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Charting Our Course: 2027–2032

A compass-like logo for %22HCS%22 and the text %22CHARTING OUR COURSE%22 are prominently displayed in the foreground against a blue background with faint compass markings.

Horry County Schools is a large organization with an even larger task: equipping the next generation with the knowledge and skills they’ll need to be successful on whatever path they take after graduation. To ensure we’re focused on the steps we need to take to accomplish that task, HCS has a strategic plan that we revisit every five years. We’re now developing the HCS Strategic Plan for 2027–2032, and we want it to be more comprehensible and accessible than in previous years so that everyone can easily see how well we’re sticking to our goals. Below, you’ll find more information about our strategic planning process, including timelines, goals, and more.

Scroll down for more details about the development of our 2027-2023 Strategic Plan.

Get Involved!

Your Voice. Our Future.

Help Shape the Future of Horry County Schools.

We want to hear from you!

As HCS builds its next strategic plan, we're asking parents, families, and community members to share what matters most for our students, schools, and community.

Stronger Students. Brighter Futures. Together, we can make a difference!

  • Students Thrive
  • Schools Are Strong
  • Communities Are Engaged
  • Opportunities Expand

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A promotional flyer for the Horry County Schools Strategic Plan features bold text and a QR code in the foreground, with a group of diverse students and a blue graphic header in the background.

Planning Begins

July 2026

Board Approval

April 2027

Districtwide Launch

July 2027

Six stops on the way to the 2027–2032 plan — click any stop to jump ahead.

Phase 1     |     Phase 2     |     Phase 3     |    Phase 4     |     Phase 5     |     Phase 6     |     Board Calendar

 

Phase 1: Launch & Discovery

Jul. - Aug. 2026

Every good plan starts with listening. This summer, we're kicking off the process that will shape where Horry County Schools is headed for the next five years. Before a single priority is set, we're building the tools, timeline, and invitations that will bring principals, staff, and families into the conversation from day one.

Purpose

Set up the planning process and define how the district will hear from every part of our community.

Key Moment

August 10 Board of Education update: the official public launch of the timeline, engagement plan, and survey tool.

How to Take Part

Watch for the initial Principal/AP survey and the launch of our ThoughtExchange feedback tool and dedicated website.

 

Phase 2: Stakeholder Engagement & Visioning

Sept. - Dec. 2026

This is the heart of the process. Over three months, we're opening the doors wide — surveys for students and teachers, community design sessions, listening tours with the Superintendent, and a Board retreat built entirely around what we've heard. If you want a voice in where HCS is headed next, this is your season to speak up.

Purpose

Gather broad input from across the county to inform the district's priorities and future direction.

Key Moment

Sept. 30 Board Retreat: the Board reviews stakeholder feedback and sets governance direction for the plan.

How to Take Part

PowerSchool surveys, family and community design sessions, virtual engagement sessions, and Superintendent listening tours.

By the end of Phase II, everything we've heard — surveys, ThoughtExchange results, listening sessions, and design session findings — comes together in one Strategic Plan Stakeholder Engagement Report.

 

Phase 3: Data Analysis & Framework Development

Dec. 2026 - Jan. 2027

With months of feedback in hand, our team gets to work translating what we've heard into a framework — a first draft of the mission, vision, and priorities that will anchor the plan for the next five years. We're also building the visual identity you'll see across the final document and this website.

Purpose

Turn stakeholder input into a strategic framework — the skeleton the full plan will be built on.

Key Moment

December Board update introduces the emerging framework for the first time.

How to Take Part

Metrics are cross-checked against principal and Superintendent evaluations to keep everything aligned.

Phase III closes out with a Community Input Executive Summary, an Initial Framework (draft mission, vision, beliefs, priorities, and success indicators), and the new Strategic Plan Brand and Design Package.

 

Phase 4: Strategic Plan Development

Feb. - March 2027

This is where the framework becomes a plan. Goals turn into objectives, objectives turn into measurable steps, and district leadership reviews every piece before it goes back out to advisory boards, School Improvement Councils, and the community for one more round of feedback.

Purpose

Develop action steps, align them with school renewal plans, and build the way we'll monitor progress.

Key Moment

February Board Retreat reviews the full draft plan — goals, objectives, and key performance indicators.

How to Take Part

Advisory boards and School Improvement Councils review the draft and share feedback in March.

Phase IV produces the full Draft Strategic Plan — vision & mission, commitments & priorities, key performance indicators, a monitoring framework, and a stakeholder feedback report.

 

Phase 5: Finalization & Approval

April - June 2027

The Board reviews, refines, and votes. Once approved, the 2027–2032 Strategic Plan becomes the official roadmap for our district — and we start building everything schools and families will need to put it into action, from a principal's toolkit to a video message from the Superintendent.

Purpose

Finalize, adopt, and prepare the district for implementation.

Key Moment

April 2027: the Board formally approves the 2027–2032 Strategic Plan.

How to Take Part

Website refresh, principal & employee toolkits, community summary, video, and social rollout.

Phase V wraps with the Final Strategic Plan, a Board adoption celebration, a revised website, principal & employee toolkits, a community one-page summary, a Superintendent video, and a social media rollout.

 

 

Phase 6: School Goal Development & Implementation

July 2027

The plan meets the classroom. Every school aligns its own goals and action plans to the district's new priorities, and on day one of the new school year, the 2027–2032 Strategic Plan officially launches districtwide.

Purpose

Align every school's improvement efforts to the district's new priorities.

Key Moment

July 2027: the 2027–2032 Strategic Plan launches districtwide.

How to Take Part

Leadership teams set goals, identify measures, and calibrate with the district before the new year begins.

Phase VI closes the loop with School Strategic Goals, School Action Plans, a District Monitoring Calendar, and the official launch of the 2027–2032 Strategic Plan.

 

 

Board Engagement Schedule

The Board of Education is briefed at every stage of this process. Here's when the plan comes before the Board, and what each update covers — mark your calendar if you'd like to follow along in person.