Summary
Bluffton High in Bluffton, SC, is a large public high school serving 1,375 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Beaufort 01 district, and it stands out as the top-performing high school in its district with a 93.5% graduation rate and a 4-star rating for ten consecutive years.
Academically, Bluffton High consistently outperforms its district and state averages on End-of-Course exams, with particularly strong results in English 1 (74% proficient vs. 61% district average) and U.S. History (73% vs. 64%). The school also excels with specific student groups, earning 5-star ratings for White students and Gifted and Talented students, and 4-star ratings for African American and low-socioeconomic-status students. When compared to nearby May River High, just 4.92 miles away, Bluffton High outperforms it in nearly every metric—higher graduation rate, better state ranking (62nd vs. 89th), and superior test scores—despite spending less per student ($14,631 vs. $13,762). The school also maintains an exceptionally low dropout rate of 0.8%, well below the state average of 2.1%.
However, there are areas of concern. Chronic absenteeism sits at 30.1%, significantly higher than the district (21.3%) and state (22.3%) averages, though this is a major improvement from 49.5% two years ago. Test scores have also declined recently—Algebra 1 proficiency dropped from 83.9% to 59.3% and English 1 from 89.1% to 74% over the past three years. Additionally, the school shows a notable gender gap, ranking in the 84th percentile for male students but only the 54th percentile for female students. English Language Learners are the lowest-performing subgroup, ranking in the 42nd percentile. Despite these challenges, Bluffton High's decade-long stability, efficient resource use, and strong outcomes for diverse populations make it a solid choice for families in the area.
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