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Hilton Head Island Elementary

Q: Is Hilton Head Island Elementary a good school?

Hilton Head Island Elementary ranks 266 th of 649 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades 1-5

266^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 649 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 59% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Hilton Head Island Elementary is a mid-sized school on Hilton Head Island, SC, serving 702 students in grades 1-5 as part of the Beaufort 01 school district.

This school has a lot of positives for parents to consider. Most notably, attendance is a real strength—only 11.5% of students were chronically absent in the most recent year, which is dramatically better than the district (21.3%) and state (22.3%) averages. This represents a remarkable turnaround from just two years prior. Academically, the school is a solid mid-tier performer, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 59th percentile statewide. Science is a standout subject, with 4th graders consistently outperforming both district and state averages. The school also maintains a very favorable student-teacher ratio of 9.1:1, meaning smaller class sizes than many nearby options like River Ridge Academy (13.3:1) or Okatie Elementary (13.3:1).

However, there are some areas where the school struggles. Performance with Gifted and Talented students is notably weak, ranking in just the 42nd percentile, which suggests the school may not be consistently challenging its highest-achieving learners. There's also a persistent gender gap, with boys outperforming girls relative to their statewide peers. English Language Learner support appears to be a growing concern, with rankings declining over the past few years. When compared to its neighbors, Hilton Head Island Elementary is the stronger academic option on the island, significantly outperforming the nearby Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts (24th percentile). Yet it trails higher-performing schools in the area like Red Cedar Elementary (79th percentile) and Riverview Charter School (87th percentile). Overall, this is a school showing positive momentum in attendance and science, but with room to grow in serving all student groups equally.

702

Students ?

9.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,426

Per pupil spending ?

57.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

30 School Road
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926

(843) 342-4100

District: Beaufort 01

Students who attend Hilton Head Island Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Hilton Head Island Middle
High:	Hilton Head Island High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

53.0%

White:

33.0%

African American:

9.0%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

Compare Hilton Head Island Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 74th percentile in 2016 → 59th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the South Carolina median (59th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 9 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 15 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school58%

District avg58%

South Carolina avg58%

266^th of 649

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 41%▼ down 15 pts since 2016

From top 26% (2016) to top 41% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^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	56.2	266 of 649	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	54.7	276 of 640	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.6	299 of 638	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.5	289 of 644	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.8	252 of 625	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	68.7	182 of 622	70.7%	★★★★☆
2019	62.4	235 of 643	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.8	226 of 624	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	67.7	188 of 639	70.6%	★★★★☆
2016	70.1	163 of 619	73.7%	★★★★☆
2015	58.2	236 of 638	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2014	55.5	300 of 630	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2013	63.1	229 of 599	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	55.6	297 of 594	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	53.7	304 of 597	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2010	41.3	380 of 589	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2009	45.7	344 of 580	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	39.9	390 of 577	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2007	47.0	340 of 566	39.9%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	32.2	313 of 421	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	50.9	189 of 412	54.1%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	39.7	108 of 189	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.3	70 of 161	56.5%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	41.2	59 of 103	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	45.3	50 of 104	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.2	37 of 79	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	42.0	37 of 72	48.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.8	49 of 84	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.5	42 of 84	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	44.6	62 of 104	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.2	48 of 82	41.5%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	49.3	280 of 589	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	41.7	337 of 581	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.4	337 of 565	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.2	284 of 580	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.1	218 of 573	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	74.6	127 of 554	77.1%	★★★★☆
2019	60.8	228 of 588	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.7	278 of 570	51.2%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	58.4	53 of 91	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	65.1	39 of 101	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.9	52 of 82	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	64.0	52 of 105	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.8	68 of 109	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	60.8	79 of 147	46.3%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	51.8	74 of 155	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	44.4	91 of 156	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.2	63 of 115	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.4	68 of 115	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.8	69 of 115	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	60.8	32 of 86	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	48.1	67 of 116	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.9	60 of 104	42.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	58.5	249 of 624	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	54.4	269 of 613	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	44.2	338 of 599	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	51.0	285 of 608	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.4	312 of 600	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	69.4	159 of 580	72.6%	★★★★☆
2019	53.3	296 of 600	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	49.5	289 of 588	50.9%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	59.7	238 of 583	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	63.5	216 of 586	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.5	250 of 568	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.2	271 of 582	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.2	279 of 579	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.7	226 of 561	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	60.4	232 of 590	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.8	171 of 571	70.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	76.5	91 of 454	80.0%	★★★★☆
2025	78.9	78 of 460	83.0%	★★★★☆
2024	75.0	97 of 441	78.0%	★★★★☆
2023	78.1	91 of 463	80.3%	★★★★☆
2022	84.3	59 of 455	87.0%	★★★★☆
2021	86.8	42 of 439	90.4%	★★★★★
2019	80.7	68 of 472	85.6%	★★★★☆
2018	80.9	76 of 457	83.4%	★★★★☆

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 (2026)80th percentile+21 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)60th percentile~ school

Male (2026)59th percentile~ school

Female (2026)52nd percentile-7 vs school

Hispanic (2026)52nd percentile-7 vs school

Disabled (2019)43rd percentile-21 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)43rd percentile-16 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)42nd percentile-17 vs school

African American (2019)26th percentile-38 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts63%~ state avg

Science58%+6 vs state

Mathematics53%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Hilton Head Island 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
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%)	56.2	266^th of 649 public elementary schools	59.0%		54.7	276^th of 640 public elementary schools	56.9%	10	63.9	63.7	61.5				56.4	50.0	54.0				57.8		$18,426	$797	$447	$1,244	$14,413	$2,769	$17,182
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	491^st of 649 public elementary schools	24.3%		37	400^th of 640 public elementary schools	37.5%	91	42.9	52.2	54.2				46.2	34.1	38.6				37.2		$19,945	$2,514	$496	$3,009	$14,591	$2,344	$16,935
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	56.6%	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	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
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
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
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	100.0%	51 (28.5%)	71 (39.7%)	42 (23.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (8.4%)	51.8	295^th of 649 public elementary schools	54.5%		41.2	365^th of 640 public elementary schools	43.0%	70	68.9		54.2				62.1		41.6						$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	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
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
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	100.0%	92 (28.1%)	131 (40.1%)	41 (12.5%)	7 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	54 (16.5%)	34.5	425^th of 649 public elementary schools	34.5%		50.7	305^th of 640 public elementary schools	52.3%	120	36.9	58.5	62.5				26.0	39.0	48.2				48.8		$23,408	$1,041	$702	$1,742	$17,227	$4,439	$21,666

Frequently Asked Questions about Hilton Head Island Elementary

Is Hilton Head Island Elementary a good school?

Hilton Head Island Elementary ranks 266^th of 649 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Hilton Head Island Elementary attend?

Students who attend Hilton Head Island Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Hilton Head Island Middle
High : Hilton Head Island High

How many students attend Hilton Head Island Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 702 students attended Hilton Head Island Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Hilton Head Island Elementary?

Students at Hilton Head Island Elementary are 53% Hispanic, 33% White, 9% African American, 4% Two or more races.

What district is Hilton Head Island 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.