
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 | 917 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #1717.
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 | 718 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #1818.
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 | 831 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #1919.
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 | 528 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #2020.
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 | 371 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #2121.
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 | 326 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #2222.
Lady's Island Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
30 Cougar Drive
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 322-3167
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 322-3167
Gr: 6-8 | 418 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #2323.
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 | 729 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #2424.
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 | 427 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #2525.
Whale Branch Middle School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2009 Trask Parkway
Sheldon, SC 29941
(843) 466-3000
Sheldon, SC 29941
(843) 466-3000
Gr: 6-8 | 226 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #2626.
Whale Branch Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | 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
Gr: PK-5 | 400 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Beaufort County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
2 Albacore St.
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 846-9283
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 846-9283
Gr: 3-8
22 Old Haig Point Rd
Daufuskie Island, SC 29915
(843) 842-1251
Daufuskie Island, SC 29915
(843) 842-1251
Gr: PK-5 | 17 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
10 Wilborn Rd.
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 689-7450
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 689-7450
Gr: PK-5 | 2,023 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
2900 Mink Point Blvd
Beaufort, SC 29902
(843) 322-0733
Beaufort, SC 29902
(843) 322-0733
Gr: 6-12 | 68 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
364 Kean Neck Rd
Seabrook, SC 29940
(843) 466-3600
Seabrook, SC 29940
(843) 466-3600
Gr: PK-K | 171 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
345 Elliott Dr
Beaufort, SC 29906
(912) 408-3380
Beaufort, SC 29906
(912) 408-3380
Gr: PK-2
221 E. Cardinal Lane
Beaufort, SC 29906
(912) 369-6691
Beaufort, SC 29906
(912) 369-6691
Gr: PK-2
81 Savannah Hwy
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-2825
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-2825
Gr: PK-5 | 379 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public elementary schools in Beaufort County, SC?
The top ranked public elementary schools in Beaufort County, SC include Coosa Elementary School, Okatie Elementary School and Red Cedar Elementary School.
How many public elementary schools are located in Beaufort County?
26 public elementary schools are located in Beaufort County.
What is the racial composition of students in Beaufort County?
Beaufort County public elementary schools minority enrollment is 63% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the South Carolina public elementary schools average of 53% (majority Black).
Which public elementary schools in Beaufort County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public elementary schools in Beaufort County include: H. E. Mccracken Middle School vs. Bluffton Middle School, Robert Smalls Leadership Academy vs. Broad River Elementary School, Hilton Head Island School For The Creative Arts vs. Hilton Head Island Elementary School
Recent Articles
Why Single-Sex Public Schools are Growing in Popularity
This article examines the growing trend of single-sex public schools in the United States. It explores the potential benefits, research findings, and controversies surrounding gender-specific education, as well as the factors driving its increasing popularity among parents and educators.
When Teachers Cheat: The Standardized Test Controversies
Teachers across the country are being accused of cheating on standardized tests, using erasers to conveniently change their students’ answers. However, are these teachers driven to cheat because the funding system is flawed?
When Field Trips Turn Deadly: Who is Responsible?
Recent deaths during field trips have parents and school officials questioning the safety of these excursions. Learn about these tragedies and what parameters should be in place to ensure a safe field trip.
