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Okatie Elementary

Q: Is Okatie Elementary a good school?

Okatie Elementary ranks 125 th of 640 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

125^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 640 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 80% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Okatie Elementary is a high-performing public elementary school in Bluffton, South Carolina, serving 599 students in grades PK-5. The school consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in the state, with strong academic performance that exceeds district and state averages across all grade levels and subject areas, particularly in Mathematics and Science.

Okatie Elementary's diverse student population includes a significant percentage of Hispanic and White students, and the school's performance is strong across different student subgroups. The school spends more per student and maintains a relatively low student-teacher ratio, which may contribute to its academic success. Compared to nearby schools in the Beaufort 01 district, Okatie Elementary outperforms most, with the exception of Red Cedar Elementary, which also ranks among the top elementary schools in the state.

However, Okatie Elementary has experienced a concerning increase in chronic absenteeism rates, rising from 13.3% in 2022-2023 to 22.5% in 2023-2024. Additionally, the school has seen a significant increase in the percentage of students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch, from 26.44% in 2022-2023 to 50.08% in 2023-2024. These trends warrant further investigation and targeted interventions to ensure the school's continued academic excellence.

648

Students ?

13.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,061

Per pupil spending ?

50.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

53 Cherry Point Road
Bluffton, SC 29909

(843) 322-7700

District: Beaufort 01

Students who attend Okatie Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Bluffton Middle
High:	May River High

Racial breakdown:

White:

55.6%

Hispanic:

29.6%

African American:

8.0%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

Compare Okatie Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 88th percentile in 2015 → 80th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the South Carolina average (69% vs 56% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 20% of South Carolina elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Beaufort 01

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 8 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school69%

District avg57%

South Carolina avg56%

125^th of 640

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 20%▼ down 8 pts since 2015

From top 12% (2015) to top 20% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^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
2025	79.1	125 of 640	80.5%	★★★★☆
2024	79.7	124 of 638	80.6%	★★★★☆
2023	87.8	78 of 644	87.9%	★★★★☆
2022	89.4	61 of 625	90.2%	★★★★★
2021	87.2	73 of 622	88.3%	★★★★☆
2019	83.6	91 of 643	85.8%	★★★★☆
2018	83.0	95 of 624	84.8%	★★★★☆
2017	86.6	63 of 639	90.1%	★★★★★
2016	83.2	82 of 619	86.8%	★★★★☆
2015	82.6	75 of 638	88.2%	★★★★☆
2014	87.9	34 of 630	94.6%	★★★★★
2013	83.3	60 of 599	90.0%	★★★★★
2012	86.1	38 of 594	93.6%	★★★★★
2011	81.8	77 of 597	87.1%	★★★★☆
2010	79.9	98 of 589	83.4%	★★★★☆
2009	60.1	241 of 580	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2008	47.8	342 of 577	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2007	52.9	289 of 566	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2006	57.5	262 of 559	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2005	46.5	335 of 557	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2004	46.9	335 of 550	39.1%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	60.1	39 of 104	62.5%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	73.0	155 of 581	73.3%	★★★★☆
2024	74.9	133 of 565	76.5%	★★★★☆
2023	84.5	82 of 580	85.9%	★★★★☆
2022	88.3	62 of 573	89.2%	★★★★☆
2021	84.5	81 of 554	85.4%	★★★★☆
2019	82.6	83 of 588	85.9%	★★★★☆
2018	80.5	96 of 570	83.2%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	65.1	55 of 109	49.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	66.6	56 of 147	61.9%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	72.6	31 of 156	80.1%	★★★★☆
2024	83.9	12 of 115	89.6%	★★★★★
2023	75.2	26 of 115	77.4%	★★★★☆
2022	96.9	2 of 115	98.3%	★★★★★
2021	86.0	7 of 86	91.9%	★★★★★
2019	72.4	29 of 116	75.0%	★★★★☆
2018	66.8	34 of 104	67.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	75.2	122 of 613	80.1%	★★★★☆
2024	80.3	86 of 599	85.6%	★★★★☆
2023	88.4	37 of 608	93.9%	★★★★★
2022	85.1	60 of 600	90.0%	★★★★★
2021	85.7	58 of 580	90.0%	★★★★★
2019	74.8	121 of 600	79.8%	★★★★☆
2018	79.7	87 of 588	85.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	81.2	89 of 586	84.8%	★★★★☆
2024	80.6	106 of 568	81.3%	★★★★☆
2023	87.2	62 of 582	89.3%	★★★★☆
2022	87.5	61 of 579	89.5%	★★★★☆
2021	85.0	72 of 561	87.2%	★★★★☆
2019	81.4	93 of 590	84.2%	★★★★☆
2018	82.4	90 of 571	84.2%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	76.9	92 of 460	80.0%	★★★★☆
2024	71.9	115 of 441	73.9%	★★★★☆
2023	86.5	41 of 463	91.1%	★★★★★
2022	84.9	52 of 455	88.6%	★★★★☆
2021	81.5	65 of 439	85.2%	★★★★☆
2019	77.8	82 of 472	82.6%	★★★★☆
2018	82.8	65 of 457	85.8%	★★★★☆

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)

Male (2025)85th percentile+4 vs school

Hispanic (2025)80th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)80th percentile~ school

White (2025)80th percentile~ school

Female (2025)73rd percentile-7 vs school

English Language Learner (2019)62nd percentile-23 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2022)50th percentile-41 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts73%+11 vs state

Mathematics68%+16 vs state

Science59%+10 vs state

5.0

3 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★3

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a principal
Friday, September 3, 2021

