School Profiles

PROFILE SCHOOL S

Lowcountry families have many top-quality options for their children’s education. Experienced administrators, passionate teachers and motivated peers make the difference for students. This section celebrates first-class centers of learning in Bluffton and on Hilton Head Island.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT

USCB offers small classes and personalized instruction in 51 areas of study including 19 bachelor’s degree programs and two master’s degree programs. Associate’s degrees and 100 percent online degrees are also offered. USCB specializes in experiential learning, with students participating in internships, community service projects, international programs, fieldwork and research. The Beaufort College Honors program is open to qualified students of all majors and has specific cohorts in biology and nursing. Graduate programs are M.S. in computational science and M.Ed. in literacy. The USCB Sand Sharks are provisional members of NCAA Division II and the Peach Belt Conference and are adding 2023-24 men’s and women’s basketball in the Fall. USCB’s Beaufort and Bluffton campuses house students from 31 states and around the world in apartment-style residences. The university’s world-renowned hospitality program is based on the Hilton Head Island campus.

EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP: A unique partnership between USCB and SCETV offers students the opportunity to work as production assistants on “By The River.” In its fourth season, it is distributed by American Public Television to public television affiliates across the nation. Showcasing Southern culture and literature, the show is a love letter to Southern stories and the authors and poets who write them. More than 50 USCB students have helped produce the episodes, which are filmed in SCETV’s studio in Beaufort. They operate the cameras, record the audio, help coordinate the authors’ appearances, promote the show and more.

TECHNICAL COLLEGE OF THE LOWCOUNTRY

The Technical College of the Lowcountry elevates each student and every community it serves through transformative technology and exceptional teaching. TCL is the region’s primary provider of post-secondary education and workforce training. The public, two-year, community college serves approximately 5,000 students annually at its four Lowcountry locations and online. Its most recent campus, the Culinary Institute of the South, opened in November 2021 in Bluffton. The college offers a variety of curricular programs including university transfer options, career and continuing education, online learning, and dual enrollment for area high school students.

HERITAGE ACADEMY

Rooted in academic excellence and dedicated to students’ pursuit of extracurricular interests, Heritage Academy is a college-preparatory school where champions are made. The goal is to personalize education for each student ensuring success as student-artists, student-athletes, and students seeking to build their academic achievements. Whether their interest is academics only, a sport, the arts, or their own specialized extra-curricular activity, the educational standard to which students are held will prepare them for top-tier colleges and universities. Lowcountry students who have the desire to attend Heritage Academy, and the aptitude required, will find themselves learning alongside students from other countries. Students enter its halls driven to succeed. They graduate as life champions. That is the Heritage Academy difference.

SEA PINES MONTESSORI

Mary Stone Fraser founded Sea Pines Montessori Academy in 1968 as a children’s house — the desks, windows, and tables were at eye level so that it was truly owned by the children. Today, Sea Pines Montessori includes 10 classrooms, a library, multipurpose room, a Suzuki piano and violin studio, a Multipurpose Room, an outdoor green space and other amenities. In addition to offering golf at The First Tee of the Lowcountry and Sea Pines Resort, tennis with Van Der Meer Academy, and a thriving fitness program, the school offers numerous sports and clubs for all ages. Sea Pines Montessori instills a love of learning, strong social and problem-solving skills, a positive work environment, and respect for community.

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THE ISLAND ACADEMY OF HILTON HEAD

The Island Academy of Hilton Head is a Pre-K through 12 school incorporating academic rigor into an inspiring learning environment that celebrates the individual voice, instills self-confidence, and fosters an understanding of our global interconnectedness. Students and teachers collaborate by a multidisciplinary approach to engage and develop higher order thinking skills around the big ideas in each of their subjects. This is done through exploration, problem solving, challenging work and play. Students practice teamwork, communication, adaptability, and digital literacy with the goals of maximum development of intellect and personal character.

Core learning traditions provide a structure for students to excel in their current environment and be best prepared for moving on, whether to a traditional fouryear college of choice or any number of different paths.

WHAT’S NEW: The Island Academy is thrilled to have Ellyn Levin on staff as its College Counselor. With a master’s degree in education and 35 years of experience in U.S. higher education, including 21 years as a university guidance counselor at the International School of Geneva, Ellyn has successfully helped over 1,000 students of diverse nationalities create admissions applications, securing acceptances at the most selective universities and colleges in the world.

