2010 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

Total	51
Primary/Elementary Schools	26
Middle Schools	11
High Schools	10
Academies	2
Alternative Schools	1
Charter Schools	2

Enrollment (Spring 2010)

Total	37,421
Pre-kindergarten	1,247
Grades K-2	8,593
Grades 3-5	8,684
Grades 6-8	8,142
Grades 9-12	10,755

Ethnic Distribution (students)

White	70.3%
Black	21.1%
Hispanic	7.4%
Other	1.4%

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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

2010 graduates	2,126
Graduates attending 2 or 4 year colleges	73%
2010 scholarships	$42.4 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	5,295
Classroom teachers	2,479
Professional employees with advanced degrees	1,946

Teacher Salaries (2010-2011)

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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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 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 under represented 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.

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Recent Honors

• District schools met 92 percent of Adequate Yearly Progress objectives under No Child Left Behind.
• 98 percent of schools received Absolute ratings of Excellent, Good or Average compared to 84 percent statewide.
• The average SAT composite score is 1,479 and is 27 points above the state average and within 30 points of the national average.
• The S.C. Education Oversight Committee recognized 17 schools for significant improvement and closing the achievement gap of low-achieving students.
• ACT scores remained steady while test takers increased 20 percent.  The average composite score was 20.1 in 2009, the same as the year before.  Also unchanged were the state composite of 19.7 and the national composite of 21.1.
• 269 HCS teachers hold National Board Certification.
• Forty-seven percent more HCS students participated in AP courses and took AP exams in 2009.  Six high schools were recognized for their efforts on either the ACT or SAT college entrance exams.  They are Carolina Forest High School, Conway High School, Loris High School, North Myrtle Beach High School, Socastee High School and St. James High School.
• The District's performance on the Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (PASS) is higher than the state in 23 out of 24 tests.  The percentage of students scoring at the Exemplary level exceeded the state average in all subjects at all grade levels.
• Midland Elementary School earned the National Blue Ribbon Schools Award, the highest honor awarded by the US Department of Education.
• HCS was selected as an Honorable Mention recipient in the American School Board Journal's 16th annual Magna Awards program for the Scholars Academy, a partnership with HCS and Coastal Carolina University to provide advanced learners with an enriched, accelerated education.
• Seventy-six HCS teachers earned National Board Certification (NBC) in 2009.  HCS ranks first in South Carolina for the number of teachers with this designation this year.  Nationally, HCS ranks eighth for the number of teachers earning NBC this year.
• Five District schools were among 103 award-winning Palmetto Gold and Palmetto Silver schools to share their success stories through the South Carolina Department of Education's Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards Showcase.  HCS Showcase schools are:  Loris High School, Lakewood Elementary School, St. James Middle School, North Myrtle Beach Elementary School, and Burgess Elementary School.
• HCS held its first Technology Fair showcasing the work of more than 300 students and teachers in a day-long display of innovation and imagination.  The  event was sponsored by the Grand Strand Technology Council.  Burgess Elementary School took top honors with the Best-In-Show award among all grade levels.
• Socastee High School took first place in the Marine Advanced Technology Education Center's Carolina regional competition and competed internationally in Hawaii.
• Myrtle Beach High School Girls' basketball team won the AAA State Championship.
• Loris High School Wrestling Team are Three-time State Champions
• Socastee High School has been listed among "America's Best High Schools" according to Newsweek for five consecutive years.
• North Myrtle Beach Primary School was named an Exemplar School for improving discipline, school climate through the Postive Behavior Interventions and Supports Initiative.
• Loris Elementary School won 2010 Outstanding Recycling Program of the Year for North and South Carolina.
• Forestbrook Middle School won the South Carolina 2009 Middle School Mock Trial State Championship.
• Pam Allsbrook, lead float nurse for HCS, was named the South Carolina School Nurse (RN) of the year.
• Thirteen schools have been awarded Red Carpet Schools Awards.  Ocean Bay Middle received the award this year.
• Kathy Mishoe, of the Socastee Adult Education  Center, was named the SC Adult Education ESL (English Speakers of other Languages) Teacher of the Year.
• Richard Hathaway of Palmetto Bays Elementary School was named the 2009 Specific Learning Disabilities Teacher of the Year.

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