Registration for the '16-'17 school year is now open

Click here for instructions in the registration process for new and returning students.

Statement on transgender/Title IX issue

Statement on transgender/Title IX issue

Horry County Schools has received much media attention recently as part of the national discussion about transgender students, and we want to share information that will hopefully provide an accurate account and perspective on the decision involving our schools and students. First, our school employees have an obligation to make every reasonable effort to ensure the safety of each and every student under our watch. We also are bound to uphold the laws of our nation and our state. Some of those laws are easy to build consensus around: for example, our school buses will obey the speed limit at all times. Other issues, like transgender, are more complex. However, we are still bound to uphold the law. We, as professionals, also must use our good judgment and review the facts on a case-by-case basis when making decisions impacting students. We will not share the specifics of any individual decision involving students, but we do wish to set the record straight regarding transgender students and bathroom privileges in our schools. Title IX is a federal law that schools have followed for years, more commonly regarding gender issues related to athletics. However, the law is broader than athletics, and recently a federal appeals court for the district that includes South Carolina used Title IX to issue a ruling that transgender students must be allowed to use the bathroom for the gender with which they identify. Title IX and that ruling apply to Horry County Schools and to all other schools in this federal district. However, Horry County Schools has not changed the male and female bathroom policies for our students. We have merely determined that transgender students in our schools, along with parents, can request bathroom rights that align with the recent court ruling. Our school administrators, in order to comply with the law and consider the rights of individual students, will make decisions with those students and their parents that are both fair and legal. Our schools, and those who lead them, understand that the safety of all students is paramount, and we will deal with any issue in which the safety and security of any student is in question. We understand that this is a very emotional issue for lots of reasons. We fully understand that all laws and decisions that follow are not universally popular. We must also have faith in the judgment of our administrators and teachers to comply with the law, ensure that all students are treated fairly, and to keep the safety of our students at the forefront every day. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals No. 15-2056 G. G. v. Gloucester County School Board

New Teacher Academy for August 2016 is now open

Click here for information

iTeams Extreme summer day camp for rising 7th and 8th graders

iTEAMS XTREME, GSSM’s premier summer day camp for rising 7th and 8th graders, challenges students to create their own product using the latest technologies. Ideas are presented in a shark tank-style review to real-world entrepreneurs.  XTREME FACTS Technologies introduced: OpenSCAD, SnapSCAD, App Inventor, Kodu, and Makey Makey GSSM hires local teachers and GSSM alumni participate as assistants and role models Students are selected based on grades and interest APPLY ONLINE www.scgssm.org/iteams APPLICATION AVAILABLE February 15, 2016 APPLICATION DEADLINE May 13, 2016 WHO Rising 7th & 8th graders in Horry County WHEN July 25–28, 2016 8:30AM – 3:30PM DAILY WHERE Conway Middle School 1104 Elm St » Conway SC 29526 COST FREE Includes instructional materials, lunch and transportation MORE INFORMATION Irene Middleton GSSM DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH middleton@gssm.k12.sc.us 843-383-3901 x3309  Click on the image below to download the flyer!

2016 Summer Scholars information for rising 3rd-11th Graders

Welcome to HCS Online Registration System for Summer Scholars 2016!

Horry County Schools’ Summer Scholars Program is a special experience that provides academic enrichment opportunities to gifted and high-achieving students in grades 3-11. Summer Scholars recognizes the importance of allowing gifted and high-achieving young people the opportunity for critical thinking and learning through creative exploration.

Descriptions of classes, scholarships, and other information specific to attending the 2016 Summer Scholars Program will be available online Friday, March 25 on this page when you click on "Apply for Summer Scholars here" or you can request a hard copy application which will be available in schools the afternoon beginning on Thursday, March 24.

Summer Scholars Pricing
1 class - $125	3 classes - $325
2 classes - $225	4 classes - $425

*Specialized classes require an additional $10 for each class

Once your online application is submitted, you will receive an invoice page to print out with further instructions on completing the payment/registration process. Registration is not complete until invoice is printed and mailed in with appropriate fees. For those requesting a scholarship, a current letter of benefits MUST be included with your invoice. NOTE: T-shirts and specialized class fees are NOT included in scholarships and a check for said fees must be included. Scholarship information can be found on student applications.

Visit HorryCountySchools.net from your computer and click on the Summer Scholars Box to apply

(Notice: Summer Scholars applications will open on 3/24/2016 at 11:59:59 PM EST.)

If there are any questions or concerns about your application, please contact Timi McMullin at tmcmullin@horrycountyschools.net or call (843) 488-6745.

If you are trying to apply for a refund, please download, print, fill out, and return this file to the address specified therein.

Attention: Make-up day for February 24

Horry County Schools will add a make-up day to the end of the school year on Friday, June 3, for the weather-related closure in February. South Carolina law, Section 59-1-425, requires that school districts make up the first three school days missed due to inclement weather. This will be the third required make-up day for Horry County Schools, and students have already made up the two previous days.

In order to accommodate the various high school graduation ceremonies, schools will operate on different schedules by attendance areas for students on the last three days of the school year, June 1-3. Graduation dates and times will not be impacted by the make-up schedule. The schedules are as follows:

Wednesday, June 1:

• Full day for students who attend schools in the Aynor, Carolina Forest, Green Sea-Floyds, North Myrtle Beach, and St. James attendance areas. 
• Half day (2.5 hour early release) for students who attend schools in the Conway, Loris, Myrtle Beach, and Socastee attendance areas.

Thursday, June 2:

• Full day for students who attend schools in the Conway, Loris, Myrtle Beach, and Socastee attendance areas. 
• Half day for students (2.5 hour early release) who attend schools in the Aynor, Carolina Forest, Green Sea-Floyds, North Myrtle Beach, and St. James attendance areas.

Friday, June 3:

• Half day (2.5 hour early release) for all Horry County Schools students.

Students attending district-wide secondary programs, including the HCS Early College High School, the Scholars’ Academy, the Academy for the Arts, Science and Technology, and the Academy for Technology and Academics, will receive notification from their schools regarding schedule changes unique to their programs. Students with personalized schedules who travel between schools for specific classes should contact the administration of their base school for further instruction about the make-up day.

HCS Announces Prom Dates for High Schools and Academies

Horry County Schools’ high schools and academies have announced the dates and locations for upcoming proms and dances. Details are as follows: Aynor High School, April 16, at Club Boca, from 7 - 10 p.m.; Carolina Forest High School, March 24, at the Marina Inn at Grand Dunes, from 8 p.m. until midnight; Conway High School, March 24, at the Myrtle Beach Hilton, from 8 p.m. until midnight; Green Sea Floyds High School, March 24, at the Spanish Galleon, from 7 p.m. until midnight; HCS Early College High School, March 11, at North Beach Plantation, from 7 - 10 p.m.; Loris High School, March 24, at Ocean Drive Resort, from 8 - 11 p.m.; Myrtle Beach High School, March 24, at the House of Blues, from 7 -11 p.m.; North Myrtle Beach High School, March 24, at Barefoot Conference Center, from 7 -11 p.m.; Socastee High School, March 24, at the Hilton Hotel Conference Center, from 8 a.m. until midnight; *St. James High School, April 8, at the Marina Inn at the Grande Dunes, from 7 – 11 p.m.; The Scholars Academy, Winter Dance, February 26, at The Dunes Club, from 7-11 p.m.; The Academy for the Arts, Science and Technology, Spring Gala, April 22, at the House of Blues, from 7 – 11 p.m.; and The Academy for Technology and Academics, April 22, at the school, from 7 – 11 p.m.            *Updated Tues. Feb 9, 2016