IVYBROOK ACADEMY

Ivybrook Academy, an award-winning half day preschool, opened in Bluffton in August 2022. Ivybrook embodies a curriculum that is progressive, and child centered. It combines elements of Montessori and Reggio Emilia education with Multiple Intelligence Research. The school focuses on learning by doing. The children are exposed to art, Spanish, music and movement, as well as following our extensive math and language curriculums. The first Ivybrook Academy was founded in Charlotte, N.C., and is celebrating 16 years of educating children. Ivybrook offers morning classes for children aged 2-5. Younger students start with a two- or three-day-a-week program that provides a gradual introduction to the school setting. For older students, the school has a more intensive five-day-a-week program that teaches all the skills necessary to be successful in any kindergarten setting.

Next year, Ivybrook plans to offer an afternoon program, which will be open to students aged 3 to 5. Families can choose from two-, three- or five-day-a–week programs in the afternoon.

The Director of Admissions, Coco Jozic loves meeting new families and sharing Ivybrook Academy with them. “As you walk around our building please notice our big open spaces, our beautiful windows to the outside, our calm and cozy classrooms full of nature and learning materials, our smiling cream of the crop staff, and every attention to detail that has been taken to give your child a wonderful place to learn and grow. Every child is important, respected, and loved here.”

Ivybrook is enrolling for the 2023-24 school year.

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HILTON HEAD PREPARATORY SCHOOL

The 2023 rankings are in, and Hilton Head Prep is leading the way in education — just as it has since its founding in 1965. As it has consistently for almost 60 years of educating the Lowcountry, Hilton Head Prep continues to inspire students to be exceptional. According to the Best Schools Rankings list from Niche, Prep is the No. 1 private K-12 school in Beaufort County, the No. 1 boarding school in the state, and in the top 2.5% of all schools nationwide. It all starts with Prep’s faculty — who average 20 years of experience and two-thirds have advanced degrees — and the administration, with more than 30 years of experience, on average — delivering Prep’s rigorous college prep curriculum, a strong arts and athletics program along with community service and character education. But here’s what matters more than the numbers: Faculty and staff members are passionate about learning and love the kids they teach.

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JOHN PAUL II CATHOLIC SCHOOL

John Paul II Catholic School offers students of all faiths an exceptional education in a safe and secure Christ-centered environment. Students are well prepared to succeed in college through its rigorous Honors, Advanced Placement, and Pre-AP courses. Beyond the classroom, an extensive athletic program, wide-ranging clubs and activities, and a growing performing arts program offer students the opportunity to learn valuable teamwork and life skills. Community service-learning is embedded in its curriculum allowing students to understand how their Christian faith calls them to be joyful servants to those less fortunate. John Paul II students are truly scholars with a soul.

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: Tracy Sklarin, a Georgia State University graduate with a BS in Mathematics Education, has been at JPII for four years. With more than 20 years of classroom experience, she shines at truly knowing and understanding her students. “The best part is seeing my students learn and grow,” she said. “Walking by my classroom you will often hear them exclaim, ‘Wow, this is actually easy!’” This year she is teaching AP Calculus, AP Statistics, Honors Calculus, Statistics, Pre-AP Geometry, and Algebra 1.

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ST. FRANCIS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

For the past 25 years, St. Francis Catholic School, a fully Cognia-accredited parochial Catholic school for students in prekindergarten through eighth grade, has provided an excellent educational environment for all its students. St. Francis Catholic School’s mission is to nurture students’ spiritual and intellectual growth in a Catholic community committed to academic excellence, with a focus on faith formation, quality academics and community. The school offers a variety of opportunities and enrichment activities for students and helps students mature in their faith through participation in the sacramental life of the Church. St. Francis strives to develop each child’s intellect and motivate the child to action and service. St. Francis Catholic School works with children and their families towards the goal that every graduate is a young adult characterized as an individual of faith, integrity and scholarship.

Left, Hilton Head High’s state-title tennis team. At right, May River swimmer Shelby Gourley.

CHAMPIONSHIP CAMPAIGN

HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS ENJOY SPORTS SUCCESS

Two Hilton Head tennis powers — and one legendary player — brought home state titles during the fall high school sports season, another continued its dominance on the golf course, and our home-grown heroes excelled on the volleyball court, the football field, the cross country course, and in the pool.

And when the Beaufort Eagles won the first football state title for a Beaufort County public school in 77 years, it topped a campaign that ended with a whole bunch of hardware coming home to the Lowcountry.

Here’s a look at some of the highlights from the fall.

QUEENS OF THE COURT

Led by veteran Emily Ruckno, Hilton Head High’s girls tennis team beat two-time defending champion Lucy Beckham three times to get back to the state championship match for the first time since 2019. The team ousted Upper State champion Greenville to claim the Class 4A title.

Then Ruckno finally got the individual title that had evaded her.

