Public schools in Beaufort, SC
14 open public schools with an address in Beaufort, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
14
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
8,251
14 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
10.6:1
South Carolina median 13.6:1
Charter schools
3
11 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Beaufort public schools
The federal directory lists 14 public schools in Beaufort, SC: 8 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 2 combined or other. The 14 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 8,251 students, an average of 589 per school. The largest campus is Bridges Preparatory School (1,472 students), and the largest elementary school is Robert Smalls Leadership Academy (785).
Beaufort 01 operates the most schools here (12), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 10.6:1, lower than the statewide school median of 13.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 3 charter schools, 11 magnet schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
School districts and agencies serving Beaufort
Elementary schools in Beaufort
8| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufort Elementary Beaufort 01 · Magnet | PK–05 | 375 | 8.2:1 | |
| Broad River Elementary Beaufort 01 · Magnet | PK–05 | 467 | 10.2:1 | |
| Coosa Elementary Beaufort 01 · Magnet | PK–05 | 467 | 13:1 | |
| Joseph S. Shanklin Elementary Beaufort 01 · Magnet | PK–05 | 416 | 8.9:1 | |
| Lady's Island Elementary Beaufort 01 · Magnet | PK–05 | 241 | 8:1 | |
| Mossy Oaks Elementary Beaufort 01 · Magnet | PK–05 | 327 | 7.8:1 | |
| Riverview Charter School Beaufort 01 · Charter | KG–08 | 694 | 13.3:1 | |
| Robert Smalls Leadership Academy Beaufort 01 · Magnet | PK–08 | 785 | 11:1 |
Middle schools in Beaufort
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufort Middle Beaufort 01 · Magnet | 06–08 | 348 | 9.2:1 | |
| Lady's Island Middle Beaufort 01 · Magnet | 06–08 | 338 | 8.9:1 |
High schools in Beaufort
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Creek High Beaufort 01 · Magnet | 09–12 | 809 | 11.5:1 | |
| Beaufort High Beaufort 01 · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,104 | 13.3:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Beaufort
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridges Preparatory School SC Public Charter School District · Charter | KG–12 | 1,472 | 15:1 | |
| Lowcountry Montessori School SC Public Charter School District · Charter | PK–12 | 408 | 14.2:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White39.3%
- Hispanic18%
- Black33.8%
- Asian1.3%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial7.2%
Enrollment-weighted across 14 Beaufort schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (8,251 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Beaufort
How many public schools are in Beaufort, SC?
The current NCES directory lists 14 open public schools with a location address in Beaufort: 8 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 8,251 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Beaufort?
Schools with an address in Beaufort belong to 2 education agencies, led by Beaufort 01 (12 schools), SC Public Charter School District (2 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Beaufort?
Beaufort High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Beaufort, with 1,104 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Beaufort?
Yes. 3 of the 14 public schools in Beaufort are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Bridges Preparatory School, Lowcountry Montessori School, Riverview Charter School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Beaufort schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Beaufort public schools is 10.6:1, lower than the South Carolina school median of 13.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Beaufort guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby South Carolina cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All South Carolina cities