Hilton Head Schools: Soaring Above the Rest

One of the first things families look at before moving to an area is the quality of the schools. While Hilton Head Island is a beautiful resort town with much to offer residents and visitors alike, the question remains: are the local schools any good?

The answer, fortunately, is yes. The local schools are good. The public schools on the island are part of the Beaufort County School District, and the Hilton Head schools consistently rank highest in the county. On top of that, there are a number of options for those parents who prefer to send their children to private schools.

On the public school front, the island's schools are clustered together on a large campus. Each school has separate parking and entrances, but students who attend public school for all 12 years will go to school in basically the same geographic area the entire time.

Hilton Head Island International Baccalaureate Elementary School uses the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program to bring a world-class education and international perspective to students living on the island. The Hilton Head School for the Creative Arts provides elementary students the opportunity to learn a rigorous academic program through arts infusion, allowing students to benefit from the many ways that the arts can improve students' thinking and problem-solving skills.

Students' first-rate educations continue at island's Middle School and High School, which offers students the opportunity to receive the full International Baccalaureate diploma. This is an internationally-recognized diploma which can earn students college credit and the opportunity to attend university overseas-something rarely permitted outside of special exchange programs. The island's public High School is also ranked as one of the most academically rigorous schools in the nation by Newsweek magazine, ranking number 426 on a list of nearly 1500 of the top schools in the United States.

The school district also offers the Hilton Head Island Early Childhood Center to help make sure that student readiness is where it needs to be before entering elementary school.

For those who prefer private schools, the island offers parents several choices. For a religion-based education, parents can choose the Christian Academy or St. Francis Catholic School. Other private schools include the Heritage Academy and Hilton Head Preparatory School.