MBACC Research and Statistics

Myrtle Beach Area Education

The Horry County School District (HCS) is a county-wide school system serving 245,000 people along the Atlantic coastline of northeastern South Carolina. A 12-member board of education, elected from singlememberdistricts govern 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, elementary school and middle school.

Recent Honors

• Ninety-three percent of Horry County schools received a rating of Excellent, Good or Average compared to 65 percent statewide.
• Seven schools have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Ninety-four percent of high school students who sought International Baccalureate diplomas received them. Horry County School district has the highest performing IB program in the state.

Growth and Development

• Since the mid-1990's, Horry County School District has invested nearly $500 million in new and renovated facilities. Nineteen new schools have been built, and two new attendance areas have been added.
• Horry County School District has also been recognized as a national leader in technology. All classrooms are networked to the Internet. The ratio of students to computers is just over 5:1. The use of wireless labs is expanding.

Statistics

• Horry County School District is the third largest of the state's 85 school districts and has gained 10,000 students during the last decade.
  
  Number of Schools:
  Total: 48
  Primary/Elementary Schools: 26
  Middle Schools: 11
  High Schools: 9
  Career Centers/Academies: 2
  Alternative Schools: 1

Quick Facts

• The ethnic distribution is sixty-eight percent white, twenty-three percent black and 9 percent other.
• Enrollment in the public schools (grades K-12) in 2001 was 29,931. By spring 2005 the enrollment had increased by nearly 10 percent to 32,840.
• The average daily attendance rate was 96 percent.
• There were 1,817 high school graduates in 2007, and 80 percent went on to attend a two or four-year college.
• The total number of full-time employees is 4,870, and the total number of classroom teachers is 2,331.
• The average annual teacher's salary is $52,697.
• The salary range for a teacher with a bachelor's degree is $33,000 to $56,329.
• The following shows the educational attainment for people 25 years and older in Horry County for the last two decades:
  Less than Ninth Grade: 1990: 9.4%; 2000: 5.6%
  High School Diploma: 1990: 74.3%; 2000: 75.7%
  Bachelor's Degree: 1990: 16.0%; 2000: 18.7%
• For more information:
  Horry County Schools
  1605 Horry Street, Conway, SC 29527
  Phone: (843) 488-6700, Fax: (843) 488-6722
  www.hcs.k12.sc.us

Sources: Horry County Schools; 2008 S.C. Statistical Abstract

Adult Education

• Coastal Carolina University
  P.O. Box 261954, Conway, SC 29528-6054
  (843) 448-1481
  Coastal Carolina has 8,872 students enrolled and offers baccalaureate degrees in 40 major fields of study and 37 undergraduate minors, as well as six master's degree programs in education, seven cooperative degree programs with other South Carolina universities, and ten international exchange programs.
• Horry-Georgetown Technical College
  P.O. Box 261966, Conway, SC 29528
  (843) 347-3186
  Horry-Georgetown Technical College has over 5,200 students enrolled in regular curriculum programs. The comprehensive commuter college has three campuses and one off site location in North Myrtle Beach that offers more than 70 associate degree diplomas and certificate programs.
• Webster University
  4589 Oleander Drive, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
  (843) 497-3677
  Webster University is an independent, comprehensive, multicampus, international university with graduate programs at its Myrtle Beach campus. Weeknight and weekend classes are available to the working adult.
• North American Institute of Aviation
  1700 Airport Road, Conway, SC 29527
  (843) 397-9111
  Located at the Conway-Horry County Airport, the North American Institute of Aviation offers a six-month program consisting of 620 clock hours of flight training. It now offers an aviation maintenance technology program for fourteen months and 2,180 clock hours of flight.
• Fortune Academy of Real Estate
  951 Shine Avenue, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
  (843) 839-1131
  Fortune Academy of Real Estate trains new agents, existing agents and those wishing to become brokers in preparation for the state real estate licensing exam, appraisals, and home inspection. They now offers classes in property management, designations, and pre-licensing for insurance.
• Carolina College of Cosmetology
  1600 Elizabeth Street, Coastal Center, Conway, SC 29526
  (843) 248-2413
  Carolina College offers a complete educational program in preparation for state licensing in cosmetology and nail technology. The college also offers continuing education programs for two-year renewals.