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Bluffton Elementary

Q: Is Bluffton Elementary a good school?

Bluffton Elementary ranks 218 th of 661 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

218^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 661 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 67% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Bluffton Elementary is a mid-sized public school in Bluffton, SC, serving 709 students in grades PK-5 as part of the Beaufort 01 school district.

Bluffton Elementary has built a reputation as a steady and dependable school. Over the past decade, its statewide ranking has remained remarkably consistent, hovering between the 62nd and 70th percentile, and it has maintained a solid 3-star rating for several years. The school's standout strength is mathematics, where proficiency rates consistently beat both district and state averages. For example, 4th-grade math proficiency sits at 61.1%, which is nearly double that of nearby Michael C. Riley Elementary (48.4%) and significantly higher than Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts (34.1%). The school also keeps chronic absenteeism at 15.8%, notably better than the district (21.3%) and state (22.3%) averages, suggesting students are showing up and staying engaged.

While Bluffton Elementary is a solid choice, it sits in a competitive local landscape. Schools like Red Cedar Elementary, Okatie Elementary, and Pritchardville Elementary all hold 4-star ratings and rank in the top 25% of the state, outperforming Bluffton. However, Bluffton clearly outpaces several other nearby schools, including Michael C. Riley Elementary and Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts, which are rated 1-star. One area to watch is the school's performance by grade level—proficiency in both ELA and math tends to be highest in 3rd grade and declines by 5th grade, suggesting the curriculum becomes more challenging as students advance. Additionally, the school spends a generous $19,492 per student, more than higher-performing peers like Okatie ($17,061) and Pritchardville ($14,671), which raises the question of whether additional resources could translate into even stronger results. For parents, Bluffton Elementary offers a stable, mid-to-upper-tier education with a clear strength in math and a supportive learning environment.

709

Students ?

10.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,345

Per pupil spending ?

57.7%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2023-24) ?

96%

Students (all grades) with required immunizations (2025-26)

160 H.E. McCracken Circle
Bluffton, SC 29910

(843) 706-8500

District: Beaufort 01

Students who attend Bluffton Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	H. E. McCracken Middle
High:	Bluffton High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

43.7%

White:

38.1%

African American:

9.7%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

Compare Bluffton Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 80th percentile in 2016 → 67th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the South Carolina median (67th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 13 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school63%

District avg58%

South Carolina avg58%

218^th of 661

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 33%▼ down 13 pts since 2016

From top 20% (2016) to top 33% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 19Elementary Schools in the Beaufort 01

28^th of 75Beaufort 01 among South Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	65.4	218 of 661	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	65.8	220 of 639	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.1	207 of 643	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.8	215 of 644	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.5	207 of 625	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.2	214 of 622	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.7	224 of 643	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	67.3	186 of 624	70.2%	★★★★☆
2017	59.0	243 of 639	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2016	76.6	125 of 619	79.8%	★★★★☆
2015	71.6	126 of 638	80.3%	★★★★☆
2014	68.5	184 of 630	70.8%	★★★★☆
2013	63.9	218 of 599	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	63.9	220 of 594	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	71.0	161 of 597	73.0%	★★★★☆
2010	64.7	201 of 589	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	62.7	221 of 580	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	56.4	270 of 577	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2007	43.9	365 of 566	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2006	52.0	303 of 559	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2005	50.1	314 of 557	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2004	55.0	270 of 550	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2003	47.4	315 of 542	41.9%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	26.6	79 of 106	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	40.3	61 of 104	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	67.3	21 of 79	73.4%	★★★★☆
2023	70.3	18 of 72	75.0%	★★★★☆
2022	56.4	37 of 84	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	45.8	45 of 84	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.4	53 of 104	49.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.4	36 of 82	56.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	62.3	216 of 599	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	65.9	197 of 580	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.7	193 of 568	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.8	208 of 580	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.0	246 of 573	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	48.7	273 of 554	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	51.2	296 of 588	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	63.2	201 of 570	64.7%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	70.3	7 of 196	96.4%	★★★★★
2022	66.6	51 of 109	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.1	107 of 147	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	42.7	93 of 159	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	48.3	84 of 156	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	63.6	37 of 114	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	79.4	18 of 115	84.3%	★★★★☆
2022	73.7	27 of 115	76.5%	★★★★☆
2021	66.6	27 of 86	68.6%	★★★★☆
2019	56.4	51 of 116	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.2	38 of 104	63.5%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	60.0	244 of 634	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	61.0	221 of 612	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.9	160 of 602	73.4%	★★★★☆
2023	63.9	201 of 608	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.2	224 of 600	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	68.2	163 of 580	71.9%	★★★★☆
2019	64.5	208 of 600	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	67.8	177 of 588	69.9%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	64.1	201 of 591	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	60.6	231 of 585	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.1	189 of 571	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.2	204 of 582	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	69.0	171 of 579	70.5%	★★★★☆
2021	71.8	143 of 561	74.5%	★★★★☆
2019	70.3	166 of 590	71.9%	★★★★☆
2018	66.9	169 of 571	70.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	74.1	110 of 463	76.2%	★★★★☆
2025	72.7	119 of 459	74.1%	★★★★☆
2024	69.9	130 of 446	70.9%	★★★★☆
2023	58.8	196 of 463	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	64.1	157 of 455	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.5	168 of 439	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.4	151 of 472	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	67.0	144 of 457	68.5%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Gifted and Talented (2026)96th percentile+29 vs school

