Carolina Shores Acceleration Academy

Carolina Shores Acceleration Academy is a public charter high school in Myrtle Beach, SC, serving 277 students in grades 9-12 under the School Public Charter School District.

This school is designed as an accelerated pathway for students who may have struggled in traditional settings, and the data shows a challenging picture. The most significant concern is the graduation rate of just 35.6% for 2024-2025—more than 50 points below the state average of 86.7% and dramatically lower than nearby schools like Myrtle Beach High (85.7%) or HCS Scholars Academy High (100%). The dropout rate of 19.2% is over nine times the state average, though it did improve from the prior year's 28.3% graduation rate. On a more positive note, students who do attend are remarkably consistent—the chronic absenteeism rate is just 7.1%, far below the state's 22.3%—and English 2 proficiency (77.55%) is close to the state average. However, U.S. History proficiency sits at just 20.69%, and Algebra 1 scores have been inconsistent year to year.

One area of concern is the student-teacher ratio, which jumped from 11.2:1 to 34.6:1 in a single year—now the highest among all comparison schools and more than double the ratio at Socastee High (18.1:1). The school spends $15,649 per student, more than several higher-performing local schools like Carolina Forest High ($12,194) and Atlantic Collegiate Academy ($9,591), yet outcomes lag significantly. While the school serves a population that traditional schools have struggled with—which provides important context—the gap between this school and even the lowest-performing traditional high school in the area remains substantial. The improvement in graduation rate offers a small glimmer of momentum, but families should weigh these challenges carefully.