2008-2009 HCS Quick Facts

Overview	Number of Schools	Enrollment
Ethnic Distribution	Class Size	Graduates
Meals Program	Employee Statistics	Teacher salaries
Budget	County Tax Rate	Student Testing
School attendance	Special Programs	Registration
Other Distinctions	Recent Honors

Overview

The Horry County School District is a county-wide school system, serving a county of 245,000 people along the Atlantic Coastline of northeastern South Carolina.

A twelve-member Board of Education, elected from single-member districts, governs the school district, with the chairman being elected at-large.  The Superintendent is appointed by the Board.

The school district has nine attendance areas: Myrtle Beach, Carolina Forest, Conway, Socastee, North Myrtle Beach, Loris, Aynor, Green Sea Floyds, and St. James.  Each area consists of a high school and the elementary and middle schools that feed into it.

Number of schools

Total	48
Primary/Elementary Schools	26
Middle Schools	11
High Schools	9
Career Centers / Academies	2
Alternative Schools	1

The district has one Charter School serving grades K-8.

Enrollment (Fall 2008)

Total	37,735
Pre-kindergarten	1,379
Grades K-2	8,678
Grades 3-5	8,461
Grades 6-8	8,211
Grades 9-12	11,006
Average daily attendance	96%

Horry County Schools is the 3rd largest of the state's 85 school districts and has gained 10,000 students during the last decade.

Ethnic Distribution (students)

White	67%
Black	21%
Hisxpanic	7%
Other	5%

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Class Size

Grades 9-12	23 student average
Grades 6-8	22 student average
Grades 4-5	24 student average
Grades 2-3	21 student average
Grade 1	20 student average
Kindergarten	25 student average

High School Students

2008 graduates	1,790
Graduates attending 2 or 4 year colleges	82%
2008 scholarships	$40 million

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Meals Program

Elementary school lunch	$1.85
Middle and high school lunch	$1.95
Students receiving free/reduced lunches	60%

Breakfasts are served in all schools

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Employees

Total number of full-time employees	5,260
Classroom teachers	2,483
Professional employees with advanced degrees	1,845

Teacher Salaries (2008-2009)

Bachelor’s degree	$34,270 to $58,798
Bachelor’s + 18 hrs.	$35,856 to $61,203
Master’s degrees	$39,459 to $67,51
Master’s + 30 hrs.	$40,316 to $68,816
Doctorate	$43,381 to $75,181

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Budget for Schools (2008-2009 consolidated budgets)

Revenue:

Local	$239,510,209...........54.15%
Intergovernmental Revenue	651.............0.00%
State	156,208,952...........35.31%
Federal	33,478,799............7.57%
Other Financing Sources	13,132,005..........2.97%
Total	$442,330,616........100.00%

Expenditures:

Instruction	$233,068,340..........46.55%
Supporting services	144,071,879..........28.78%
Community services	1,540,273........... 0.31%
Debt service	43,913,574............8.77%
Facilities & construction services	67,039,025..........13.39%
Other Financing Sources	11,016,099............2.20%
TOTAL	$501,373,437........100.00%

County Tax Rate for schools (2007-2008)

(Per thousand dollars of appraised value)

The 2008-2009 millage rate for HCS is 143.30 mills.  Of this, only 28 miles are applied to owner-occupied homes for Debt Service.  A state-approved one-penny sales tax rolls back property tax collected for the General Fund on owner-occupied homes. A votes-approved one-penny sales tax rolls back property tax collected for Debt Service on all property.  The local option sales tax will begin collection in March 2009 and will reduce Debt Service millage from 28 mills to 24 mills by the fall of 2008 and is expected to be lowered to 10 mills by 2010. Return to Top

Student Testing

• The Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (PASS) is a state-mandated test for grades 3 through 8 that will replace the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test (PACT).  PASS will be given for the first time in the Spring of 2009.
• HCS uses an innovative computer based testing program for grades 2-10 with tests in mathematics, language, and reading. MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) is aligned to state standards and gives the district a national comparison on student achievement.It also provdes results quickly to enable teachers to monitor instruction and address student needs.
• End of course tests are given for English I, Algebra I/Math for the Technologies II, Physical Science, and United States History and Constitution.
• Students in kindergarten and first grade will be assessed throughout the year using a teacher-completed checklist of student skills in personal and social development, language and literacy, and mathematical thinking.
• The High School Assessment Program, HSAP, is an exit exam that is administered during a student's second year of high school and is required for graduation.

