Beaufort Co. Schools approves next year’s academic calendar. Here are the key dates

The calendar for the 2022-23 school year for Beaufort County schools is out, with classes beginning Monday, Aug. 15, and running until Friday, June 2, 2023, according to a press release.

The school board approved the calendar, even though some school board members want to revisit year-round schooling as a way to improve academics.

The last day of school will be a half-day. The fall semester is 84 days long and ends on Dec. 19 while the spring semester lasts 96 days and begins Jan. 9.

Currently, Beaufort County schools run on a traditional schedule, but one school board member, Richard Geier, questioned in a meeting March 1 whether that was in line with the district’s goals for academic achievement and floated the idea of year-round schooling.

“We said this the last two years as well, I would like to see, personally, a little more effort into looking at how we can balance the two semesters,” Geier said. “I think that it can be done if academic achievement is our top priority.”

The Jasper County School District, Geier pointed out in the meeting, voted in February to move to a year-round calendar. In the past, he said, arguments against the calendar change involved worries that students would no longer have time to take up summer jobs that help the tourism industry in Beaufort County.

But, Geier said, August is “not the high point of tourist season” because it gets too hot that time of year. “I find that very difficult to accept,” Geier said. “That seems like that’s the way it’s been so that is the way it’s always going to be.”

Earl Campbell agreed with Geier and said the board’s focus should be on students.

“We’re not here to make sure that tourist season is fruitful, we’re here for children,” Campbell said.

Other school board members were not in favor of idea given the “difficulties” involved with having two 90-day semesters. Beaufort County School District spokesperson Candace Bruder said year-round schooling for the 2023-24 academic year is something that “warrants more discussion.”

Schools will be closed for Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day and President’s Day. The school district has allotted two vacation days for Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, and Friday, March 17, 2023.

Students will be off for winter break from Dec. 19, 2022, until Jan. 9, 2023. School will be closed from Nov. 23-25 for Thanksgiving. Spring break is from April 7-14, 2023.

The district has planned three weather makeup days in case of unforeseen weather events like a hurricane. Like last year, these days are planned for the first two days of winter break, Dec. 19-20, and the last day of spring break, April 14. Those days will possibly be made up virtually, the press release said.

Teacher workdays will take place the week of Aug. 8, Jan. 3-4, Feb. 10 and June 5-6.

Graduation dates are slated for June 5-10, 2023. Here is the schedule:

▪ May River students will graduate on June 5.

▪ Beaufort High School’s graduation will be on June 6.

▪ Bluffton High School on June 7.

▪ Battery Creek High School on June 8.

▪ Hilton Head High School students are scheduled to graduate on June 9.

▪ Whale Branch’s graduation is planned for June 10.

This story was originally published March 8, 2022 at 3:22 PM.

Sofia Sanchez

The Island Packet

(843) 781-6130

Sofia Sanchez is a breaking news reporter at The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. She reports on crime and developing stories in Beaufort and its surrounding areas. Sofia is a Cuban-American reporter from Florida and graduated from Florida International University in 2020.