Horry County Schools Expands to Meet Growing Needs

Horry County Schools is making a big move to keep up with the area's growth. They just bought a huge piece of land in Little River for almost $6 million. This isn't just any land grab; it's a smart investment for the future. The school board gave the green light on January 12. They're planning ahead, knowing that the county is growing fast. Joe Burch, who's in charge of big projects for the schools, said they've been looking for good spots to build new schools. They found this 37-acre gem near Horseshoe Road and snapped it up. The price tag is $5, 958, 360, which works out to about $162, 000 per acre. That might sound like a lot, but the schools have the money set aside in their interest reserve fund. It'll take a month or two to finalize the deal, but the schools are already thinking about what to do with the land.Right now, most schools in the North Strand area are bursting at the seams. Almost all of them are over 100% of their capacity. Even North Myrtle Beach High School, which is doing a little better, is expected to hit 96% this year. This new land could be just what they need to ease the crowding. But Little River isn't the only place the schools are looking. Back in August, they bought 67 acres in western Horry County for $1. 4 million. They're clearly thinking ahead, knowing that the population is expected to hit 600, 000 by 2042. That would make Horry County the second biggest in the state, right behind Greenville County.