Beaufort County schools continue upward trend in state report

The Beaufort County School District continued its steady academic progress this year, with 91% of its schools earning overall ratings of excellent, good, or average on the 2025 South Carolina School Report Cards released by the S.C. Department of Education and the Education Oversight Committee.

The annual report cards measure schools based on academic achievement, student progress, college and career readiness, and school climate. District leaders said this year’s results reflect sustained improvement and strong leadership across all grade levels.

“These report cards tell a clear story: South Carolina students and educators are rolling up their sleeves and getting results,” State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver said in a statement. “From the Lowcountry to the Upstate, we’re proving that when teachers are empowered, communities are engaged, and high expectations meet strong support, students soar.”

Five district elementary schools — Bluffton, Lady’s Island, Okatie, Port Royal, and Red Cedar — earned an excellent rating, the highest possible designation. Okatie Elementary received that rating for the fourth consecutive year.

Riverview Charter (grades 6–8) and Bluffton High School also earned excellent marks, with Bluffton High maintaining that status for five straight years.

Schools rated good included Beaufort, Coosa, Hilton Head Island, Mossy Oaks, Pritchardville, and River Ridge elementary schools; Bluffton and River Ridge middle schools; and Hilton Head Island, May River, and Whale Branch Early College high schools.

The average rating, which signifies schools meeting state standards, was assigned to several campuses including Broad River, Michael C. Riley, Joseph Shanklin, Whale Branch, and Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts. Beaufort High received an average rating for 2025.

One of the district’s biggest success stories came from Port Royal Elementary, which climbed three levels in a single year—from below average to excellent.
“Driven by purpose and dedication, our teachers planned targeted instruction to meet every student’s unique needs,” Principal Vicki Goude said.

Districtwide, no Beaufort County schools were rated unsatisfactory for the second consecutive year. Chief Instructional Services Officer Dr. Mary Stratos called the trend “a testament to our superintendent’s commitment to our educators, staff, and students.”

Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said the improvements were driven by collaboration between teachers, administrators, and families. “The progress we have made in our overall report card ratings is a reflection of our educators, students, administrators, parents, staff, and community members,” Rodriguez said.

The district’s graduation rate reached 89.3% for the Class of 2025. Beaufort County students also exceeded the state average in college and career readiness, with 85.3% of graduates meeting readiness benchmarks compared with the statewide rate of 75.1%.

Beaufort County also recorded its highest English Language Arts proficiency since the SC READY exam began, with 60.5% of students in grades 3–8 meeting or exceeding expectations.

District officials said new initiatives, including a $14.9 million Magnet Schools Assistance Program grant, will continue to expand opportunities for students in Hilton Head Island schools through inquiry-based learning, International Baccalaureate programs, and dual-language immersion. Additional community partnerships supported by a $2.3 million Catalyst Grant from the Coastal Community Foundation will extend after-school learning and tutoring programs.

Rodriguez said district recruitment and retention efforts are also paying off. “Our current vacancies are the lowest they have been in years, which will no doubt serve to keep our student achievement momentum moving forward,” he said.

Statewide school report card information can be found at www.screportcards.com.