Instructional Programs

Elementary Schools:

• A full-day child development program is offered for eligible students.
• Kindergarten is a full-day program.
• After-school childcare programs are available at some elementary schools for a nominal fee.
• Instructional services in English language arts (ELA) and math are provided for academically gifted and talented students beginning in grade 3.
• Visual and performing arts instruction is available at all grade levels.

Middle Schools:

• Honors and accelerated classes are offered in ELA and math for high-achieving students in grades 6-8.
• Honors classes in social studies and science are available beginning in grade 8.
• Middle school students may select some classes through HCS Virtual FLEX.
• Extracurricular activities are available at all middle schools.
• Fine Arts instruction includes orchestra, band, chorus, and drama.

High Schools:

• High-achieving students have the opportunity to enroll in honors courses and a variety of Advanced Placement courses.
• Tutorial opportunities are available at all schools.
• Dual-enrollment course opportunities are available through post-secondary institutions.
• HCS Virtual FLEX personalizes and expands curricular offerings.
• International Baccalaureate programs are available at Aynor High School and Socastee High School.
• Both the Academy for the Arts, Science & Technology and the Academy for Technology and Academics provide multiple majors in grades 11-12 for students with identified career choices.
• Programs are personalized to support students’ goals to enter post-secondary schools or immediate employment. 
• Foreign language courses are offered at all secondary schools.
• A Technical Scholars program is available through Horry-Georgetown Technical College.
• High school athletics include football, basketball, baseball, track & field, cross country, softball, volleyball, wrestling, soccer, and more.

Additional High School Programs:

During their eighth-grade year, eligible students may apply to participate in one of the following programs offered to students:

• The HCS Scholars Academy High School, which serves high-achieving students, offers a combination of Advanced Placement and college courses on the campus of Coastal Carolina University.
• The HCS Early College High School, located at Horry-Georgetown Technical College, serves first-generation college students. The program bridges the high school curriculum with college courses and provides additional support for students who may be under-represented in post-secondary education.
• During their 10th-grade year, eligible students may apply to enroll in one of the majors at the Academy for the Arts, Science & Technology (AAST) and the Academy for Technology and Academics (ATA). Below are the majors available at each academy.
• AAST: Advanced Art, Entertainment Technology, Aerospace Engineering, Clean Energy with Environmental Engineering, Innovations in STEM with Core Engineering, Biomedical Science, Pre-Medicine, Computer Science (Programming), Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Informatics, Networking, Web and Digital Communication
• ATA: Automotive Technology, Building Construction, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Digital Art & Design, Health Science Pre-Medicine, Health Science Pre-Nursing, Pre-Engineering, Culinary Arts, and Barbering.

All Schools

• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education is offered throughout the district at all grade levels.
• Robotics programs are offered in elementary, middle, and high schools.
• A personalized learning initiative is implemented in grades CD-12.
• Science kits in grades K-8 support and enhance science instruction.
• The PowerSchool Parent Portal allows parents to monitor student grades and performance.
  • If you’re not sure how the PowerSchool Parent Portal works, you can read the tutorial here.
• Special Education programs serve eligible students ages 3 to 21.
• An alternative school named SOAR Academy is an assigned placement for students with disciplinary infractions in grades 6-12.

School Attendance and Registration

• All students between the ages of 5 and 17 must enroll in school. Students registering for child development, kindergarten, or first grade must be 4, 5, or 6 years old by September 1st, respectively.
• Schools operate 180 days per academic year. Students must attend at least 170 days per year, or 85 days per semester, to receive course credit or grade-level promotion.
• To register, students will need a valid birth certificate, proof of immunizations on a South Carolina Certificate of Immunization form, and documentation of Horry County residency.

Students

• 48,000+ students
• Average class size: 23
  • Grades 9-12 - 24
  • Grades 6-8 - 25.25
  • Grades 4-5 - 24.5
  • Grades 1-3 - 21.5
  • Kindergarten* - 25.5
  • Child Development* - 20

*Kindergarten and CD classes have a teacher assistant

• Student demographics
  • White 59.38%
  • African American 17.47%
  • Hispanic/Latino 14.09%
  • Other 9.07%
    • Asian 1.41%
    • American Indian or Alaska Native .62%
    • Two or More races 6.75%
    • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander .28%
    • Unclassified .01% 

Student Testing

Throughout the year, students take a series of formative, diagnostic, and state-required summative assessments to measure academic growth and school and district performance for state and federal accountability. Information gathered from testing and classroom performance helps teachers personalize each student’s educational experience. For the most current information about assessments used for each grade level, visit the Office of Assessment page on the Horry County Schools’ website or the South Carolina State Department of Education’s website at ed.sc.gov.

Athletics

• approx. 7,197 student-athletes
• 385 athletic teams, listed by season and sport below

Fall - 151 teams total

• Football – 34
• Girls Volleyball – 25
• Boys Volleyball – 10
• Girls Swimming – 6
• Boys Swimming – 6
• Girls Cross Country – 9
• Boys Cross Country – 9
• Girls Tennis – 12
• Girls Golf – 10
• Sideline Cheerleading – 30  
• Competitive Cheerleading – 9

Winter - 85 teams total

• Girls Basketball - 30
• Boys Basketball - 31
• Wrestling – 24
• The same 30 cheerleading teams from the Fall season participate in the Winter season.

Spring – 140 teams total

• Softball – 23
• Baseball – 25
• Boys Golf – 9
• Boys Tennis - 9
• Girls Lacrosse – 10
• Boys Lacrosse – 10
• Girls Soccer – 18
• Boys Soccer – 18
• Girls Track and Field – 9
• Boys Track and Field - 9

Fine Arts

• Offering art, band, chorus, orchestra, dance, theatre, and more
• ~17,476 students participated in fine arts programs
• 171 students performed in All-State Band, Chorus, and/or Orchestra during the 22-23 school year
• SCAEA’s 2023 Arts Administrator of the Year
• 2 middle school bands received the SC Band Directors Association’s Outstanding Performance Award in 2023

Class of ‘23 Grad Facts

• Seniors graduated: 2,911
• Scholarship money earned: $82.2 million
• Dual enrollment courses taken: 2,997
• Average SAT score: 1046
  • SC: 1020
  • National: 1003
• Average ACT score: 17.9
  • SC: 18.8
  • National: 19.9
• 73% of graduates earned Seals of Distinction

2023-24 Consolidated Budget

2022-23 County Tax Rate for Schools 

• Owner-occupied homes (Taxed for debt services only): 40 cents per $1,000 of appraised value
• Second homes, commercial property, and other personal property: $7.686 per $1,000 of appraised value
• Automobiles: $7.686 per $1,000 of appraised value

The 2023-24 millage rate for HCS is 128.10 mills. Of this, only 10 mills are applied to owner-occupied homes for Debt Service. A state-approved, one-penny sales tax rolls back property tax collected for the General Fund on owner-occupied homes. A local, voter-approved, one-penny sales tax rolls back property tax collected for Debt Service on all property.