Staff, Parents and Community consistently work together to provide opportunities that promote leadership and academic success. Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, September 3, 2014

The teachers and other staff of OES are amazing. Their character and talent with the children is beyond what any parent could ask for.
The children of OES are so proud to attend this award-winning school. Close Quote

by a parent on FaceBook
Sunday, June 16, 2013

Best elementary school in Beaufort County! We have the most amazing staff, very involved teachers, and the best principal in Mrs. Pinckney! The PTO is very active, as is SIC. This is a science, math and health focused school. Our programs include a garden club, running club, cheer squad, electronics club, computer lab, media center, robotics club, tek club, young astronauts, chorus, band, drama club, quarterly math bowl, monthly Sumdog math contest, and GT Art. Our teachers use technology in the classroom to enhance learning and engage all students. If you are moving to BEaufort County, make sure you live in the Okatie Elemenatry school area! You don't want your kids to go anywhere else!!! Close Quote

Schools Near Okatie Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				SC READY English Language Arts (2025)						SC READY Mathematics (2025)						SC READY Science (2025)		EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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	EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 End of Course	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
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		360 (55.6%)	52 (8.0%)	192 (29.6%)	7 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (5.7%)	79.1	125^th of 640 public elementary schools	80.5%		79.7	124^th of 638 public elementary schools	80.6%	1	76.1	70.0	74.4				78.1	59.2	70.0				59.1			$17,061	$546	$376	$921	$13,779	$2,360	$16,140
Heartwood Community School	Public, Charter	K-2	8575 East Argent Parkway	Ridgeland	29936	Jasper County	School Public Charter School District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(843) 547-8124	87	15	5.8		20 (23.0%)	41 (47.1%)	17 (19.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (10.3%)								(n/a)																$27,993	$60	$63	$122	$179	$27,692	$27,870
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		655 (57.8%)	74 (6.5%)	303 (26.7%)	38 (3.4%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	61 (5.4%)	80	114^th of 640 public elementary schools	82.2%		80.3	119^th of 638 public elementary schools	81.3%	5	73.5	79.8	71.8	66.7	68.4	61.7	76.8	66.0	60.5	44.0	40.0	46.1	60.4	66.0	100.0	$14,899	$353	$378	$731	$11,884	$2,284	$14,168
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		270 (38.1%)	69 (9.7%)	310 (43.7%)	19 (2.7%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	39 (5.5%)	65.8	220^th of 640 public elementary schools	65.6%		67.1	205^th of 638 public elementary schools	67.9%	15	56.2	70.4	68.4				54.3	63.8	63.1				54.3			$19,492	$938	$521	$1,460	$15,033	$2,999	$18,032
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		270 (42.5%)	57 (9.0%)	275 (43.2%)	7 (1.1%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (3.9%)	79.5	119^th of 640 public elementary schools	81.4%		73.9	160^th of 638 public elementary schools	74.9%	41	72.6	71.4	70.4				72.7	72.3	57.1				64.3			$19,657	$1,505	$567	$2,072	$15,273	$2,312	$17,585
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		455 (51.3%)	66 (7.4%)	300 (33.8%)	8 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	56 (6.3%)	78.9	128^th of 640 public elementary schools	80.0%		85.1	84^th of 638 public elementary schools	86.8%	44	72.2	70.8	74.8				69.9	58.4	75.5				61.1			$14,671	$537	$450	$987	$11,630	$2,053	$13,683
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	637^th of 640 public elementary schools	0.5%		5.9	627^th of 638 public elementary schools	1.7%	10	23.6	19.7	29.3				14.4	12.8	25.5				15.3
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		168 (23.9%)	54 (7.7%)	461 (65.5%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (2.4%)	21.7	515^th of 640 public elementary schools	19.5%		22.8	498^th of 638 public elementary schools	21.9%	17	43.9	43.9	46.8				47.0	33.3	31.5				35.0			$21,179	$953	$585	$1,538	$16,383	$3,258	$19,641
Riverview Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	81 Savannah Highway	Beaufort	29906	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	Yes	No	No	No	(843) 379-0133	694	52	13.2		392 (56.5%)	175 (25.2%)	78 (11.2%)	11 (1.6%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (5.0%)	69.8	197^th of 640 public elementary schools	69.2%		74.5	155^th of 638 public elementary schools	75.7%	42	73.8	65.8	76.3	67.6	76.8	80.0	61.3	50.6	62.6	52.0	56.5	63.3	38.0	62.4	97.2	$18,820	$278	$140	$418	$15,525	$2,877	$18,402
Joseph S. Shanklin Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	121 Morrall Drive	Beaufort	29906	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 466-3400	416	47	8.8		30 (7.2%)	189 (45.4%)	166 (39.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (7.5%)	9.7	604^th of 640 public elementary schools	5.6%		11.5	583^rd of 638 public elementary schools	8.6%	21	35.4	35.9	36.9				21.5	34.3	28.1				20.9			$25,040	$1,999	$739	$2,738	$19,051	$3,250	$22,302

Frequently Asked Questions about Okatie Elementary

What schools do graduates of Okatie Elementary attend?

Students who attend Okatie Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Bluffton Middle
High : May River High

What is the racial makeup of Okatie Elementary?

Students at Okatie Elementary are 56% White, 30% Hispanic, 8% African American, 6% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What district is Okatie Elementary in?

Beaufort 01

Is Okatie Elementary a good school?

Okatie Elementary ranks 125^th of 640 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Okatie Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 648 students attended Okatie Elementary.

Rate Okatie Elementary!

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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.