News Summary
In Horry County, parents are increasingly seeking diverse educational pathways for their children, leading to significant shifts in student enrollment. This trend reflects a broader movement towards educational choice, as families look for innovative learning models that best suit their needs. The local educational landscape is evolving, with charter schools and alternative educational settings gaining popularity, and state scholarship programs aiding in this shift. As the education system adapts to these changes, Horry County Schools remain committed to providing quality educational opportunities and addressing enrollment challenges.
Myrtle Beach: Choices Expand for Families as Horry County Schools Adapt to Shifting Enrollment
Parents in Horry County are increasingly exploring diverse educational pathways for their children, leading to notable shifts in student enrollment across the region. This evolving landscape underscores a broader movement toward educational choice and innovative learning models that empower families to select the best fit for their students. As local educators demonstrate resilience and adaptability, these trends highlight how reduced bureaucracy and increased flexibility can foster academic growth and personal achievement within our community.
Horry County Schools, a cornerstone of our community’s educational framework, has long served a growing population. With a total enrollment of over 48,000 students and a dedicated staff of 6,453, including 3,189 teachers, the district has consistently adapted to the region’s expansion. Recently, however, the landscape of K-12 education in Myrtle Beach and across Horry County has seen significant shifts, driven by parental preferences and the expanding availability of alternative educational settings.
Shifting Tides: Enrollment in Horry County Schools
Recent data indicates a notable decline in student enrollment within Horry County Schools (HCS) since the start of the current school year, with over 2,500 students withdrawing. This decrease comes despite earlier projections that anticipated an increase in student numbers. As of September 12, 2025, a significant portion of these withdrawals—1,088 students—have transferred to charter schools, private schools, virtual schools, or opted for homeschooling.
This trend suggests that families are actively seeking varied educational experiences, often driven by a desire for more individualized learning environments and enhanced support for students. One newly opened institution, Discovery School at Myrtle Beach, for instance, has rapidly enrolled over 600 students, indicating a strong demand for its approach. District officials recognize the importance of understanding these withdrawal reasons, particularly among high school students, as the enrollment decline presents challenges for budgeting and future planning.
South Carolina’s Commitment to School Choice
The broader context for these local shifts is South Carolina’s robust and expanding commitment to school choice. The state offers K-12 students and their families multiple options, including three private school choice programs, charter schools, magnet schools, homeschooling, and inter-district public school choice via open enrollment.
Significantly, South Carolina has established an Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESA) program, which began in the 2024-25 school year. This program provides $6,000 scholarships to eligible families, which can be used for various educational expenses such including private school tuition, textbooks, tutoring, computers, exam fees, and even transportation to other schools. Eligibility for this program is designed to expand, with household income restrictions gradually increasing over the next few years. In 2025, the South Carolina Legislature passed new legislation to restore and expand the state’s ESA program, offering $7,500 scholarships and aiming for near-universal eligibility for 85% of South Carolina families within two years. This demonstrates a clear policy direction to empower parents with more control over their children’s education.
Beyond ESAs, South Carolina also features tax-credit scholarships and a refundable tax credit to assist families with private school tuition. Furthermore, the state has an active open enrollment policy, allowing parents to send their children to public schools outside their resident district, depending on application status. This array of choices reflects a dedication to ensuring that students can access educational settings that best align with their needs and aspirations.
Charter Schools: Fostering Innovation and Personal Achievement
Charter schools play a pivotal role in this expanding landscape of choice. These publicly funded institutions operate with greater autonomy from some regulations that apply to traditional public schools, allowing for flexibility in curriculum development and teaching methods. In Horry County, there are 6 public charter schools serving 1,242 students for the 2025-26 school year. These schools generally score well, with an average ranking of 8 out of 10, placing them in the top 30% of South Carolina public charter schools.
The appeal of charter schools often stems from their ability to offer specialized curricula, smaller class sizes, and a strong emphasis on parental involvement. For example, charter schools in Horry County show an average math proficiency score of 44%, surpassing the South Carolina public charter school average of 40%, and a reading proficiency score of 57%. Some studies indicate that charter school students, on average, gain the equivalent of 16 days of learning in reading and six days in math over their traditional public school peers. This flexibility allows for a highly responsive educational environment, capable of adapting quickly to student needs and implementing innovative teaching practices.
