Horry County Schools

Horry County Schools
Horry County Schools Logo (introduced Fall 2013)
Type and location
Type Public
Grades CD-12
Country United States
Location 335 Four Mile Road
Conway, South Carolina 29528
District information
Superintendent Dr. Richard Maxey (Interim Superintendent)
Schools 51[1]
NCES District ID 4502490
Students and staff
Students 40,321 (as of 45 day count, 2013)
Teachers 2,631
Staff 5,230[2]
Student-teacher ratio 15:1
Colors HCS Blue      and Black     
Other information
Website www.horrycountyschools.net
HCS Homepage (April 2014)
HCS Mobile app landing page

Horry County Schools (HCS) is a public school district serving Horry County, South Carolina and is the third-largest school district in South Carolina. It serves over 39,000 students (as of the 2012-2013 school year) in 51 schools (as well as additional education programs) around the county in 9 attendance areas. The district office is in Conway, South Carolina on Four Mile Rd.

The Horry County School district is made up of 51 schools in 9 attendance zones. Each area consists of a high school and the elementary and middle schools that feed into it. The district has 27 schools serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grades, 11 middle schools, 9 high schools, 3 career and technical academies, a Scholars Academy, and three charter schools. Of the 27 schools serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grades, two attendance zones, Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach*, have a large number of elementary students and divide their pre-kindergarten through fifth grades into three separate schools. These two attendance zones each have a primary school for pre-kindergarten through first; an elementary school where second and third grades attend, and an intermediate school for grades four and five. One of the elementary schools, Daisy Elementary in the Loris High School attendance zone, has operated on a year-around basis for the past 17 years.[3] - Two of the high schools, Aynor High School and Socastee High School, offer International Bacculaureate programs.[4] - Two of the three charter schools serve pre-kindergarten through eighth grades, the third charter school serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grades. - The career and technical academies are: Academy for Arts, Sciences and Technology; Palmetto Academy for Learning Motor Sports, and the Academy for Technology and Academics. The Palmetto Academy for Learning Motor Sports (a charter school) serves middle and high school students while the remaining two serve high school students. The Scholars Academy is a high school level academy as well. In addition to these educational programs, there is the Early College High School where students earn college credits attending classes on the campus of Horry Georgetown Technical College.[5] The district also has the Playcard Environmental Education Center which "instruct[s] students in the natural sciences on site, enabling them to experience first-hand the inter-relationships of living things."[6] The Adult Education Center has a variety of educational opportunities for adults. These range from GED classes to career and college transition, community classes, English as Second Language classes, and community classes. The community classes are: computer literacy classes, arts & crafts classes, Spanish, CPR/AED certification, and Tai Chi for arthritis/health. The Adult Education Center also provides free child care and early education for children of parents attending classes at the Adult Education Center.[7] In addition to these programs, students from seventh grade up may also take classes via either the HCS Virtual School Program or the South Carolina Virtual School Program.

A twelve-member Board of Education, elected from single-member districts, governs the school district, with the chairman being elected at-large. The Superintendent is appointed by the Board.[8] Board meetings are generally held on the last Monday of the month and work sessions held on the 2nd Monday of the month though the district calendar contains an accurate listing of all board meetings.[9] Normal board meetings are open to the public and agendas, minutes, and video of the meetings are available through the school district's website.[10]

The HCS Mobile app was introduced in late 2013. The app is available for iOS and Android operating systems and as a web/html5 based app.[11]

On the early days of December 2014, Dr. Cindy Elsberry announced that she was resigning, effective December 31, 2014. Currently, Dr. Richard Maxey is the interim superintendent.

Base High Schools & High School Options

Middle Schools

Elementary Schools

Charter schools

District growth

With the recent growth of the Myrtle Beach area (as well as Carolina Forest), the school district has grown very quickly within the past decade. Nineteen new schools have been built, and two new attendance areas have been added.

References

  1. ↑ "Our Schools".
  2. ↑ "Top Employers Myrtle Beach".
  3. ↑ "Daisy Elementary Principal's Message". Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "Base High Schools & Program Options".
  5. ↑ "Base High Schools & Program Options".
  6. ↑ "HCS Playcard Environmental Education Center". Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "HCS Adult Education About Us". Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "Horry County Board of Education".
  9. ↑ "Board Meeting schedule".
  10. ↑ "Board Meeting Videos, Agendas, & Minutes".
  11. ↑ "HCS Mobile App".

External links