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Health Screenings

As recommended by the South Carolina Department of Public Health (SCDPH), Horry County Schools (HCS) may conduct health screenings for students in selected grade levels. These screenings include vision, hearing, dental, body mass index (BMI), and blood pressure screenings, as outlined below.

School health screenings are an important part of promoting student health and academic success. These screenings help identify students who may benefit from further evaluation by a healthcare professional. If a screening indicates that additional evaluation is recommended, the school nurse will notify the parent or guardian and provide referral information. It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to schedule any recommended medical or dental appointments.

Parents or guardians who do not want their child to participate in school health screenings should complete and return the HCS Mass Screening Parent Opt-Out Form to the school nurse before the scheduled screening.

Recommended Health Screening Schedule

Vision Screening

  • Early Childhood/Head Start students within two months of enrollment.
  • Students in grades Kindergarten, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7, and at least once during grades 9–12.
  • All students who are new to the district and do not have documentation of a vision screening within the previous year.

Hearing Screening

  • Early Childhood/Head Start students within two months of enrollment.
  • Students in grades Kindergarten, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7, and at least once during grades 9–12.
  • All students who are new to the district and do not have documentation of a hearing screening within the previous year.

Dental Screening

  • Early Childhood/Head Start students within two months of enrollment.
  • Students in grades Kindergarten, 3, and 7, and at least once during grades 9–12.
  • All students who are new to the district, regardless of grade level.

Blood Pressure Screening

  • Students at least once during grades 9–12.

Body Mass Index (BMI) Screening

  • Students in grades 5 and 8, and at least once during grades 9–12.
  • BMI and physical fitness data collected by physical education teachers satisfy the state screening requirement; therefore, school nurses do not duplicate these screenings.