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School Attendance

All children between 5 (by Sept. 1) and 17 must enroll in school. Schools operate 180 days a year. Students must attend at least 170 days to receive course or grade credit.

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Special Programs

• The district serves academically gifted students beginning in 3rd grade. Honors and Advanced Placement courses are available in middle and high schools.
• The Scholars' Academy is available for the highest achieving students in grades 9-12. on the campus of  Coastal Carolina University and offers college level and accelerated programs of study.
• The Early College High School targets students who are underrepresented in post-secondary education and allows them achieve two years of college credits while  completing high school requirements. The program is based at Horry Georgetown Technical College.
• The Connect Program enables students, who are at-risk of not graduating from high school and are a grade level or more behind their peers, an opportunity to graduate on time.
• Multiple dual credit opportunities are available through local post-secondary schools, advanced courses at base high schools, and Internet offerings.
• Selected courses are available to high school students through the Internet.
• A foreign language instructional program is offered in grade 6-12.
• After-school programs are available in most elementary schools. A fee is charged.
• A comprehensive program of special education provides programs for more than 6,000 students.
• Orchestra, band, and chorus programs are available for students in all middle and high schools..
• Alternative programs are available for students with disciplinary problems in grades 6-12. An alternative school is located near Conway.
• All elementary schools have full day kindergarten classes.
• HCS has the largest child development program in the state serving identified 4 year-olds.
• High schools athletics include football, basketball, baseball, track and field, softball, volleyball, wrestling, soccer, swimming, cheerleading, golf and tennis.  Offerings vary by high school.

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Registration

If you are unsure which school your child will attend, you can contact the school district Planning Office at 488-6712 to find out. You then visit the school to register your child. To register, you will need: a valid birth certificate, proof of immunization on a S. C. Certificate of Immunization form, and documentation of Horry County residency.  A Social Security number is requested.

Other Distinctions

• All classrooms are networked to the Internet. The ratio of students to computers is just over 5:1. The use of wireless labs is expanding.  During the last three years, more than $3 million dollars has been allocated for a laptop initiative for teachers, giving them equipment and training to enhance the use of technology and instruction.
• The district has developed an accountability system for the Board of Education, principals, assistant principals and district office staff to ensure performance and focus on results.
• Since the mid-1990's, the district invested nearly $500 million in new and renovated facilities.  Twenty-one new schools have been built, and two new attendance areas have been added. 
• Horry County Schools is the fastest growing, and the 3rd largest overall, among South Carolina's 85 school districts.  During the last decade, it has grown by 10,000 students, almost 50 percent of which occurred during the last three years.

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Recent Honors

• Horry County Schools was the first district in South Carolina on earn SACS accreditation under a new district review process.
• Horry County Schools met 81 percent of Adequate Yearly Progress objectives under No Child Left Behind.
• SAT scores are 20 points above the state average and within 12 points of the national average.
• The District's performance on the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test (PACT) has consistently been higher than the state at all grade levels.
• The S.C. Education Oversight Committee recognized schools throughout the state for significantly improving the performance of low achieving students. Twelve of those schools were District schools.
• Ten schools received honors as Palmetto Gold and Palmetto Silver award winners for academic improvement on the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test.
• 269 HCS teachers hold National Board Certification.
• Schools' performance on 2007 Advanced Placement exams show 17 percent more Horry County Schools' students particpated in AP courses and took AP exams than in 2006.
• Aynor High School and Scoastee High School both offer the International Baccalaureate Program.
• Twleve schools have been awarded Red Carpet Schools Awards.
• Seven schools have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Nine of the district’s primary, elementary, and middle schools have been named Palmetto's Finest.
• In the last decade, the school district has had: the state’s outstanding high school principal, distinguished elementary school principal, and middle school assistant principal of the year; the state’s outstanding school superintendent; the state’s top chemistry teacher, athletic director, speech clinician, biology teacher, technology teacher, adult ed teacher, dance teacher, Spanish teacher, health occupations teacher, hospitality & tourism teacher, vocational education teacher, student council advisor, American history teacher, FHA advisor, speech/hearing program, teacher of autistic students, Southern Interscholastic Press Association’s Administrator of the Year, speech/hearing program, and Learning Disabilities Teacher of the Year.

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