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Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts

Q: Is Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts a good school?

Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts ranks 400 th of 640 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

400^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 640 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 38% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts is a public elementary school serving grades PK-5 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with 528 students and a student-teacher ratio of around 10:1. The school is part of the Beaufort 01 school district, which is ranked 28 out of 75 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite the school's relatively high per-student spending, ranging from $12,173 to $18,872 per student over the past few years, Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts has consistently ranked in the bottom half of South Carolina elementary schools, with a ranking between 211-426 out of 622-644 schools. Its performance on state assessments (SC READY) is also below the district and state averages across grade levels and subject areas. The school has also struggled with high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 14.1% to 29.7% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state average.

Interestingly, the school is located in close proximity to several other elementary schools in the Beaufort 01 district, such as River Ridge Academy, Okatie Elementary, and Red Cedar Elementary, which consistently outperform it on academic measures. This suggests that addressing the root causes of the school's challenges, including equity gaps and resource allocation inefficiencies, will be crucial for improving student outcomes.

496

Students ?

9.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,945

Per pupil spending ?

64.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

10 Bus Drive
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926

(843) 342-4380

District: Beaufort 01

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

49.0%

White:

29.6%

African American:

16.3%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

Compare Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 63rd percentile in 2015 → 38th in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Carolina average (48% vs 56% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 25 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school48%

District avg57%

South Carolina avg56%

400^th of 640

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 38%▼ down 25 pts since 2015

From top 37% (2015) to bottom 38% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

13^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	37.0	400 of 640	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.7	366 of 638	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.3	426 of 644	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.3	365 of 625	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	64.5	211 of 622	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	46.3	350 of 643	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.3	309 of 624	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	49.2	320 of 639	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	52.7	290 of 619	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	57.7	239 of 638	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2014	60.0	262 of 630	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2013	54.3	305 of 599	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	50.8	333 of 594	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2011	50.3	337 of 597	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	57.6	261 of 589	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2009	58.4	249 of 580	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	46.9	345 of 577	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2007	44.3	360 of 566	36.4%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	19.8	353 of 394	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	42.1	247 of 412	40.0%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	57.2	60 of 174	65.5%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	18.6	90 of 104	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.9	49 of 79	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.9	55 of 72	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.3	68 of 84	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	50.1	40 of 84	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	25.0	80 of 104	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.6	59 of 82	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	35.8	375 of 581	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.1	356 of 565	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.0	395 of 580	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.3	360 of 573	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	67.3	169 of 554	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	40.8	364 of 588	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.4	285 of 570	50.0%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	53.3	64 of 101	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.0	115 of 147	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	26.3	124 of 156	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.1	69 of 115	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	24.1	90 of 115	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.7	86 of 115	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	60.7	33 of 86	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	34.2	79 of 116	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.0	74 of 104	28.8%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	33.7	425 of 613	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.7	336 of 599	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	28.6	463 of 608	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.8	412 of 600	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	56.5	243 of 580	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	44.6	351 of 600	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.6	357 of 588	39.3%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	35.9	380 of 586	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.7	330 of 568	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.4	394 of 582	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.9	341 of 579	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	56.1	238 of 561	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	48.0	312 of 590	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.9	313 of 571	45.2%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	81.4	60 of 460	87.0%	★★★★☆
2024	77.4	84 of 441	81.0%	★★★★☆
2023	64.9	160 of 463	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.6	208 of 455	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	79.1	75 of 439	82.9%	★★★★☆
2019	63.7	175 of 472	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	72.6	110 of 457	75.9%	★★★★☆

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)

White (2025)87th percentile+49 vs school

Disabled (2023)66th percentile+32 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)37th percentile~ school

Female (2025)35th percentile~ school

Male (2025)35th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)31st percentile-7 vs school

Hispanic (2025)21st percentile-17 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)13th percentile-24 vs school

African American (2023)10th percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts55%-8 vs state

Mathematics44%-8 vs state

Science36%-13 vs state

3.3

3 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★1

2★1

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, November 18, 2021

This was once an amazing school, however under the “guidance” of the new principal the quality of education has plummeted. I suspect corruption may be part of the issue, but control and overreach have definitely destroyed this once lovely school. I give two stars for the teachers who are hanging in despite horrible leadership. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, April 11, 2013

Best school ever. All extra after school activities along with school activities and the teachers they will all give that child a chance to grow up to be a productive person .

Can't say enough good things about this school and the administration. Close Quote

Schools Near Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts

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
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		147 (29.6%)	81 (16.3%)	243 (49.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (4.8%)	37	400^th of 640 public elementary schools	37.5%		42.7	366^th of 638 public elementary schools	42.6%	34	49.5	55.8	59.3				39.4	43.2	49.6				35.7			$19,945	$2,514	$496	$3,009	$14,591	$2,344	$16,935
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		232 (33.0%)	63 (9.0%)	372 (53.0%)	6 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (4.1%)	54.7	276^th of 640 public elementary schools	56.9%		51.6	299^th of 638 public elementary schools	53.1%	23	57.0	66.4	52.5				50.4	63.7	50.4				54.8			$18,426	$797	$447	$1,244	$14,413	$2,769	$17,182
Hilton Head Island Early Childhood Center	Public	PK-K	165 Pembroke Drive	Hilton Head Island	29926	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 689-0400	301	31	9.8		68 (22.6%)	42 (14.0%)	178 (59.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.3%)								(n/a)																$36,942	$1,605	$794	$2,398	$29,465	$5,079	$34,544
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
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
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
Port Royal Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1214 Paris Avenue	Port Royal	29935	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 322-0820	179	24	7.6		51 (28.5%)	71 (39.7%)	42 (23.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (8.4%)	41.2	365^th of 640 public elementary schools	43.0%		26.8	468^th of 638 public elementary schools	26.6%	103		55.5	46.1					51.8	46.2				44.4			$25,799	$1,441	$766	$2,207	$19,767	$3,824	$23,592
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
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
Mossy Oaks Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2510 Mossy Oaks Road	Beaufort	29902	Beaufort County	Beaufort 01	No	No	No	Yes	(843) 322-2900	327	42	7.7		92 (28.1%)	131 (40.1%)	41 (12.5%)	7 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	54 (16.5%)	50.7	305^th of 640 public elementary schools	52.3%		43.3	362^nd of 638 public elementary schools	43.3%	57	45.7	67.9	63.8				36.9	62.2	42.6				54.7			$23,408	$1,041	$702	$1,742	$17,227	$4,439	$21,666

Frequently Asked Questions about Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts

What district is Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts in?

Beaufort 01

What is the racial makeup of Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts?

Students at Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts are 49% Hispanic, 30% White, 16% African American, 5% Two or more races.

How many students attend Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts?

In the 2024-25 school year, 496 students attended Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts.

Is Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts a good school?

Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts ranks 400^th of 640 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts!

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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.