BCSD breaks ground on new May River Elementary School

The Beaufort County School District officially broke ground Oct. 20, on May River Elementary School, a new 113,000-square-foot facility designed to ease overcrowding and support continued population growth in Bluffton.

District leaders, members of the Board of Education, local officials, and community partners joined Superintendent Dr. Frank Rodriguez at the site, located at 607 New Riverside Road beside May River High School, for the ceremonial turning of the soil.

“The May River Elementary School groundbreaking marks an exciting milestone for our district,” Rodriguez said during the ceremony. “We are grateful for the voters’ support of the 2023 bond referendum that made this possible. This new school represents our shared commitment to providing high-quality learning environments for every student.”

The new elementary school, scheduled to open for the 2027–2028 school year, will accommodate up to 800 students and help relieve capacity pressures in several Bluffton-area elementary schools currently operating above enrollment limits.

May River Elementary will be built on a portion of the May River High School campus, creating a shared educational corridor serving students from early grades through high school. The new school’s mascot will be the Manatee.

The $202 million 2023 bond referendum, approved by voters, provides funding for several key projects, including the new May River Elementary, expansions at existing schools, and districtwide facility upgrades.

In his remarks, Rodriguez emphasized that community support has been essential in moving projects like this forward. He said the investment represents not just a physical expansion but also a commitment to future generations of students.

The Beaufort County School District serves more than 22,000 students across 20 elementary, middle, and high schools. Construction on May River Elementary is expected to begin immediately, with completion slated for summer 2027, allowing time for staff preparation before the 2027–2028 school year.

For more information on the district’s bond projects, visit www.beaufortschools.net