| One of the first things families look at before | | | | students to benefit from the many ways that |
| moving to an area is the quality of the schools. | | | | the arts can improve students' thinking and |
| While Hilton Head Island is a beautiful resort town | | | | problem-solving skills. |
| with much to offer residents and visitors alike, the | | | | Students' first-rate educations continue at island's |
| question remains: are the local schools any good? | | | | Middle School and High School, which offers |
| The answer, fortunately, is yes. The local schools | | | | students the opportunity to receive the full |
| are good. The public schools on the island are part | | | | International Baccalaureate diploma. This is an |
| of the Beaufort County School District, and the | | | | internationally-recognized diploma which can earn |
| Hilton Head schools consistently rank highest in the | | | | students college credit and the opportunity to |
| county. On top of that, there are a number of | | | | attend university overseas-something rarely |
| options for those parents who prefer to send | | | | permitted outside of special exchange programs. |
| their children to private schools. | | | | The island's public High School is also ranked as |
| On the public school front, the island's schools are | | | | one of the most academically rigorous schools in |
| clustered together on a large campus. Each school | | | | the nation by Newsweek magazine, ranking |
| has separate parking and entrances, but students | | | | number 426 on a list of nearly 1500 of the top |
| who attend public school for all 12 years will go to | | | | schools in the United States. |
| school in basically the same geographic area the | | | | The school district also offers the Hilton Head |
| entire time. | | | | Island Early Childhood Center to help make sure |
| Hilton Head Island International Baccalaureate | | | | that student readiness is where it needs to be |
| Elementary School uses the International | | | | before entering elementary school. |
| Baccalaureate Primary Years Program to bring a | | | | For those who prefer private schools, the island |
| world-class education and international perspective | | | | offers parents several choices. For a religion-based |
| to students living on the island. The Hilton Head | | | | education, parents can choose the Christian |
| School for the Creative Arts provides elementary | | | | Academy or St. Francis Catholic School. Other |
| students the opportunity to learn a rigorous | | | | private schools include the Heritage Academy and |
| academic program through arts infusion, allowing | | | | Hilton Head Preparatory School. |