News Summary
The Beaufort County School District is advancing the construction of a new Lady’s Island Middle School with a budget of $61 million approved by voters. The facility is designed to accommodate 500 students, expandable to 800. Construction is set to start in the fall and be completed by summer 2028. Alongside this project, new athletic facilities and community infrastructure developments are underway, enhancing local education and city services in the area.
Beaufort, South Carolina – The Beaufort County School District has made significant progress on the construction of a new Lady’s Island Middle School, with a budget of approximately $61 million approved by voters in a referendum a year and a half ago. The new facility is set to serve grades 6-8 and will accommodate around 500 students initially, with the capacity to expand to 650, and with future provisions to hold up to 800 students.
Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall and is expected to be completed by the summer of 2028. The new school will be located at the existing school site at 30 Cougar Drive. Plans for the facility include a 76,000-square-foot structure with modern athletic facilities designed with a smaller footprint to address stormwater drainage issues and to help preserve existing trees.
The Beaufort City Council has granted approval for the rezoning of a 41-acre site from T3-Suburban District to Institutional and Campus District, facilitating the construction of the new school. This is part of a broader undertaking; in 2023, voters authorized the school district to borrow $439 million for various improvements throughout the district, including the new Lady’s Island Middle School and the rebuilding of Hilton Head Island High School.
Alongside the new school, there are plans to develop new football, softball, and baseball fields, enhancing sports facilities for the community. The current school and its athletic facilities will remain operational until the new facilities are completed, minimizing disruption for the students during the transition period.
In addition to school developments, Beaufort County is also focusing on community infrastructure. A public meeting was held regarding the Hazel Farm Road/Gay Drive and Sunset Boulevard/Miller Drive Streetscape projects, which are part of the Lady’s Island Corridor Traffic Improvements. Proposed designs include bicycle and pedestrian facilities, although some community members have expressed reservations about these plans.
The area is also witnessing an increase in local business developments. Two new Culver’s locations are planned for Bluffton and Beaufort, along with two additional Starbucks locations, one of which is set to be built on Lady’s Island across from SouthState Bank and Sea Island Carts. This new Starbucks location is expected to open in March 2026.
The cultural and educational environment on Lady’s Island is thriving as well. Seventh- and eighth-grade art students at Lady’s Island Middle School recently engaged in a collaborative project named Distant Sounds, which is set to be presented at Seaside Bar & Grill. This initiative is part of an effort to enhance the artistic engagement of students within the community.
Furthermore, nine creative writing students from Lady’s Island Elementary will have their efforts featured in the 2022 Young American Poetry Digest through a project titled Storybuilders. This project emphasizes collaboration with local authors and educators to enhance students’ writing capabilities, fostering an appreciation for poetry and storytelling among young learners.
As the community comes together through educational and infrastructure projects, the Lady’s Island area is well on its way to becoming a vibrant hub for both academic and cultural growth.
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Additional Resources
- Island Packet: Beaufort News
- Wikipedia: Beaufort, South Carolina
- Your Island News: Lady’s Island Corridor Improvements
- Google Search: Lady’s Island traffic improvements
- Island Packet: Local News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Lady’s Island
- Your Island News: Storybuilders Project
- Google News: Education projects in Beaufort
Author: STAFF HERE BEAUFORT
The HERE Beaufort Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Beaufort community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background: Local Roots in Beaufort : Our team includes lifelong Beaufort residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sale of the historic Crofts Block Building, Beaufort’s equestrian heritage, and growth in local tech and education sectors (e.g., BeaufortTechnical College programs). Collective Experience: With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality: Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