After sweeping her matches in the Seahawks’ 5-2 win in the state championship match, Ruckno had her encore and swansong

2022 FALL

BY JUSTIN JARRETTCHAMPIONSHIP CAMPAIGN ROUNDUP

three days later, running through the state singles draw to claim an individual crown after back-to-back runner-up finishes.

Ruckno led the Seahawks to a state title as a freshman and again as a senior, and her next stop is West Point to play for the Golden Knights of Army.

Inside on the volleyball court, the Seahawks have to say goodbye to more royalty after star setter Makenna Mason wrapped up her outstanding career with another sensational season. Mason was named Region 7-4A Player of the Year and was an all-state selection, and she will continue her career at Rider University.

DYNASTY DEFERRED

After claiming back-to-back SCISA Class 2A titles with perfect seasons, Hilton Head Christian Academy’s juggernaut football team hit a wall when a prototypical rebuilding year coincided with a move to Class 3A in a dramatic realignment of the private school league. The Eagles graduated a litany of stars a year ago, but they saw new ones emerge in a rollercoaster season that ended with a first-round playoff defeat. The biggest breakout star was quarterback Dylan Clark, who passed for more than 2,400 yards and 24 touchdowns and added 638 yards and 12 TDs on the ground — and he’s back for another season.

Hilton Head Christian quarterback Dylan Clark.

2022 FALL

ROUNDUP

RIVALRIES RENEWED

A rivalry is only as heated as it is competitive, and some of this area’s biggest ones on the high school football field haven’t given fans much to get hyped about in recent years. Until 2022.

Backup quarterback Trace Hilaman threw three touchdown passes in relief of injured starter Max Vonhohenstraeten and Luis Rojas booted a game-winning field goal on the first play of Bluffton’s possession in overtime for a wild 35-32 win over the Hilton Head Seahawks in coach Hayden Gregory’s first Bridge Bowl leading the Bobcats. The win snapped a four-game losing streak against Hilton Head and marked the first time the matchup was decided by one possession since back-to-back three-point Bluffton wins in 2016 and 2017.

Gregory and the Bobcats couldn’t end their losing streak against crosstown rival May River, but it was the most competitive matchup in the history of the series. Bluffton’s defense put up a valiant effort, but the offense couldn’t do enough, and Jaiden Jones wore down the Bobcats late to seal a 14-7 win for the Sharks.

PHOTO COURTESY JUSTIN JARRETT

DOMINANT DOLPHINS

Some things you can count on every fall in the Lowcountry: Festivals and oyster roasts, no-see-ums ruining the nicest evenings, and Hilton Head Prep’s girls winning golf and tennis titles.

Hilton Head Prep secured its fourth consecutive SCISA girls golf state title in October, posting a twoday team score of 700 to edge runner-up Porter-Gaud by 17 shots, and the Dolphins swept the hardware, as Bridget Wilkie fired a 1-over-par 73 in the final round to finish 7 over across 36 holes and win the individual title by one shot over Pinewood Prep’s Aubrey Merryman.

After winning its seventh SCISA state title in eight years back in 2019, Hilton Head Prep’s girls tennis team didn’t get a chance to defend its crown in the pandemicshortened 2020 campaign and the Dolphins came up short in their bid for another title last season.

But the Dolphins are back on top after knocking off local rival John Paul II in the semifinals and beating Spartanburg Day 5-2 to win the SCISA 3A championship.

2022 FALL

ROUNDUP

Skylar Bruner of Hilton Head High School

PHOTO COURTESY MB LYONS

ALL-STARS ABOUND

From May River senior Anya Arroyo, who raced to third place in the Class 4A Cross Country State Championships, to a school of local swimmers who brought home hardware from the state meets, all-star performances abounded from Lowcountry athletes this fall.

Hilton Head High football star and Wake Forest commit Chris Marable represented the Lowcountry in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, and Bluffton star and South Carolina State commit Jaylin Linder joined May River standouts Jaiden Jones and Darrion Perry on the South team in the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl — and all four landed on the all-state team.

May River’s girls 200-yard medley relay team of Mia Yemec, Shelby Gourley, Hannah Yemec, and Lily Bostwick placed third at the state swim meet with Gourley adding another bronze in the 100 breaststroke, and Seahawks star and University of San Diego signee Skylar Bruner notched two podium finishes, as did teammate Blaise Minkler.

Local swimmers also cleaned up at the SCISA state meet, as HHCA’s Jack Ussery won the 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke with SCISA state record times and anchored HHCA’s winning 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay teams along with Levi Eidson, JP Reed, and Wells Sharp. Hilton Head Prep’s Samantha Fenstermaker also won two events, taking gold in the 50 and 100 freestyle, and Mark Lofye brought home gold in the 500 freestyle for the Dolphins, while JPII’s Aubrey Porada won the girls 500 freestyle.