White (2026)76th percentile+9 vs school

Male (2026)66th percentile~ school

Female (2026)64th percentile-3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)62nd percentile-6 vs school

Hispanic (2026)42nd percentile-26 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)25th percentile-42 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts65%~ state avg

Mathematics61%+7 vs state

Science60%+9 vs state

5.0

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What people are saying

by a principal
Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Bluffton Elementary School has a strong Accelerated Academy for students in Grades K-5. Students working in the 95 or above are skillfully pushed to achieve to their potential. Close Quote

Schools Near Bluffton Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SC READY English Language Arts (2026)						SC READY Mathematics (2026)						SC READY Science (2026)		Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2026)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2023-24)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SC READY English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 4th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 5th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 6th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 7th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 8th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 3rd Grade	SC READY Mathematics 4th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 5th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 6th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 7th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 8th Grade	SC READY Science 4th Grade	SC READY Science 6th Grade	Vaccination: Students (all grades) with required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Bluffton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	160 H.E. McCracken Circle	Bluffton	29910	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 706-8500	709	68	10.4	57.7%	270 (38.1%)	69 (9.7%)	310 (43.7%)	19 (2.7%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	39 (5.5%)	65.4	218^th of 661 public elementary schools	67.0%		65.8	220^th of 639 public elementary schools	65.6%	2	62.6	69.4	64.9				65.8	61.1	55.3				60.2		96%		$21,345	$1,027	$839	$1,867	$15,251	$4,228	$19,479
Red Cedar Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	10 Box Elder Street	Bluffton	29910	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 707-0600	636	59	10.7	60.7%	270 (42.5%)	57 (9.0%)	275 (43.2%)	7 (1.1%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (3.9%)	77.1	140^th of 661 public elementary schools	78.8%		79.5	119^th of 639 public elementary schools	81.4%	21	66.7	80.0	74.4				68.6	64.9	61.0				66.0		95%		$19,837	$831	$922	$1,752	$14,584	$3,500	$18,085
Michael C. Riley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Burnt Church Road	Bluffton	29910	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 706-8300	704	74	9.5	73.1%	168 (23.9%)	54 (7.7%)	461 (65.5%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (2.4%)	27.9	474^th of 661 public elementary schools	28.3%		21.7	514^th of 639 public elementary schools	19.6%	40	43.3	48.4	45.7				45.2	48.4	40.6				45.1		96%		$19,874	$781	$726	$1,507	$14,401	$3,965	$18,366
River Ridge Academy	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-8	3050 River Ridge Drive	Bluffton	29910	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	No	Yes	No	No	(843) 836-4600	1,134	85	13.3	42.1%	655 (57.8%)	74 (6.5%)	303 (26.7%)	38 (3.4%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	61 (5.4%)	89.6	53^rd of 661 public elementary schools	92.0%		80	114^th of 639 public elementary schools	82.2%	61	85.4	81.8	82.2	68.1	69.6	71.3	87.6	70.7	71.4	61.4	50.4	67.2	74.6	74.8	91%		$17,502	$496	$490	$986	$13,210	$3,306	$16,516
