About Our School
Beaufort Academy’s leadership curriculum is designed to challenge and inspire boys and girls each year in Pre-K through grade twelve. BA offers comprehensive, personalized instruction in a safe, civil, and diverse campus environment. The school works with each family to prepare students for success in college and life in the 21st century.
THE SCHOOL
Beaufort Academy is an independent, co-educational school founded in 1965. It is governed by a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees of 12, whose members represent the various constituencies of the school, as well as the community. The school enrolls 330 students in preschool 2 through grade 12. Beaufort Academy is a non-profit organization which admits students of all races, nationalities, creeds and socioeconomic backgrounds and is committed to diversity. Beaufort Academy offers an intimate campus environment with a strong history of working with the whole child to prepare each student for college and for life. Beaufort Academy offers its students a wide range of athletic, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities.
FACULTY
The faculty of Beaufort Academy consists of 43 professional educators; 35% percent hold a Masters degree or higher. The average teaching experience of this faculty is 15 years. Average class size is 14 with a student-faculty ratio of 10 to 1.
OUR MISSION
Beaufort Academy’s mission is to instill in students the intellectual curiosity and strength of character for success in all aspects of their lives. The school is committed to developing well-rounded critical thinkers that are prepared to be the problem-solvers and “Leaders of Tomorrow” within the framework of its rigorous academic environment and core values. Beaufort Academy seeks to inspire in each student a sense of responsibility to one’s self, the community, and the environment so that our students are positive contributors and leaders in the future.
CORE VALUES
To accomplish the above mission, Beaufort Academy instills the following five core values which give our student body a solid foundation to carry with them into the future: Intellect, Integrity, Leadership, Respect, and Pride.
ATHLETICS
95% of students in Grades 8-12 participate in athletics. 70% of those students participate in more than one sport. Recent athletics accomplishments include state championships in football, boys tennis, girls tennis, boys golf, girls basketball, and girls volleyball. Athletic teams compete in archery (co-ed), basketball (boys and girls), bowling (co-ed), cheer (girls), cross country (co-ed), football (boys), golf (co-ed), soccer (boys and girls), softball (girls), swimming (co-ed), tennis (boys and girls), and volleyball (girls).
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
As a college preparatory school, it is the school’s responsibility to prepare students in terms of study habits and critical thinking skills as well as fundamentals of core academic subject areas which will be of use in college and beyond. To that end, each student will be required to complete a minimum of 20 core courses while enrolled in the Upper School. Students begin earning credits toward graduation in their 9th grade year. A minimum of
20 credits is required for graduation.
Each student will be required to complete at minimum the following core distribution:
- English: 4 Credits
- Mathematics: 4 Credits (Required: Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry)
- History: 3 Credits (Required: Government & Economics and U.S. History)
- Science: 3 Credits (Required: Biology, Chemistry, and a third Lab Course)
- Foreign Language: 3 Credits
- Core Subject/AP: 3 Credits
- Fine Arts: 1 Credit
- Leadership: 3 Credits
Beaufort Academy utilizes the South Carolina Uniform Grading Policy, which designates the quality-point range for each unweighted grade. Honors courses are weighted an additional .5 point and AP Courses are weighted an additional 1 point. Grades are assigned and GPA computed in accordance with the South Carolina Uniform Grading Policy as follows:
A |
B |
C |
D |
F |
90-100 |
80-89 |
70-79 |
60-69 |
59 or below |
HONORS DIPLOMA & CLASS RANK
The Honors Diploma is awarded to graduating seniors who have successfully completed at least six courses designated as honors or advanced placement while attending Beaufort Academy. Only students who have earned the Honors Diploma are eligible for recognition as Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and/or Third Honor Graduate. Also, eligibility for these honor designations requires that a student must attend Beaufort Academy for two consecutive years in order to receive any of the above recognitions; furthermore, a class rank will be assigned to a transfer student after completion of his/her second consecutive year of Upper School.
To enable transfer students to meet typical graduation requirements, schedules will be created on a case-by-case basis, determined by previous courses taken and any relevant placement tests. However, due to the differences in quality of instruction, curriculum, and course weighting that exist from school to school, Beaufort Academy does not include any course taken at other institutions on the official transcript nor will these courses count in the computation of the student’s GPA. In addition, no course taken in the Middle School at Beaufort Academy or elsewhere will appear on the student’s Upper School transcript, be counted toward Upper School graduation requirements, nor computed in the Upper School student’s GPA. Certain courses taken in Middle School, in conjunction with grades received and assessment testing, can be used in determining Upper School placement levels.
COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE RECORD
100% of our graduates are accepted by four-year colleges and universities.
In each of the last five years students have received combined college scholarship offers in excess of $2,850,000 per year, including Heritage Scholars, Rotary Scholarships, Kiwanis Scholarships, Palmetto Fellows and South Carolina LIFE Scholarships.
More than 75% of our Upper School students participate in school enrichment programs including interscholastic athletics, drama productions, chess club, quiz bowl, music programs and Interact.
Recent graduates have been offered admission to the following colleges and universities.
Colleges in bold indicate matriculation for the Class of 2021.
ACCREDITATION
Beaufort Academy is accredited by AdvancedED Accreditation Commission of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and is a member of the following organizations:
- The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
- The Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS)
- The South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA)
- The National Association of College Admission Counselors (NACAC)
- Certification that a school meets all formal official requirements of academic excellence, curriculum, facilities, etc.
- Verification that a school understands its past, present, and future and is absolutely committed to its mission and its growth mindset.
ADMISSIONS PROCESS
Admission decisions are individually determined and are based upon students' academic records, assessment scores, and personal interviews. The number of students and other characteristics of a particular class are also considered in making admissions decisions. Click here for admissions information.
FINANCIAL AID
Beaufort Academy is strongly committed to seeking diversity within its student body and providing access to a BA education for deserving students regardless of financial circumstances. We therefore provide assistance to qualified students who demonstrate academic promise and financial need. Roughly 60% of our students receive some form of need-based financial aid each year. Click here for financial aid information.
LEARNING SERVICES AT BEAUFORT ACADEMY
While all students complete the same rigorous curriculum, we recognize some students with distinctive learning styles may need a few additional services in order to fully engage in a meaningful learning process, effectively utilize the best components of their distinctive learning styles, and productively pursue BA’s curriculum. Such services may be accessed through our learnings services department.
To learn more about learning services at BA, click here.
NOTE: Beaufort Academy does not create or accept Individual Educational Plans “IEPs” or other documents mandating special education plans.