ABOUT

Horry County (pronounced Oh-ree or commonly Or-ree) offers everything from the historic inland charm of riverside living and agricultural land to the internationally-known vacation destination of Myrtle Beach and the Atlantic Ocean coastline. Situated in the northeastern corner of South Carolina, Horry County is about 100 miles north of Charleston, South Carolina and 150 miles east of the state capital of Columbia. It is the largest county in the state in land area with a total of 1,134 square miles and has a population of over 300,000. Our area currently has the fastest growing population in the country. The vast landscape consists of farms, fields, forests, marshes, swamps, rivers, and miles of beautiful sandy beaches known as the Grand Strand.

Horry County boasts a history of human habitation that stretches back thousands of years. These include Chicora Indian sites, a Spanish settlement in 1526, and British settlers in the 1600s. The area was given its present boundaries and named Kingston County in 1785. In 1801, it was renamed Horry District, and, in 1868, Horry County with the primary industries being lumber and naval stores. It wasn’t long before tobacco farming was introduced and became the cash crop for our area. The county’s coastal and inland beauty has driven the growth of development, as well as an economy based on tourism, outdoor recreation, and commercial fishing. Tourism generates nearly a half-billion dollars of tax revenue for South Carolina each year.

The county seat is centrally located in the City of Conway, which offers a unique alternative to the beach lifestyle with its rich heritage and more relaxed pace. Conway is home to a four-year public institution, Coastal Carolina University, as well as two technical colleges – HGTC and Miller Motte, and also boasts Conway Medical Center, museums, live theater, and more. Conway serves as a bridge between coastal Horry County and rural Horry County with history embedded in every corner and in the branches of the live oaks around the town. Nestled along the renowned Riverwalk on the Waccamaw River, it really is an exceptional place to work, play, and live.

The City of Conway is proud of its old oak trees with even some roads built around the trees and a strong tree ordinance. Many of these trees have a circumference of over 9 feet.

Horry County Schools is inspiring possibilities for student success through a broad range of unique teaching and learning opportunities. The countywide school district emcompasses 52 schools in the nine attendance areas of Aynor, Carolina Forest, Conway, Green Sea Floyds, Loris, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Socastee, and St. James. Each area consists of a high school and feeder middle and elementary schools. Horry County Schools, with more than 44,000 students, is the third largest among the state’s 85 school districts.
A twelve-member Board of Education, elected from single-member districts, governs the school district, while the chairman is elected at-large. The superintendent is appointed by the board.

Programs offered in all schools include: Robotics programs in all elementary, middle, and high schools; A Personalized Digital Learning (PDL) initiative in grades 3-12; Science kits in grades K-8 support and enhance science instruction; Instructional services in ELA and Math for academically gifted and talented students beginning in grade 3; Honors, Accelerated, and Advanced Placement courses are available; Extensive dual-credit course opportunities are available through post-secondary institutions for high school students; and International Baccalaureate programs are offered at two high schools.

Additional high school programs include:

Grades 9-12
Scholars Academy: Serves the highest achieving students with a combination of Advanced Placement and college courses on the campus of Coastal Carolina University.
Early College High School: Located at Horry Georgetown Technical College, this program bridges the high school curriculum with college courses and provides additional support for students who are underrepresented in post-secondary education.
STEM Programs: Serve students with interests, abilities, and career goals in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Grades 11-12
The Academy for Arts, Science, and Technology and the Academy for Technology and Academics provide multiple majors in grades 11-12 for students with identified career choices. Programs are personalized to support students’ goals to enter post-secondary schools or immediate employment.

Classrooms: Average Class Size by Grade Level

     Grades 9-12   26.5 to 1

     Grades 6-8     25.5  to 1

     Grades 4-5     24.5 to 1

     Grade 1          21.5 to 1

     Kindergarten   25.5 to 1

     Child Development   20.0 to 1