Pritchardville Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	9447 Evan Way	Bluffton	29910	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	No	Yes	No	No	(843) 707-0500	887	79	11.2	49.0%	455 (51.3%)	66 (7.4%)	300 (33.8%)	8 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	56 (6.3%)	75.6	151^st of 661 public elementary schools	77.2%		78.9	128^th of 639 public elementary schools	80.0%	23	74.6	69.7	75.6				77.4	58.0	61.1				58.7		96%		$13,697	$388	$581	$968	$9,368	$3,361	$12,729
Okatie Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	53 Cherry Point Road	Bluffton	29909	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	No	No	No	No	(843) 322-7700	648	49	13.3	50.1%	360 (55.6%)	52 (8.0%)	192 (29.6%)	7 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (5.7%)	72.9	170^th of 661 public elementary schools	74.3%		79.1	125^th of 639 public elementary schools	80.4%	45	83.8	73.5	55.6				78.8	68.4	51.3				66.4		93%		$15,587	$401	$674	$1,075	$10,824	$3,689	$14,512
Heartwood Community School	Public, Charter	K-3	100 Discovery Lane	Ridgeland	29936	Jasper County	School Public Charter School District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(843) 547-8124	87	15	5.8	53.2%	20 (23.0%)	41 (47.1%)	17 (19.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (10.3%)								(n/a)	60.0						52.0								93%		$54,174	$393	$91	$484	$37,937	$15,753	$53,690
Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts	Public	PK, KG-5	10 Bus Drive	Hilton Head Island	29926	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 342-4380	496	50	9.9	64.2%	147 (29.6%)	81 (16.3%)	243 (49.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (4.8%)	25.1	498^th of 661 public elementary schools	24.7%		37	399^th of 639 public elementary schools	37.6%	99	42.9	52.2	54.2				46.2	34.1	38.6				37.2		≥ 96%		$25,349	$548	$873	$1,422	$19,865	$4,062	$23,928
Hilton Head Island Elementary	Public, Magnet	1-5	30 School Road	Hilton Head Island	29926	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	No	Yes	No	Yes	(843) 342-4100	702	77	9.1	57.7%	232 (33.0%)	63 (9.0%)	372 (53.0%)	6 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (4.1%)	56.1	272^nd of 661 public elementary schools	58.9%		54.7	276^th of 639 public elementary schools	56.8%	4	63.9	63.7	61.5				56.4	50.0	54.0				57.8		96%		$19,581	$436	$806	$1,242	$14,756	$3,583	$18,339
Hardeeville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	150 Hurricane Alley	Hardeeville	29927	Jasper County	Jasper 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 310-1888	691	33	20.9	—	40 (5.8%)	172 (24.9%)	468 (67.7%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.9%)	3.7	657^th of 661 public elementary schools	0.6%		3.7	636^th of 639 public elementary schools	0.5%	21	21.3	26.8	29.2				19.2	15.0	26.7				17.8		82%

Frequently Asked Questions about Bluffton Elementary

Is Bluffton Elementary a good school?

Bluffton Elementary ranks 218^th of 661 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Bluffton Elementary in?

Beaufort 01

What is the racial makeup of Bluffton Elementary?

Students at Bluffton Elementary are 44% Hispanic, 38% White, 10% African American, 6% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Bluffton Elementary attend?

Students who attend Bluffton Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : H. E. McCracken Middle
High : Bluffton High

How many students attend Bluffton Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 709 students attended Bluffton Elementary.

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Latest South Carolina data All new data »

2024–25 through 2025–26 immunization ratesNewOct 20, 2026

2025–26 school spending dataOct 12, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 12, 2026

2025–26 EOCEP & SC READY test scoresAug 10, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the South Carolina Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.