2011-12 HCS Quick Facts

Overview

The Horry County School District is a county-wide school system, serving a county of 248,000 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.  Horry County Schools is the 3rd largest among the state's 85 school districts.

Number of schools

Primary/Elementary Schools	26
Middle Schools	10
High Schools	10
Academies	2
Alternative Schools	1
Charter Schools	3

Enrollment (Spring 2011)

Total	37,927
Pre-kindergarten	1,217
Grades K-2	8,721
Grades 3-5	8,848
Grades 6-8	8,335
Grades 9-12	10,806

Ethnic Distribution (students)

White	65.7%
Black	20.9%
Hispanic	7.8%
Other	5.5%

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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

2011 graduates	2,186
Graduates attending 2 or 4 year colleges	78%
2011 scholarships	$48.2 million

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Meals Program

Elementary school lunch	$1.90
Middle and high school lunch	$2.00
Students receiving free/reduced lunches	60%

Breakfasts are served in all schools

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Employees

Total number of full-time employees	5,219
Classroom teachers	2,631
Professional employees with advanced degrees	74%

Teacher Salaries (2011-2012)

Bachelor’s degree	$34,270 to $58,798
Bachelor’s + 18 hrs.	$35,856 to $61,203
Master’s degrees	$39,459 to $67,351
Master’s + 30 hrs.	$40,316 to $68,816
Doctorate	$43,381 to $75,181

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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 is aligned to the state academic standards and includes tests in writing, English language arts (reading and research), mathematics, science, and social studies.  
• 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 provides 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 serves 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 under represented in post-secondary education and allows students to achieve two years of college credit at the same time they are earning a high school diploma. Students attend school on the campus of Horry Georgetown Technical College.
• A Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Program serves high school students in a central location, aligning curriculum and career interest in these four areas.
•  Multiple dual credit opportunities are available through local post-secondary schools, advanced courses at base high schools, and Internet offerings.
• HCS operates its own virtual school to expand, enhance, and personalize course offerings to students.
• A foreign language instructional program is offered in grade 6-12.
• A comprehensive program of special education provides programs for more than 6,000 students.
• A fine arts program features a full range of instruction in visual and performing arts, including band, chorus, orchestra, drama and visual arts.
• 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.
• All classrooms are networked to the Internet and the use of wireless labs is expanding.
• A laptop initiative for teachers promotes 21st Century learning in the classroom.
• All elementary classrooms are equipped with an interactive whiteboard as part of a district-wide initiative to provide interactive technology.
• HCS uses an innovative computer-based testing program for grades 2-10 with tests in mathematics, language, and reading.  It also provides results quickly to enable teachers to monitor instruction and address student needs.
• 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.

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Recent Honors

• Twenty-five Horry County Schools earned Palmetto Gold and Silver awards for academic improvement.
• HCS was named as Honorable Mention recipient in the American School Board Journal's (ASBJ) 17th annual Magna Awards program.
• HCS was recognized by SchoolMatch as a What Parents Want Award Winning School System.
• HCS was awarded District Accreditation Quality Achievement form AdvancEd, an accreditation review team.
• HCS' Office of Budgetary Services received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).
• HCS showcased the work of more than 400 students and teachers at its second annual Technology Fair.
• The Class of 2011 earned $48.2 million in scholarships; 78 percent plan to attend post-secondary school.
• Ten seniors were recognized as 2011 National Merit Semi-Finalists

School and Student Recognition

• Loris Middle School was one of four schools across the state to be named Carolina First Palmetto’s Finest.
• Burgess Elementary School was named the recipient of the Dick and Tunky Riley School Improvement Award for 2011. Homewood Elementary School was named to the S.C. School Improvement Council’s 2011 Honor Roll.
• North Myrtle Beach High won the S.C. High School Mock Trial State Championship. Forestbrook Middle School was the runner up for the S.C. Middle School Mock Trial Championship, and is a two-time previous state champion.
• HCS Early College High School won first place in the state for the High School Project Citizen Showcase sponsored by the S.C. Bar Association’s Law Related Education (LRE) Division.
• Conway Middle School was one of ten schools selected as an “Apple Learning Snapshot” in a nationwide contest to showcase innovative ways Apple technology is used in the classroom. 
• Socastee High was listed among “America’s Top Five Percent of High Schools” according to Newsweek for five consecutive years. Green Sea Floyds High and North Myrtle Beach High were two of 22 South Carolina high schools to make US News & World Report’s annual ranking of “America's Best High Schools.”
• The Scholars Academy We the People team won the state championship, winning all categories of the competition, and earning a trip to Washington, D.C., to compete nationally.
• Army JROTC Honor Units with Distinction: Aynor High, Green Sea Floyds High, Loris High, and St. James High. Air Force JROTC Distinguished Unit Award: Socastee High. 
• St. James High School is one of 13 schools in the nation to receive the national Outstanding High Schools That Work award.
• Lakewood Elementary was nominated by the South Carolina Department of Education for recognition in the 2011 National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.
• The Academy of Arts, Science and Technology’s Robotics Team won second place at the FIRST Palmetto Regional Robotics Competition and won the overall award for innovation and control for their mini-bot. The school placed second at the FIRST North Carolina Regional Robotics Competition. 
• Socastee High School’s Robotics Team won first place at the second annual Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) competition for Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) and advanced to international competition.
• Horry County Schools’ Adult Education program earned the Palmetto Trend Setters Award. 
• Burgess Elementary, South Conway Elementary, Loris Middle, and the Early College High schools earned Superintendent’s Service Learning Awards for integrating school and community service into the curriculum. 
• Black Water Middle School’s Christian Hanna was selected as one of two of South Carolina’s top youth volunteers in the 2011 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program.
• St. James High Baseball Team won the 2011 Class AAA championship.
• Myrtle Beach High Girls’ Basketball Team won the 2011 Class AAA championship.

Staff Recognition

• The S.C. Association of School Administrators named Cindy Ambrose, District Administrator of the Year; Judy Beard, Middle School Principal of the Year; and Dena Chatfield, Assistant Principal of the Year.
• Burgess Elementary School’s Margaret Bounds was named the South Carolina History Teacher of the Year.
• Forestbrook Middle School’s Eileen Patonay was named the National Outstanding Career Development Facilitator and the South Carolina Career Specialist of the Year. 
• Aynor High School’s Chad Sarvis was named the South Carolina Driver Education Teacher of the Year 
• Green Sea Floyds High School’s Lee Mayfield was named the S.C. Outstanding Agricultural Educator.
• Forestbrook Middle School’s Elissa Blosser was a state finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science.
• HCS Early College High School’s Will Chappell was chosen as one of 60 teachers nationwide to attend the Presidential Academy for American History and Civics. 
• Academy for the Arts, Science, and Technology’s Stephanie Yancey was chosen to attend the prestigious Supreme Court Summer Institute.
• Sean Junkins, HCS instructional technology coach, was chosen as an Apple Distinguished Educator.

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