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Okatie Elementary

Q: Is Okatie Elementary a good school?

Okatie Elementary ranks 169 th of 649 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

169^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 649 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 74% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Okatie Elementary, located in Bluffton, SC, serves 648 students from Pre-K through 5th grade and is part of the Beaufort 01 school district. The school has earned a solid 4-star rating and remains a strong performer within the state, though its ranking has gradually declined from the 90th percentile in 2021-2022 to the 74th percentile in 2025-2026.

Okatie Elementary truly shines in the early grades. In 2025-2026, an impressive 83.8% of 3rd graders were proficient in English Language Arts—nearly 20 points above both the district and state averages. Math proficiency in 3rd grade was similarly strong at 78.8%. The school also excels at keeping students in class, with a chronic absenteeism rate of just 11.0%, roughly half the district (21.3%) and state (22.3%) averages. This suggests a highly engaged student body and strong family involvement. Additionally, Okatie achieves these results efficiently, spending about $17,061 per student—significantly less than nearby schools like Joseph S. Shanklin Elementary ($25,040) and Michael C. Riley Elementary ($21,179), both of which have far lower academic outcomes.

However, there is a notable challenge: student performance drops significantly between 3rd and 5th grade. In 2025-2026, 5th grade ELA proficiency fell to 55.6% and math to 51.3%—a decline of roughly 28 points in both subjects. This pattern was not present the previous year, suggesting it may be specific to the current cohort. When compared to nearby schools, Okatie holds a strong middle-to-upper position. It outperforms Bluffton Elementary and Broad River Elementary, while River Ridge Academy and Red Cedar Elementary edge it out in overall rankings. For parents, Okatie offers excellent early elementary instruction, outstanding attendance, and efficient use of resources—making it a dependable choice in the Bluffton area.

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 — 87th percentile in 2016 → 74th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the South Carolina average (68% vs 58% meeting standards)

✓Above the South Carolina median (74th percentile)

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 school68%

District avg58%

South Carolina avg58%

169^th of 649

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 26%▼ down 13 pts since 2016

From top 13% (2016) to top 26% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^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	73.0	169 of 649	74.0%	★★★★☆
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
2026	69.6	169 of 589	71.3%	★★★★☆
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
2026	67.5	43 of 155	72.3%	★★★★☆
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
2026	69.8	169 of 624	72.9%	★★★★☆
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
2026	74.6	139 of 583	76.2%	★★★★☆
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
2026	74.1	110 of 454	75.8%	★★★★☆
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 (2026)76th percentile~ school

White (2026)76th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)73rd percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)72nd percentile~ school

Female (2026)71st percentile-3 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 (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts70%+6 vs state

Science66%+15 vs state

Mathematics65%+12 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

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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 Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SC READY English Language Arts (2026)						SC READY Mathematics (2026)						SC READY Science (2026)		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 (2024)	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	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	50.1%	360 (55.6%)	52 (8.0%)	192 (29.6%)	7 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (5.7%)	73	169^th of 649 public elementary schools	74.0%		79.1	125^th of 640 public elementary schools	80.5%	44	83.8	73.5	55.6				78.8	68.4	51.3				66.4		$17,061	$546	$376	$921	$13,779	$2,360	$16,140
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								$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	42.1%	655 (57.8%)	74 (6.5%)	303 (26.7%)	38 (3.4%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	61 (5.4%)	89.8	53^rd of 649 public elementary schools	91.8%		80	114^th of 640 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	$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	57.7%	270 (38.1%)	69 (9.7%)	310 (43.7%)	19 (2.7%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	39 (5.5%)	65.5	214^th of 649 public elementary schools	67.0%		65.8	220^th of 640 public elementary schools	65.6%	6	62.6	69.4	64.9				65.8	61.1	55.3				60.2		$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	60.7%	270 (42.5%)	57 (9.0%)	275 (43.2%)	7 (1.1%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (3.9%)	77.2	138^th of 649 public elementary schools	78.7%		79.5	119^th of 640 public elementary schools	81.4%	19	66.7	80.0	74.4				68.6	64.9	61.0				66.0		$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	49.0%	455 (51.3%)	66 (7.4%)	300 (33.8%)	8 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	56 (6.3%)	75.7	149^th of 649 public elementary schools	77.0%		78.9	128^th of 640 public elementary schools	80.0%	21	74.6	69.7	75.6				77.4	58.0	61.1				58.7		$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	100.0%	40 (5.8%)	172 (24.9%)	468 (67.7%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.9%)	3.7	645^th of 649 public elementary schools	0.6%		3.7	637^th of 640 public elementary schools	0.5%	8	21.3	26.8	29.2				19.2	15.0	26.7				17.8
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%)	28	467^th of 649 public elementary schools	28.0%		21.7	515^th of 640 public elementary schools	19.5%	48	43.3	48.4	45.7				45.2	48.4	40.6				45.1		$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	43.8%	392 (56.5%)	175 (25.2%)	78 (11.2%)	11 (1.6%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (5.0%)	85.1	85^th of 649 public elementary schools	86.9%		69.8	197^th of 640 public elementary schools	69.2%	112	83.4	81.0	75.1	77.2	81.7	85.0	71.8	65.8	63.8	62.8	49.3	75.0	67.0	64.5	$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	100.0%	30 (7.2%)	189 (45.4%)	166 (39.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (7.5%)	14.9	580^th of 649 public elementary schools	10.6%		9.7	604^th of 640 public elementary schools	5.6%	24	50.9	42.1	40.8				30.9	36.8	21.1				35.1		$25,040	$1,999	$739	$2,738	$19,051	$3,250	$22,302

Frequently Asked Questions about Okatie Elementary

Is Okatie Elementary a good school?

Okatie Elementary ranks 169^th of 649 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.

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

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Latest South Carolina data All new data »

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

2024–25 school spending dataNov 3, 2025

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 3, 2025

2024–25 EOCEP & SC READY test scoresSep 2, 2025

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.