Hilton Head Island has a reputation as a great place to visit, and an even better place to live. Families moving to the island enjoy world-class beaches, tennis, golf, restaurants, water sports, and much more. Any family considering a move to Hilton Head Island will naturally be curious as to the quality of the schools. Hilton Head High School, now known as Hilton Head Island High School, is just one of the many world-class schools to be found on the island.

Hilton Head Island High School is the leading high school in the Beaufort County School District. It boasts impressive pass rates for the HSAP, South Carolina’s tough-as-nails exit exam, which is required for graduation. In 2008, 90% of the students passed the English-Language Arts portion of the test, and 85% passed the mathematics portion. These are easily the highest numbers in the school district and, considering that South Carolina has some of the toughest state tests in the nation, are a great demonstration of just how good Hilton Head High School really is.

Hilton Head Island High School is located on the Hilton Head public school campus, where all of the public schools on the island are located, including the elementary schools and middle school that feed into the high school. One of the elementary schools has instituted the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program, and the high school is home to the IB diploma program. This is another of the crown jewels of Hilton Head High School, as it gives students the opportunity to experience the rigors of an international-level program. Students who earn the full IB diploma open a number of doors for themselves, from generous scholarships to the opportunity to go to a university in another country and earn their degree there. This speaks to the rigor of the IB program, as most overseas universities do not accept students from the United States unless they have proved themselves exceptional.

If the above evidence hasn’t convinced you, consider this: Hilton Head Island High School is ranked number 426 in the nation by Newsweek magazine on its list of the top 1500 high schools in the United States. The majority of the nation’s schools never even make this list at all. Once again, this speaks to the quality of education available to students at Hilton Head High School. Any family considering a move to the island should not hesitate, because a world-class education awaits their children at Hilton Head Island High School.

Schools are one of the most important features of any community.  Before moving to a new community, parents almost always take a good, hard look at the area’s schools.  They want to know whether or not their children will get a good education that will prepare them for the world of work and adult responsibilities.  Hilton Head Island is famous as a great vacation destination, but parents thinking of living there need to know if Hilton Head schools will serve their children well. 

Fortunately, Hilton Head schools serve their clientele very well and can be counted as yet another of the island’s many world-class amenities.  Hilton Head’s public schools are among the top schools in the Beaufort County School District, a district known for innovation in education.  There are first-rate programs available for students of all ages, including the rigorous International Baccalaureate program.  There are also several options for parents who prefer private schools. 

Hilton Head’s public schools are located on a common centralized campus, providing a great deal of convenience for families with children in multiple schools.  In addition, the common campus provides continuity for longtime students, who will attend school within the same geographic area from kindergarten through graduation.  The schools are separated, however, by distinct entrances and parking lots joined by a common campus road, maximizing convenience while still keeping each school separate. 

Hilton Head’s elementary school offerings include Hilton Head Island International Baccalaureate Elementary School and the Hilton Head School for the Creative Arts.  Parents who want their children to explore the greater world from an international perspective through the world-class IB program should definitely consider Hilton Head IB Elementary.  If you are a parent of a creative, hands-on child who is constantly building or painting, you should definitely consider the Hilton Head School for the Creative Arts.  The school’s arts infusion programs promote strong problem-solving skills and provide the many added benefits inherent with any arts program. 

For parents of younger children, there is also the Hilton Head Island Early Childhood Center, which emphasizes student readiness to make sure that every child is ready when it is time to enter the island’s elementary schools. 

The world-class education offered by Hilton Head schools continues at Hilton Head Island Middle School and Hilton Head Island High School.  The high school is nationally-ranked by Newsweek magazine for its academic rigor, placing at number 426 on a list of the nation’s top 1500 schools.  This ranking is in part due to the school offering the International Baccalaureate diploma program, which is recognized internationally.  Students can earn college credit and students earning the full diploma can practically name the college of their choice, in the United States or abroad. 

Hilton Head’s private schools include religious and secular institutions.  The Hilton Head Christian Academy and the St. Francis Catholic School are available to parents preferring a religious education for their children.  Other options for a more secular education include the Hilton Head Heritage Academy and the Hilton Head Preparatory School.  Any parent moving to the area should contact one of the island’s realtors to find out the latest information about the island’s public and private school offerings.

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 Hilton Head schools any good?

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

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

Hilton Head Island International Baccalaureate Elementary School (sometimes referred to as Hilton Head Elementary or Hilton Head Island IB Elementary) 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 Hilton Head Island Middle School and Hilton Head Island 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.  Hilton Head Island 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, Hilton Head Island offers parents several choices.  For a religion-based education, parents can choose Hilton Head Christian Academy or St. Francis Catholic School.  Other private schools include Hilton Head Heritage Academy and Hilton Head Preparatory School.  Those moving to the area who wish to look into a private school may contact me for the most up-to-date information about these and other schools on Hilton Head Island.