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Average

#580 of 1,176 schools in SC

Top 49% in state

Michael C. Riley Elementary

Elementary School · Beaufort 01

200 Burnt Church Road, Bluffton, SC 29910

Enrollment

718

Student-Teacher

9.3:1

Score

6.3

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

South Carolina schools

#580 of 1,176

In Bluffton

#10 of 10

public schools

In district

#22 of 32

Beaufort 01

School environment

9.0 / 10

Excellent

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Michael C. Riley Elementary

6.3/10

Elementary School in Bluffton · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

May River Montessori School

7.2/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Red Cedar Elementary

7.8/10

1.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Michael C. Riley Elementary

Michael C. Riley Elementary is a public elementary school in Bluffton, SC, part of Beaufort 01. Michael C.

Riley Elementary serves approximately 718 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 9.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Michael C. Riley Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.3 out of 10 and ranks #580 of 1,176 schools in SC.

Structured state assessment records for Michael C. Riley Elementary show 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.4 pts below district
  • This school 6.3 · Average
  • District avg 6.7
  • SC avg 6.1

What Parents Should Know

At 9.3:1 students to teachers, Michael C. Riley Elementary sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.9Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.88 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics6.8Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency52% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency44% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency48% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)49% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-0.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile53th
Resources & Environment9.0Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,232
Chronic Absenteeism27.6%

Michael C. Riley Elementary — Students at Michael C. Riley Elementary score 48% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 49%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

73.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores SC EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 63.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 54.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 28 test records from SC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
91%
ELA
92%
2010
Math
86%
ELA
83%
2011
Math
81%
ELA
80%
2012
Math
79%
ELA
81%
2013
Math
80%
ELA
77%
2014
Math
51%
ELA
26%
2015
Math
58%
ELA
44%
2016
Math
51%
ELA
39%
2017
Math
57%
ELA
39%
2018
Math
55%
ELA
37%
2019
Math
55%
ELA
37%
2020*
Math
44%
ELA
44%
2021*
Math
44%
ELA
44%
2022
Math
52%
ELA
44%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 4.9/10.

How Michael C. Riley Elementary Compares

See how Michael C. Riley Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.3/10
51th percentile in SC
Academic
6.8/10
Average
Growth
4.9/10
Below Average
Environment
9.0/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
73%
Teaching Staff
9:1 student-teacher ratio
77 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
27.6%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

200 Burnt Church Road, Bluffton, SC 29910

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Michael C. Riley Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. River Ridge Academy (rated 8.6/10, 5.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Okatie Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 7.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Pritchardville Elementary (rated 8.0/10, 6.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Bluffton, see our Bluffton schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 8.0 mi
School Distance Rating
MAY RIVER MONTESSORI SCHOOL Bluffton 0.4 mi 7.2
Red Cedar Elementary Bluffton 1.5 mi 7.8
Bluffton Middle Bluffton 1.9 mi 6.7
Bluffton Elementary Bluffton 2.6 mi 7.1
Bluffton High Bluffton 2.7 mi 9.1
H. E. McCracken Middle Bluffton 2.7 mi 7.5
River Ridge Academy Bluffton 5.6 mi 8.6
Okatie Elementary Bluffton 7.5 mi 8.2
Pritchardville Elementary Bluffton 6.8 mi 8.0
May River High Bluffton 6.8 mi 8.0
Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts Hilton Head Island 7.2 mi 6.3
Hilton Head Island Elementary Hilton Head Island 7.3 mi 7.2
HILTON HEAD PREPARATORY SCHOOL Hilton Head Island 8.2 mi 6.6
SEA PINES MONTESSORI ACADEMY Hilton Head Island 8.2 mi 7.0
Hilton Head Island High Hilton Head Island 7.4 mi 8.2
HERITAGE ACADEMY Hilton Head Island 8.0 mi 7.2
Hilton Head Island Middle Hilton Head Island 7.5 mi 6.1
JOHN PAUL II CATHOLIC SCHOOL Ridgeland 9.1 mi 6.7
JOHN PAUL II CATHOLIC SCHOOL Ridgeland 9.1 mi 7.8
Hilton Head Island Early Childhood Center Hilton Head Island 8.0 mi 7.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 29910 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$96,122

Median Home Value

$420,200

Median Rent

$1,848/mo

Population

50,173

College Educated

46.4%

Homeownership

76.9%

Avg Commute

25.7 min

Poverty Rate

7.2%

Median Age

42.1

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Allendale-Fairfax Elementary Fairfax, SC 6.3
Delmae Heights Elementary Florence, SC 6.3
Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Elementary Greenwood, SC 6.3
Duncan Elementary School of the Arts Duncan, SC 6.3
Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts Hilton Head Island, SC 6.3
Hollis Academy Greenville, SC 6.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Michael C. Riley Elementary

What grades does Michael C. Riley Elementary serve?

Michael C. Riley Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Michael C. Riley Elementary?

Michael C. Riley Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 718 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Michael C. Riley Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Michael C. Riley Elementary is 9.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Michael C. Riley Elementary rank in SC?

Michael C. Riley Elementary ranks #580 of 1,176 schools in SC.

What is Michael C. Riley Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Michael C. Riley Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Michael C. Riley Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Michael C. Riley Elementary has 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Michael C. Riley Elementary a charter school?

No, Michael C. Riley Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Michael C. Riley Elementary a Title I school?

No, Michael C. Riley Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Michael C. Riley Elementary?

73.1% of students at Michael C. Riley Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
37 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
36 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
718
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
77
Free/Reduced Lunch
73.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Beaufort County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
27.6%

District

Beaufort 01
District Enrollment
21,489
Schools in District
32
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,232
District Rank
#22 of 32

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