Exciting Changes Ahead: Two New Elementary Schools Planned for Carolina Forest to Alleviate Overcrowding

Exciting Changes Coming to Myrtle Beach Schools!

MYRTLE BEACH — It might be a cloudy day today, but there’s a bright future ahead for the kiddos in Carolina Forest! Horry County Schools is making big waves with their plans to build not one, but two new elementary schools, aimed at alleviating overcrowding and helping our beloved community’s students thrive.

Just in case you missed it, on September 23, 2024, the school district released the first draft of the new attendance areas for these schools. Yes, it’s true folks—a whopping 1,800 students in one of Horry County’s fastest-growing areas could be switching schools come next year! Talk about a major shift!

The Game Plan

The new schools will be known as Carolina Forest Boulevard Elementary and Robert McNair Boulevard Elementary, opening their doors to students in the upcoming school year. With Carolina Forest Elementary, Ocean Bay Elementary, and River Oaks Elementary bursting at the seams—each over 100% capacity—these new additions are like a breath of fresh air to the community.

So wait, what does this mean for our current schools? Well, District officials have laid out a solid plan. The officials worked their magic to ensure that neighborhoods wouldn’t be split up. Kids will still get to go to school with their friends, which is a big win! Joe Burch, the district’s executive director of capital projects, reassured us, “We have tried extremely hard at not splitting any neighborhoods. I feel like we’ve done a really good job on that.”

How Will It Work?

Here’s the scoop: the district is planning to assign approximately 1,846 of the 3,922 students currently attending the overcrowded schools anew. That’s right—nearly 2,000 students could experience a change in scenery! Out of these students, 938 will head over to Carolina Forest Boulevard Elementary and 908 will be bundled off to Robert McNair Boulevard Elementary.

In terms of capacity, each new school will hold up to 1,200 students. This means that when the dust settles, the functional capacity of these schools should drop to an ideal 77%! Sounds pretty good, right?

Don’t Forget the Feedback!

Before anything is set in stone, the district wants to hear from YOU! Plans to finalize these attendance lines are in the works for December, but until then, they’ll be collecting community feedback. If you have thoughts, this is your chance to shine!

The conversations have already kicked off with school principals and the Carolina Forest Advisory Board. Community input is crucial, so hold onto your ideas and help shape how our local education system evolves!

Preparing for New Highs

Both schools are currently under construction along Carolina Forest Boulevard and Ronald McNair Boulevard, with a price tag of around $64 million each. It’s exciting to think about how these schools will not only serve the immediate community but allow for future growth. As our lovely little corner of the world continues to blossom, who wouldn’t want a seat at the table for these developments?

The new schools are slated for completion by July, ready for the start of the school year. So while we might see some rain showers today—this educational initiative is a massive silver lining that we can all get behind!

Let’s keep our eyes and ears open as this story unfolds, Myrtle Beach! Our schools are growing, and so is the future for our children. If you’re a parent or just a concerned community member, stay tuned for updates in the coming months!