Exciting Changes Ahead for Carolina Forest Schools!
Myrtle Beach residents, it’s time to grab your pencils and take some notes because there’s some big news coming out of Horry County Schools! As our community continues to grow, it looks like the school district is gearing up for some shifts in attendance lines, especially for our beloved Carolina Forest elementary schools.
What’s Changing?
Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, three elementary schools—River Oaks Elementary, Ocean Bay Elementary, and Carolina Forest Elementary—will be seeing adjustments to their attendance zones. Now, if you’re scratching your head and asking, “What does this mean for my kiddos?” well, depending on where you live, it could mean some students might not attend the same school as they currently do. Don’t worry, though; Palmetto Bays Elementary and Waccamaw Elementary will not be affected.
New Schools on the Block
So why are these changes happening? The most important reason is to help handle the overcrowding at our existing elementary schools. Right now, the trio—River Oaks, Ocean Bay, and Carolina Forest—has a combined capacity of only 2,700 students but is enrolled with over 4,100 students for the current school year! That’s a tight squeeze! To relieve some of this pressure, Horry County Schools is building two shiny new schools, each with a capacity for 1,200 students.
One of the new schools will be located at the intersection of Ronald McNair Boulevard and Christa McAuliffe Street, while the other will be on Carolina Forest Boulevard and Stafford Drive. These new facilities will not only provide more room but will also give our kids a fresh and modern learning environment. Talk about a win-win!
How Will This Affect Us?
Now, as much as we love a good surprise, the school district wants to make sure that parents are kept in the loop. Preferred attendance alignments for the new schools will be released in October and up for review in November. So, stay tuned! Parents, if you have thoughts or concerns about the realignment, you can send your feedback to Horry County Schools until November 1. Your voice matters, and this is your chance to weigh in!
Where Are the Changes Happening?
Let’s break it down a bit more. For the new Ronald McNair Boulevard elementary school, neighborhoods set to attend are going to be drawn from both River Oaks and Carolina Forest Elementary schools. The attendance line starts at the railroad tracks on Singleton Ridge Road, snaking southeast to Highway 31, then encompassing the beautiful Bella Vita and River Oaks Resort neighborhoods. It’s like they are drawing a little map just for our kids!
On the other hand, the Carolina Forest Elementary located on Carolina Forest Boulevard will draw students primarily from Ocean Bay Elementary. The attendance lines for this school will start at Summerlyn and extend west, also including some of the loveliest neighborhoods like Indigo Bay, Waterbridge, and Plantation Lakes.
Looking Ahead
With our community growing and evolving, it’s exciting to see Horry County Schools taking proactive steps to ensure that our children receive the best education in facilities that can support their needs. Change can be a little daunting, but think of it as an opportunity for growth! The new schools will help ease overcrowding and give our young learners a space to thrive.
Remember, Myrtle Beach, stay engaged and keep those ideas coming to Horry County Schools! Here’s to a bright future for our little ones and the community as a whole. Let’s keep cheering for our schools and the exciting journey ahead!
Author: STAFF HERE MYRTLE BEACH
The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
