Bluffton's public schools belong to the Beaufort County School District: 843-322-2300. The 2026-27 calendar, attendance zones, registration and report cards.
Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Facts on this page come from the Beaufort County School District, its 2026-27 academic calendar (PDF) and the South Carolina Department of Education’s school report cards.
Every public school in Bluffton, with its zone and report card: Bluffton public schools.
Every public school in Bluffton belongs to the Beaufort County School District, which runs the schools across the county, from Bluffton and Hilton Head Island to Beaufort and the Sea Islands. The superintendent is Dr. Frank Rodriguez. The town itself does not run schools.
Who to call
- District office: Beaufort County School District, 843-322-2300, or email the district
- Enrollment and forms: your child’s zoned school (find it on the zone maps)
- Board of Education: meeting dates on the board calendar
- Official site: beaufortschools.net
Schools serving Bluffton
The district’s Bluffton schools include:
- Elementary and early childhood: Bluffton Elementary and Early Childhood Center, Michael C. Riley Elementary and Early Childhood Center, Okatie Elementary, Pritchardville Elementary, Red Cedar Elementary
- K-8: River Ridge Academy
- Middle: Bluffton Middle
- High: Bluffton High and May River High
The district is also building a new May River Elementary School and a new early childhood support center in Bluffton, and adding career and technology education buildings at Bluffton High and May River High, all under the 2023 bond referendum. Progress reports are on the district’s project reports page.
Which school is mine?
Start with the district’s attendance zone maps. The district says the maps are for reference only: Bluffton is growing fast, and newer streets may not yet appear. Always confirm with the school before you sign a lease or buy a house for a particular school.
Enrolling
New and returning students register through their zoned school, which hands out the forms and the list of documents, according to the district’s registration page.
- Pre-K: offered at every elementary school and early childhood center. Children must be 4 on or before Sept. 1, and places go first to children with the greatest need, after an individual screening.
- Kindergarten: full-day at every elementary school. Children must be 5 on or before Sept. 1. Registration begins Feb. 1.
The 2026-27 calendar
From the district’s academic calendar, updated May 14, 2026. The district runs a modified year-round calendar.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, Oct. 13 | End of the first quarter |
| Friday, Oct. 23 | First-quarter report cards |
| Tuesday, Nov. 3 | Election Day, no school |
| Wednesday, Nov. 11 | Veterans Day, no school |
| Nov. 25-27 | Thanksgiving break |
| Dec. 23 to Jan. 5 | Winter break; students return Wednesday, Jan. 6 |
| Monday, Jan. 18 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| Feb. 12 and 15 | No school; Feb. 15 is Presidents Day |
| March 25-26 | No school; March 26 is Good Friday |
| April 12-16 | Spring break |
| Tuesday, May 25 | Last day of the second semester |
High school graduations: May River High at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 27, and Bluffton High at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 29, 2027. Dec. 23, Feb. 15 and March 25 are weather makeup days if needed. The district may also use up to five eLearning days in an emergency.
Ratings and report cards
South Carolina rates every public school each fall as Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average or Unsatisfactory. Look up any Bluffton school’s rating, test scores, graduation rate and spending on the state’s SC School Report Cards site.
For the district as a whole, the district says 2025 brought its highest graduation rate, 88.6%, and its highest college or career readiness rate, 82.8%.
School board
The Beaufort County Board of Education meets at 6 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of most months, according to the board meetings page. Agendas, videos and minutes are on the board’s Diligent Community portal; the agenda explains how to sign up for public comment.
What this means for you
- Confirm your zoned school with the school, not only the map.
- Kindergarten registration opens Feb. 1; the child must be 5 by Sept. 1.
- Plan for days off on Nov. 3 and Nov. 11, and for a two-week winter break.
- Check a school’s state rating on screportcards.com before you move.
Which schools each part of Bluffton is zoned for is in our Bluffton neighborhoods guide.
Related: moving to Bluffton, Friday night football and the high school scoreboard.
Frequently asked questions
What school district is Bluffton, SC in?
The Beaufort County School District, which runs every public school in Beaufort County. Its main number is 843-322-2300.
When is fall break for Beaufort County schools?
Fall break for the 2026-27 year was Oct. 8-9. Students are also off Nov. 3 for Election Day, Nov. 11 for Veterans Day and Nov. 25-27 for Thanksgiving.
When is the last day of school in Beaufort County, SC?
The second semester ends Tuesday, May 25, 2027, on the district’s 2026-27 calendar. Winter break runs Dec. 23 to Jan. 5, and spring break is April 12-16.
How do I find which school my child is zoned for in Bluffton?
Use the Beaufort County School District’s attendance zone maps, then confirm with the school. The district says newer streets may not yet be on the maps.
How old does my child need to be for kindergarten in South Carolina?
Five on or before Sept. 1 of the school year. Beaufort County kindergarten registration begins Feb. 1, and 4-year-old pre-K is offered at every elementary school.
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