For the 2025 school year, there are 19 public preschools serving 9,968 students in Beaufort County, SC.
The top ranked public preschools 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 preschools have an average math proficiency score of 44% (versus the South Carolina public pre school average of 47%), and reading proficiency score of 49% (versus the 48% statewide average). Pre schools in Beaufort County have an average ranking of 7/10, which is in the top 50% of South Carolina public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 64% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the South Carolina public preschool average of 54% (majority Black).
Best Public Preschools 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.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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: #99.
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: #1010.
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: #11 - 1211. - 12.
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: #11 - 1211. - 12.
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: #1313.
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: #1414.
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: #1515.
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: #1616.
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: #1717.
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: #1818.
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%
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 | 327 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
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 preschools in Beaufort County, SC?
The top ranked public preschools in Beaufort County, SC include Coosa Elementary School, Okatie Elementary School and Red Cedar Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Beaufort County?
19 public preschools are located in Beaufort County.
What is the racial composition of students in Beaufort County?
Beaufort County public preschools minority enrollment is 64% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the South Carolina public preschools average of 54% (majority Black).
Which public preschools in Beaufort County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Beaufort County include: Robert Smalls Leadership Academy vs. Broad River Elementary School, Lady's Island Elementary School vs. Coosa Elementary School, Hilton Head Island Early Childhood Center vs. Hilton Head Island School For The Creative Arts
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