Beaufort 01, SC - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Beaufort 01

Beaufort 01 is a large public school district covering the coastal communities of Beaufort County, South Carolina, from the historic city of Beaufort to Bluffton and Hilton Head Island. It serves prekindergarten through twelfth grade across several dozen elementary, middle, and high schools, including one charter school within its boundaries. The student body is diverse: roughly two-fifths identify as white, one-third as Hispanic, one-quarter as Black, and the remainder as multiracial, Asian, or Native American. The district does not report the share of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, nor the proportion receiving special education or English learner services, which leaves a gap in understanding the full economic and support profile of the student population.

On state assessments, the district’s results show a pattern common to many large systems: upper elementary grades post the strongest performance, while middle school presents a steeper challenge. In math, proficiency peaks in third grade at just over half of students meeting the bar, then declines steadily through eighth grade, where fewer than one in three reach the proficient level. English language arts follows a similar but less dramatic arc: third through fifth graders score above the majority threshold, and though middle school rates drop, they remain above the math counterparts, hovering around the mid-fifties. Science results, available for fourth and sixth grades, show roughly half of students proficient. Social studies data is only available from a prior assessment and a different testing era, so recent comparisons are not possible. Parents considering the district should note that while early elementary academics are reasonably solid, the middle school years, especially in math, are a soft spot worth investigating at the individual school level.

The district offers a range of high school options, including a traditional high school in Beaufort, one in Bluffton, one on Hilton Head Island, a magnet-style school for the creative arts, an early college high school in Whale Branch, and a charter school. That variety points to different academic pathways, from comprehensive programs to specialized focuses, though specific course access and career-technical offerings were not detailed in the available data. Graduation rates and chronic absenteeism figures are absent, so a full picture of how many students finish high school on time is not possible here.

Housing across the district is expensive. The weighted average home value is well above both the state and national medians, and rents are similarly elevated. A typical household would need a substantial income to buy or rent comfortably in most parts of the county. There is considerable variation among ZIP codes: values are highest on Hilton Head Island and in the Sheldon area, while more modest options exist in Yemassee and Hardeeville. For families moving into the area, affordability will vary sharply depending on which school attendance zone they consider.

The district operates in a growing coastal region with a high share of second homes and seasonal tourism, factors that influence both school funding and community dynamics. No significant recent policy changes or facility updates were identified from public reports, so the district’s operational landscape appears stable in the near term.

Overall, Beaufort 01 offers a diverse educational environment with solid elementary literacy and math foundations, but a notable drop in middle school math achievement. The wide range of high school options gives families choice, but the absence of data on special populations, graduation, and discipline limits a full assessment of student support. The high-cost housing market means the school a child attends is closely tied to the neighborhood a family can afford. Parents would do well to look past the district-level averages and compare individual schools, particularly those serving the middle grades, to find the best fit.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

21,489

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 33%

Black 24%

White 37%

Asian 1%

Two+ 5%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

51%

71%

Gr 4

56%

75%

Gr 5

52%

76%

Gr 6

44%

71%

Gr 7

52%

67%

Gr 8

43%

70%

Math

Gr 3

48%

68%

Gr 4

45%

68%

Gr 5

41%

68%

Gr 6

30%

55%

Gr 7

25%

49%

Gr 8

19%

47%

Science

Gr 4

38%

64%

Gr 6

36%

64%

Schools in this District

32 schools are officially reported under this district.

Joseph S. Shanklin Elementary

Beaufort Elementary

Broad River Elementary

Lady's Island Elementary

Mossy Oaks Elementary

Port Royal Elementary

Michael C. Riley Elementary

St. Helena Elementary

Beaufort High

Battery Creek High

Coosa Elementary

Whale Branch Elementary

Bluffton Elementary

H. E. McCracken Middle

Whale Branch Middle

Beaufort Middle

Okatie Elementary

Hilton Head Island Early Childhood Center

Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts

Hilton Head Island Elementary

Bluffton High

Hilton Head Island High

Lady's Island Middle

Hilton Head Island Middle

Riverview Charter School

Red Cedar Elementary

Pritchardville Elementary

Whale Branch Early College High

Bluffton Middle

Robert Smalls Leadership Academy

River Ridge Academy

May River High

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

57%

Grade 3

54%

Grade 4

52%

Grade 5

40%

Grade 6

35%

Grade 7

31%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

60%

Grade 3

63%

Grade 4

62%

Grade 5

55%

Grade 6

58%

Grade 7

55%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

48%

Grade 4

47%

Grade 6

Social Studies

2 grades reported

68%

Grade 5

60%

Grade 7

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$536,059

Year-over-year change+1.0%

Range across 14 ZIP codes$183K to $2.3M

vs. state typical1.76x

vs. national typical1.46x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (14 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
29910	Bluffton	$521K	-0.3%	18.1%
29920	Saint Helena Island	$596K	+2.1%	17.0%
29940	Seabrook	$411K	+4.0%	12.8%
29945	Yemassee	$183K	-2.9%	9.6%
29909	Bluffton	$483K	-3.9%	9.4%
29906	Beaufort	$363K	+1.7%	7.8%
29907	Beaufort	$481K	+1.8%	7.3%
29926	Hilton Head Island	$760K	+2.2%	5.0%
29928	Hilton Head Island	$777K	+3.7%	3.6%
29902	Beaufort	$423K	+1.8%	3.1%
29941	Sheldon	$2.3M	+10.2%	2.6%
29915	Bluffton	$683K	+0.0%	1.9%
29935	Port Royal	$356K	+5.1%	0.4%
29927	Hardeeville	$413K	-7.7%	0.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,380/mo

Year-over-year change+4.6%

Range across 9 ZIP codes$1,521 to $3,725/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (9 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
29910	Bluffton	$2,265	+5.5%	18.1%
29909	Bluffton	$2,807	+10.2%	9.4%
29906	Beaufort	$1,775	+5.5%	7.8%
29907	Beaufort	$2,050	-4.3%	7.3%
29926	Hilton Head Island	$2,932	+4.7%	5.0%
29928	Hilton Head Island	$3,725	+4.5%	3.6%
29902	Beaufort	$1,758	+0.2%	3.1%
29935	Port Royal	$1,521	+8.8%	0.4%
29927	Hardeeville	$1,706	-1.8%	0.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,705/mo

Home price / national median income6.4x

Annual rent / national median income34.1%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$325/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$305,174 (+0.4% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.