| The Horry County School District is a county-wide school system, serving a county of 245,000 people along the Atlantic Coastline of northeastern South Carolina. A twelve-member Board of Education, elected from single-member districts, governs the school district, with the chairman being elected at-large. The Superintendent is appointed by the Board. The school district has nine attendance areas: Myrtle Beach, Carolina Forest, Conway, Socastee, North Myrtle Beach, Loris, Aynor, Green Sea Floyds, and St. James. Each area consists of a high school and the elementary and middle schools that feed into it.
| Total | 48 | | Primary/Elementary Schools | 26 | | Middle Schools | 11 | | High Schools | 9 | | Career Centers / Academies | 2 | | Alternative Schools | 1 |
The district has one Charter School serving grades K-8.
Total | 36,068 | Pre-kindergarten | 1,462 | Grades K-2 | 8,514 | Grades 3-5 | 7,802 | Grades 6-8 | 8,023 | Grades 9-12 | 10,267 | Average daily attendance | 96% |
Horry County Schools is the 3rd largest of the state's 85 school districts and has gained 10,000 students during the last decade. Return to Top
Grades 9-12 | 23 student average | Grades 6-8 | 22 student average | Grades 4-5 | 24 student average | Grades 2-3 | 21 student average | Grade 1 | 20 student average | Kindergarten | 25 student average |
2007 graduates | 1,817 | Graduates attending 2 or 4 year colleges | 80% | 2007 scholarships | $36 million |
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Elementary school lunch | $1.75 | Middle and high school lunch | $1.85 | Students receiving free/reduced lunches | 60% |
Breakfasts are served in all schools Return to Top
Total number of full-time employees | 4,870 | Classroom teachers | 2,331 | Professional employees with advanced degrees | 1,544 |
Bachelor’s degree | $33,000 to $56,329 | Bachelor’s + 18 hrs. | $34,527 to $58,934 | Master’s degrees | $37,995 to $64,853 | Master’s + 30 hrs. | $38,822 to $66,265 | Doctorate | $41,772 to $72,393 |
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Revenue: Local | $214,108,117...........42.98% | Intergovernmental Revenue | 3,088.............0.00% | State | 153,293,937...........30.77% | Federal | 31,229,751............6.27% | Other Financing Sources | 99,557,944..........19.98% | Total | $498,192,837........100.00% |
Expenditures: Instruction | $214,897,036..........42.86% | Supporting services | 135,369,700..........27.00% | Community services | 1,399,263........... 0.28% | Debt service | 43,467,480............8.67% | Facilities & construction services | 94,194,943..........18.79% | Other Financing Sources | 12,045,015............2.40% | TOTAL | $501,373,437........100.00% |
(Per thousand dollars of appraised value) Owner-occupied homes (taxed for debt service only) | $1.12 per $1,000 | Second homes, commercial property, and other personal property | $8.60 per $1,000 | Automobiles | $8.60 per $1,000 |
The 2007 -2008 millage rate for HCS is 143.30 mills. Of this, only 28 miles are applied to owner-occupied homes due to an additional penny sales tax approved by State legislators. This extra penny of sales tax will be used to support schools and provide for property tax relief to homeowners. The 28 mills are for voter-approved debt service to pay for the construction of new schools and capital improvement projects. Millage for the general fund, 115.30 mills, and millage for debt service, 28 mills, applies to all property other than owner-occupied homes. Return to Top
- The Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test (PACT) is state-mandated for grades 3 through 8. The district consistently performs higher than the state at all grades.
- HCS implemented an innovative computer based testing program for grades 2-10 with tests in mathematics, language, and reading. MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) is aligned to state standards and gives the district a national comparison on student achievement.
- End of course tests are given for English I, Algebra I/Math for the Technologies II, Physical Science, Biology I/Applied Biology II.
- Students in kindergarten and first grade will be assessed throughout the year using a teacher-completed checklist of student skills in personal and social development, language and literacy, and mathematical thinking.
- The High School Assessment Program, HSAP, is an exit exam that is administered during a student's second year of high school and is required for graduation.
District and individual school results are available on our website or upon request. Return to Top
All children between 5 (by Sept. 1) and 17 must enroll in school. Schools operate 180 days a year. Students must attend at least 170 days to receive course or grade credit. Return to Top
- The district serves academically gifted students beginning in 3rd grade. Honors and Advanced Placement courses are available in middle and high schools.
