For the 2025-26 school year, there are 26 public preschools serving 19,673 students in Horry County, SC.
The top ranked public preschools in Horry County, SC are Ocean Bay Elementary School, St. James Elementary School and Forestbrook Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Horry County, SC public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 57% (versus the South Carolina public pre school average of 47%), and reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 48% statewide average). Pre schools in Horry County have an average ranking of 10/10, which is in the top 10% of South Carolina public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 43% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the South Carolina public preschool average of 54% (majority Black).
Best Public Preschools in Horry County (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Ocean Bay Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
950 International Drive
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 903-8400
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 903-8400
Gr: PK-5 | 1,109 student Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #22.
St. James Elementary School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
9711 St. James Road
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
(843) 650-8220
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
(843) 650-8220
Gr: PK-4 | 901 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #33.
Forestbrook Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4000 Panthers Parkway
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 236-8100
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 236-8100
Gr: PK-5 | 881 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #44.
Ocean Drive Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
901 11th Avenue North
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
(843) 663-0195
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
(843) 663-0195
Gr: PK-5 | 810 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #55.
Carolina Forest Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
285 Carolina Forest Boulevard
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 236-0001
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 236-0001
Gr: PK-5 | 1,306 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #66.
Midland Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3011 Nichols Highway
Galivants Ferry, SC 29544
(843) 358-3036
Galivants Ferry, SC 29544
(843) 358-3036
Gr: PK-5 | 664 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #77.
Seaside Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1605 Woodland Drive
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
(843) 650-3490
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
(843) 650-3490
Gr: PK-4 | 429 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #88.
Burgess Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
9645 Scipio Lane
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
(843) 650-4600
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
(843) 650-4600
Gr: PK-4 | 690 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #99.
Kingston Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4580 Highway 472
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 365-3777
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 365-3777
Gr: PK-5 | 483 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #1010.
River Oaks Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
700 Augusta Plantation Drive
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 903-6300
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 903-6300
Gr: PK-5 | 1,415 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #1111.
Lakewood Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1675 Highway 396
Myrtle Beach, SC 29575
(843) 650-6768
Myrtle Beach, SC 29575
(843) 650-6768
Gr: PK-5 | 883 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #1212.
Waterway Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
700 Sandridge Road
Little River, SC 29566
(843) 399-2204
Little River, SC 29566
(843) 399-2204
Gr: PK-5 | 845 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #1313.
Aynor Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
516 Jordanville Road
Aynor, SC 29511
(843) 488-7070
Aynor, SC 29511
(843) 488-7070
Gr: PK-5 | 784 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #1414.
Palmetto Bays Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
8900 Highway 544
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
(843) 236-6200
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
(843) 236-6200
Gr: PK-5 | 569 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #1515.
Conway Elementary School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1101 Snowhill Drive
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 488-0696
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 488-0696
Gr: PK-5 | 593 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #1616.
Waccamaw Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
251 Claridy Road
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 347-4684
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 347-4684
Gr: PK-5 | 1,003 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #1717.
South Conway Elementary School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3001 Fourth Avenue
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 488-0272
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 488-0272
Gr: PK-5 | 622 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #1818.
Riverside Elementary School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1287 Highway 57 South
Little River, SC 29566
(843) 399-8800
Little River, SC 29566
(843) 399-8800
Gr: PK-5 | 673 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #1919.
Socastee Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4223 Socastee Boulevard
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
(843) 650-2606
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
(843) 650-2606
Gr: PK-5 | 815 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #2020.
Green Sea Floyds Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
5000 Tulip Grove Road
Green Sea, SC 29545
(843) 392-1078
Green Sea, SC 29545
(843) 392-1078
Gr: PK-5 | 572 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #2121.
Homewood Elementary School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
108 North Clemson Circle
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 365-2512
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 365-2512
Gr: PK-5 | 668 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #2222.
Daisy Elementary School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2801 Red Bluff Road
Loris, SC 29569
(843) 756-5136
Loris, SC 29569
(843) 756-5136
Gr: PK-5 | 624 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #2323.
Pee Dee Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
6555 Highway 134
Conway, SC 29527
(843) 397-2579
Conway, SC 29527
(843) 397-2579
Gr: PK-5 | 933 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #2424.
Loris Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
901 Highway 9 Business East
Loris, SC 29569
(843) 390-6860
Loris, SC 29569
(843) 390-6860
Gr: PK-5 | 791 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #2525.
Academy Of Hope Charter
Charter School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
3521 Juniper Bay Road
Conway, SC 29527
(843) 397-5712
Conway, SC 29527
(843) 397-5712
Gr: PK-8 | 106 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: n/an/a
612 29th Avenue North
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 448-1658
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 448-1658
Gr: PK-K | 504 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Horry County 51³Ô¹ÏÍøºÚÁÏ (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
The Career Center (Closed 2008)
Vocational School
335 Four Mile Rd.
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 365-5534
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 365-5534
Gr: 11-12 | 274 students Minority enrollment: 29%
700 Gardner Lacy Rd.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 236-7997
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 236-7997
Gr: 6-8 | 1,370 student Minority enrollment: 26%
620 29th Avenue North
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 448-1774
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 448-1774
Gr: 2-3 | 621 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
3301 Oak Street
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 626-5831
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 626-5831
Gr: 4-5 | 740 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
612 29th Avenue North
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 448-1658
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 448-1658
Gr: PK-1 | 778 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public preschools in Horry County, SC?
The top ranked public preschools in Horry County, SC include Ocean Bay Elementary School, St. James Elementary School and Forestbrook Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Horry County?
26 public preschools are located in Horry County.
What is the racial composition of students in Horry County?
Horry County public preschools minority enrollment is 43% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the South Carolina public preschools average of 54% (majority Black).
Which public preschools in Horry County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Horry County include: Burgess Elementary School vs. St. James Elementary School, River Oaks Elementary School vs. Ocean Bay Elementary School, Loris Elementary School vs. Daisy Elementary School
Recent Articles
School Choice vs. Neighborhood Schools: Key Factors
Explore school choice vs. neighborhood schools in 2025. Learn key factors parents should weigh when deciding the best fit for their child.
Best School Match 2025: Public vs Charter vs Magnet
Compare 2025 public, charter, and magnet school options with updated data, trends, and strategies to find the best fit.
Public School Boundaries and Equity in 2025
Explore how public school boundaries shape access, equity, and opportunity for students in 2025. Learn the impact on families and education policy.