Addressing Growth and Optimizing Resources in Horry County
Despite the shifts in enrollment, Horry County continues to experience significant population growth. The U.S. Census Bureau reported Horry County as having the 10th highest net migration in the nation in 2023. This influx has led to increased demand for educational facilities, with many traditional public schools already operating at or exceeding capacity. In fact, 23 out of 49 schools in the district are at or above 95% capacity. In April 2024, projections showed 21 HCS schools would be at 95% capacity or greater for the 2024-25 school year, with some in the Carolina Forest area projected to exceed 130%.
Horry County Schools has been proactive in addressing this growth, constructing 12 new schools since 2010 at a cost of nearly $485.8 million. Two new elementary schools are scheduled to open in the Carolina Forest area in August 2025 to alleviate overcrowding. The district has also embraced technological innovation, implementing a Personalized Digital Learning (PDL) initiative to immerse students in tailored digital learning experiences. Furthermore, Horry County Schools is utilizing artificial intelligence platforms like Magic School to assist teachers and provide students with writing feedback and a one-on-one writing coach in the classroom and at home. These initiatives reflect a commitment to educational innovation and adapting to the evolving needs of students and families.
Fostering Academic Growth Through Diverse Pathways
The evolving educational landscape in Horry County underscores the value of parental choice and the positive impact of diverse educational options. By providing families with the ability to choose schools that best align with their children’s learning styles and needs, the community fosters an environment where academic growth and personal achievement can flourish. The flexibility inherent in charter schools, combined with the innovative approaches within traditional public schools, creates a dynamic system focused on student success. This environment encourages educators to pursue new methods and ensures that resources are allocated effectively to meet the varied demands of a growing population.
As our community continues to expand, it is vital for parents, educators, and community leaders to remain engaged in discussions about educational policy and support local initiatives that enhance learning opportunities. By championing choice, innovation, and continuous improvement, Myrtle Beach can ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive academically and personally.
Frequently Asked Questions about Horry County Schools and School Choice
What is causing the enrollment drop in Horry County Schools?
The enrollment drop in Horry County Schools is largely attributed to students transferring to charter schools, private schools, virtual schools, or opting for homeschooling, as families seek alternative educational options.
How many charter schools are in Horry County, SC?
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 6 public charter schools serving 1,242 students in Horry County, SC.
What is South Carolina’s Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESA) program?
The South Carolina Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESA) program offers $6,000 scholarships to eligible families, which can be used for various educational expenses such as private school tuition, textbooks, tutoring, computers, exam fees, and transportation to other schools. New legislation in 2025 expanded scholarships to $7,500 and aims for near-universal eligibility for 85% of South Carolina families within two years.
Do charter schools in Horry County perform well academically?
Horry County public charter schools have an average math proficiency score of 44% (versus the South Carolina public charter school average of 40%), and a reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 58% statewide average). They have an average ranking of 8/10, placing them in the top 30% of South Carolina public charter schools.
What is Horry County Schools doing to address population growth and overcrowding?
Horry County Schools has constructed 12 new schools since 2010 and plans to open two new elementary schools in the Carolina Forest area in August 2025. The district also implements strategies like Personalized Digital Learning and AI platforms to enhance educational experiences.
Key Features of Horry County Education Landscape
| Feature | Description | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Horry County Schools (HCS) Enrollment | Over 48,000 students district-wide with a recent decline of over 2,500 students in the current school year due to transfers. | Local |
| Charter Schools in Horry County | 6 public charter schools serving 1,242 students for the 2025-26 school year, with an average ranking in the top 30% of South Carolina public charter schools. | Local |
| South Carolina Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESA) Program | Provides eligible families with $6,000 to $7,500 scholarships for various educational expenses, including private school tuition, expanding eligibility to 85% of South Carolina families within two years. | State-level |
| Open Enrollment Policy | Allows South Carolina parents to send K-12 students to public schools outside their resident district, dependent on application status. | State-level |
| HCS Overcrowding & Growth Response | 23 out of 49 HCS schools are at or above 95% capacity; 12 new schools constructed since 2010, with 2 new elementary schools opening in Carolina Forest in August 2025. | Local |
| Personalized Digital Learning (PDL) Initiative | Horry County Schools’ initiative to immerse all students in rich, authentic, relevant, personalized digital learning experiences. | Local |
| AI Implementation in HCS Classrooms | Horry County Schools is implementing an artificial intelligence platform called Magic School to aid teachers and provide students with writing feedback and a one-on-one writing coach. | Local |
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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.
