Beaufort Schools Celebrate Record Success
Beaufort County, what an exciting time for our local schools! With the recent release of the 2023-24 report cards on Tuesday, the district has hit some remarkable milestones that deserve a shoutout. For the first time since 2018, not a single school has been rated as unsatisfactory. Isn’t that fantastic news? It really shows how hard everyone has been working to make our schools better.
Impressive Ratings for Our Schools
When we look at the numbers, over half of the schools in Beaufort County have earned either a Good or Excellent rating this year. Specifically, 56% of schools scored those top ratings, a bump up from just 44% last year. This is definitely a step in the right direction!
And it doesn’t stop there. In middle schools, eight out of nine improved their ratings or maintained their achievements. Can you believe it? That’s a significant improvement that shows our educators are making great strides. Plus, the graduation rate for high school seniors has hit a record high of 88.6%, with an impressive 82.8% of them deemed college or career-ready.
Future Plans and Opportunities
What’s more? The school district is looking ahead with exciting new plans! Thanks to a federal grant of $14.9 million, they will expand the North of the Broad Magnet School Assistance program to Hilton Head Island Schools. Mary Stratos, the Chief Instructional Services Officer, has high hopes that this program will enhance educational opportunities for our students.
Furthermore, the district is also working to improve learning opportunities for nearly 4,500 multilingual learners through a $2.3 million Catalyst Grant. This focuses on giving all children the necessary tools to succeed in their studies, which is something every parent can celebrate!
Breaking Down the Numbers
Taking a closer look at individual school performances during the 2022-23 school year, we can see some promising statistics. It’s worth noting that three schools reported as Below Average or Unsatisfactory, but thankfully, that number has remained unchanged this year.
- Excellent: 6 Schools (17%)
- Good: 12 Schools (35%)
- Average: 13 Schools (38%)
- Below Average: 3 Schools (8%)
And the best part? Zero schools were rated as Unsatisfactory this time around! Here’s a quick look at some specific school ratings based on a 100-point scale:
School Ratings Overview
Excellent:
- Bluffton High School – 71
- May River High School – 67
- Riverview Charter School – 62
- Pritchardville Elementary – 69
Good:
- Hilton Head Island High School – 61
- Whale Branch Early College High School – 61
- River Ridge Academy – 53
Average:
- Beaufort High School – 55
- H.E. McCracken Middle School – 44
Below Average:
- Battery Creek High School – 49
- Lady’s Island Middle School – 34
- Port Royal Elementary School – 34
As we wrap up, it’s important to recognize the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in our education system here in Beaufort County. This year’s report cards are not just numbers; they reflect the commitment of our teachers, staff, and students. With such positive momentum, there’s no telling how much higher we can soar together! Keep up the excellent work, Beaufort!
