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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Beaufort County Public Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 19 public preschools serving 9,968 students in Beaufort County, SC.
The top-ranked public preschools in Beaufort County, SC are Coosa Elementary School, Okatie Elementary School and Red Cedar Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Beaufort County, SC public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 44% (versus the South Carolina public pre school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 49% (versus the 48% statewide average). Pre schools in Beaufort County have an average ranking of 7/10, which is in the top 50% of South Carolina public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 64% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the South Carolina public preschool average of 55% (majority Black).

Best Public Preschools in Beaufort County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Coosa Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
45 Middle Road
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 322-6100
Gr: PK-5 | 467 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #22.
Okatie Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
53 Cherry Point Road
Okatie, SC 29909
(843) 322-7700
Gr: PK-5 | 648 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #33.
Red Cedar Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
10 Box Elder Street
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 707-0600
Gr: PK-5 | 636 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #44.
Pritchardville Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
9447 Evan Way
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 707-0500
Gr: PK-5 | 887 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #55.
River Ridge Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3050 River Ridge Drive
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 836-4600
Gr: PK-8 | 1,134 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #66.
Bluffton Elementary School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
160 H.e. Mccracken Circle
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 706-8500
Gr: PK-5 | 709 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #77.
Port Royal Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1214 Paris Avenue
Port Royal, SC 29935
(843) 322-0820
Gr: PK-5 | 179 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #88.
Beaufort Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1800 Prince Street
Beaufort, SC 29902
(843) 322-2600
Gr: PK-5 | 375 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #99.
Lady's Island Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
73 Chowan Creek Bluff
Beaufort, SC 29907
(843) 322-2240
Gr: PK-5 | 241 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #1010.
Lowcountry Montessori School
Charter School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
749 Broad River Drive
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-0577
Gr: PK-12 | 408 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Broad River Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
474 Broad River Road
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-8400
Gr: PK-5 | 467 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Mossy Oaks Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2510 Mossy Oaks Road
Beaufort, SC 29902
(843) 322-2900
Gr: PK-5 | 327 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #1313.
Michael C. Riley Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
200 Burnt Church Road
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 706-8300
Gr: PK-5 | 704 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #1414.
Hilton Head Island School For The Creative Arts
(Math: 38% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
10 Bus Drive
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 342-4380
Gr: PK-5 | 496 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #1515.
St. Helena Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1025 Sea Island Parkway
Saint Helena Island, SC 29920
(843) 838-0300
Gr: PK-5 | 325 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #1616.
Robert Smalls Leadership Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
43 W. K. Alston Drive
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 322-2500
Gr: PK-8 | 785 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #1717.
Joseph S. Shanklin Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
121 Morrall Drive
Beaufort, SC 29906
(843) 466-3400
Gr: PK-5 | 416 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #1818.
Whale Branch Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
15 Stuart Point Road
Seabrook, SC 29940
(843) 466-1000
Gr: PK-5 | 409 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: n/an/a
Hilton Head Island Early Childhood Center
165 Pembroke Drive
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 689-0400
Gr: PK-K | 301 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 77%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public preschools in Beaufort County, SC?
The top-ranked public preschools in Beaufort County, SC include Coosa Elementary School, Okatie Elementary School and Red Cedar Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Beaufort County?
19 public preschools are located in Beaufort County.
What is the racial composition of students in Beaufort County?
Beaufort County public preschools minority enrollment is 64% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the South Carolina public preschools average of 55% (majority Black).
Which public preschools in Beaufort County are often viewed compared to one another?

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