- The Scholars' Academy is available for the highest achieving students in grades 9-12. Based at Coastal Carolina University, students participate in college level and accelerated programs of study.
- The Early College High School is available to encourage students who are underrepresented in post-secondary education to complete four-year degrees. Students may achieve two years of college credit at the same time as they are earning a high school diploma.
- The Connect Program enables students, who are at-risk of not graduating from high school and are a grade level or more behind their peers, an opportunity to graduate on time.
- Students have the opportunity to participate in dual credit programs with Coastal Carolina University and Horry Georgetown Technical College to enable them to earn credits for high school and college.
- Selected courses are available to high school students through the Internet.
- A foreign language instructional program is offered in grade 6-12.
- After-school programs are available in most elementary schools. A fee is charged.
- A comprehensive program of special education provides programs for more than 5,600 students.
- Orchestra, band, and chorus programs are available for students in all middle and high schools..
- Alternative programs are available for students with disciplinary problems in grades 6-12. An alternative school is located near Conway.
- All elementary schools have full day kindergarten classes. Child development classes for targeted 4-year-olds are available.
- High schools athletics include football, basketball, baseball, track and field, softball, volleyball, wrestling, soccer, cheerleading, golf and tennis. Offerings vary by high school.
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If you are unsure which school your child will attend, you can contact the school district Planning Office at 488-6712 to find out. You then visit the school to register your child. To register, you will need: a valid birth certificate, proof of immunization on a S. C. Certificate of Immunization form, and documentation of Horry County residency. A Social Security number is requested. Return to Top
- All classrooms are networked to the Internet. The ratio of students to computers is just over 5:1. The use of wireless labs is expanding. During the last two years, more than $2 million dollars has been allocated for a laptop initiative for teachers, giving them equipment and training to enhance the use of technology and instruction.
- HCS uses an innovative computer-based testing program for grades 2-10 with tests in mathematics, language, and reading. MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) is aligned to state standards and gives a national comparison on achievement. It also provides results quickly to enable teachers to monitor instruction and address student needs.
- The district has developed an accountability system for the Board of Education, principals, assistant principals and district office staff to ensure performance and focus on results.
- Since the mid-1990's, the district invested nearly $500 million in new and renovated facilities. Nineteen new schools have been built, and two new attendance areas have been added. Three schools are currently under construction and these include the Academy for Arts, Science and Technology (opening Fall 2007), Burgess Elementary School (opening January 2009), and the new Myrtle Beach Elementary School (opening August 2007).
- Horry County Schools is the fastest growing, and the 3rd largest overall, among South Carolina's 85 school districts. During the last decade, it has grown by 10,000 students, almost 50 percent of which occurred during the last three years.
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- Horry County Schools was the first district in South Carolina on earn SACS accreditation under a new district review process.
- Horry County Schools met 84 percent of Adequate Yearly Progress objectives under No Child Left Behind.
- 93 percent of Horry County Schools received a rating of Excellent, Good or Average compared to 65 percent statewide.
- SAT scores are 33 points above the state average and within 20 points of the national average.
- The District's performance on the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test (PACT) is higher than the state at all grade levels.
- The class of 2007 earned over $36 million in college scholarship awards.
- The S.C. Education Oversight Committee recognized schools throughout the state for significantly improving the performance of low achieving students. Ten of those schools were District schools.
- Fourteen schools received honors as Palmetto Gold and Palmetto Silver award winners for academic improvement on the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test.
- 169 HCS teachers hold National Board Certification.
- 94 percent of high school students who sought International Baccalaureate diplomas received them. HCS has the highest performing IB program in the state.
- Eleven schools have been awarded Red Carpet Schools Awards.
- The district continually is a recipient of the What Parents Want Award presented by SchoolMatch.
- Seven schools have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education.
- Nine of the district’s primary, elementary and middle schools have been named Palmetto's Finest.
- In the last decade, the school district has had: the state’s outstanding high school principal, distinguished elementary school principal, and middle school assistant principal of the year; the state’s outstanding school superintendent; the state’s top chemistry teacher, athletic director, speech clinician, biology teacher, technology teacher, adult ed teacher, dance teacher, Spanish teacher, health occupations teacher, hospitality & tourism teacher, vocational education teacher, student council advisor, American history teacher, FHA advisor, Southern Interscholastic Press Association’s Administrator of the Year, speech/hearing program, and teacher of autistic students.
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