Beaufort County School District Celebrates Groundbreaking of May River Elementary School
BLUFFTON, S.C. – The Beaufort County School District (BCSD) celebrated the groundbreaking of its newest school, May River Elementary, on Monday, October 20, marking an important milestone in the district’s ongoing efforts to address growth and school capacity issues in Bluffton.
District leaders, Board of Education members, local elected officials, district and school administrators, as well as community partners, joined Superintendent Dr. Frank Rodriguez at the future school site at 607 New Riverside Road, adjacent to May River High School, for the ceremonial turning of the soil.
“The May River Elementary School groundbreaking marks an exciting milestone for our district,” said Dr. Rodriguez. “We are grateful for the voters’ support of the 2023 bond referendum that made this possible. This new school represents our shared commitment to providing high-quality learning environments for every student.”
The 113,000-square-foot facility will serve up to 800 students and is scheduled to open for the 2027–2028 school year. The new school—whose mascot will be the Manatee—will alleviate overcrowding in elementary schools that are over capacity in Bluffton.
Fast Facts:
- Size: 113,000 square feet
- Capacity: 800 students
- Location: 607 New Riverside Road, Bluffton (on May River High campus)
- Architect: Quackenbush Architects & Planners LLC
- Construction Management: Thompson Turner Construction
- Opening: 2027–2028 school year
- Funded by: 2023 BCSD Bond Referendum
- School Mascot: Manatees
Supporting video footage: https://youtu.be/sguRYcjTimc