Schools in Myrtle Beach
Horry County Schools -- the single district serving Myrtle Beach, since the county has no separate city-specific school system -- earned an overall A- grade in 2026 Niche rankings across 57 schools and 48,662 students, though as with any large countywide district, that grade blends real, disclosed variance between individual campuses, with Carolina Forest's schools specifically cited as among the district's most sought-after.
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Learn moreHorry County Schools: A Districtwide A-, With the Usual Large-District Caveats
Niche's 2026 rankings gave Horry County Schools an overall grade of A-, with a 4.1-star average rating from 320 reviewers, across 57 schools serving 48,662 students district-wide. As with any large countywide district blending very different individual campus outcomes, confirm the specific assigned school for an address rather than relying on the district-level grade alone.
Carolina Forest's Schools Are Specifically, Repeatedly Cited as Among the District's Best
Carolina Forest Elementary, Ocean Bay Middle, and Carolina Forest High School are specifically named in multiple 2026 relocation and real estate sources as among the highest-rated schools in Horry County, with Carolina Forest High School cited as regularly performing above the county average. This is a real, specific, sourced distinction -- not every Horry County neighborhood carries this same school reputation -- and is a major reason Carolina Forest is consistently recommended as the district's top family-relocation destination (see the best-areas and families topic pages in the companion file).
Individual School Grades Vary Meaningfully Within the District
Individual school-level Niche grades within Horry County Schools ranged from A- to B+ for specific elementary schools and B+ (1,510 students, an 18:1 student-teacher ratio) for at least one specific high school in this pass's research -- real, disclosed variance underneath the district-level A- grade, consistent with any large district this size.
Higher-Education and Technical-Training Access Is Real and Locally Anchored
Horry-Georgetown Technical College (campuses in Myrtle Beach, Conway, and Georgetown County) enrolls more than 11,000 students as the 4th-largest technical college in South Carolina, with Allied Health programs specifically named as feeding the area's growing healthcare-employment sector. Coastal Carolina University, in nearby Conway (also within Horry County), provides a real four-year university option in the immediate region.
Confirm the Specific Assigned School and District Boundary for Any Address
Because Horry County Schools is a single countywide district, most Myrtle Beach and greater Grand Strand addresses (including unincorporated areas like Carolina Forest) fall under the same district -- but confirm the specific elementary, middle, and high school assigned to a given address, along with that individual school's current Niche or GreatSchools rating, before relying on the district-level A- grade alone.
Key takeaways
- Horry County Schools -- the single district serving Myrtle Beach -- earned an overall A- grade in 2026 Niche rankings (57 schools, 48,662 students, 4.1-star average rating).
- Carolina Forest Elementary, Ocean Bay Middle, and Carolina Forest High School are specifically, repeatedly cited as among the district's highest-rated schools -- a real, sourced factor behind Carolina Forest's reputation as the area's top family-relocation destination.
- Individual school grades vary meaningfully within the district (A- to B+ range cited across specific schools this pass) -- a districtwide A- does not describe every individual campus.
- Horry-Georgetown Technical College (11,000+ students, $503.8M annual regional economic impact) and Coastal Carolina University (Conway) provide real, locally anchored higher-education and technical-training access, notably in Allied Health.
- Confirm the specific assigned school for any address rather than relying on the district-level grade alone, since Horry County Schools is a single large countywide district covering most Grand Strand addresses.
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