Public schools in Bluffton, SC
10 open public schools with an address in Bluffton, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
10
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
9,591
10 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.9:1
South Carolina median 13.6:1
Charter schools
0
10 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Bluffton public schools
The federal directory lists 10 public schools in Bluffton, SC: 6 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high. The 10 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 9,591 students, an average of 959 per school. The largest campus is May River High (1,731 students), and the largest elementary school is River Ridge Academy (1,134).
Every listed school belongs to Beaufort 01. 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 12.9:1, 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 10 magnet schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
School districts and agencies serving Bluffton
Elementary schools in Bluffton
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluffton Elementary Beaufort 01 · Magnet | PK–05 | 709 | 10.4:1 | |
| Michael C. Riley Elementary Beaufort 01 · Magnet | PK–05 | 704 | 9.6:1 | |
| Okatie Elementary Beaufort 01 · Magnet | PK–05 | 648 | 13.3:1 | |
| Pritchardville Elementary Beaufort 01 · Magnet | PK–05 | 887 | 11.3:1 | |
| Red Cedar Elementary Beaufort 01 · Magnet | PK–05 | 636 | 10.8:1 | |
| River Ridge Academy Beaufort 01 · Magnet | PK–08 | 1,134 | 13.4:1 |
Middle schools in Bluffton
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluffton Middle Beaufort 01 · Magnet | 06–08 | 921 | 14.2:1 | |
| H. E. McCracken Middle Beaufort 01 · Magnet | 06–08 | 846 | 12.4:1 |
High schools in Bluffton
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluffton High Beaufort 01 · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,375 | 14.9:1 | |
| May River High Beaufort 01 · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,731 | 15.5:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White45.3%
- Hispanic39.2%
- Black9%
- Asian1.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial4.6%
Enrollment-weighted across 10 Bluffton schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (9,591 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Bluffton
How many public schools are in Bluffton, SC?
The current NCES directory lists 10 open public schools with a location address in Bluffton: 6 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high. Together they reported 9,591 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Bluffton?
All listed public schools with an address in Bluffton belong to Beaufort 01. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Bluffton?
May River High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Bluffton, with 1,731 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Bluffton?
No school with an address in Bluffton is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in South Carolina.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Bluffton schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Bluffton public schools is 12.9:1, 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 Bluffton 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