The District is governed by a twelve-member Board of Education. Eleven members are elected from single-member districts for four-year staggered terms, and the chairperson is elected at large for a four-year term. The board, which has legal authority for the operation of all public schools in Horry County, acts to interpret the educational needs of the county and then meets those needs with policies and facilities that stimulate the student and the learning process.

The board is also responsible for hiring the superintendent, who is a professional educator employed to advise the board on all matters concerning management of the schools and to administer laws, regulations, and policies adopted by the board. As the leader for teaching and learning for the district, the superintendent is responsible for guiding the development of the curriculum and educational programs that address the needs of students, as well as providing leadership and advocacy for education.