Hilton Head Preparatory School
# Hilton Head Preparatory School

Hilton Head Preparatory School (HHP) is a private school for junior kindergarten through 12th grade, located in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, United States. It belongs to the South Carolina Independent School Association, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Southern Association of Independent Schools. It is the only school on Hilton Head Island to be accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools.

## Community

Hilton Head Prep is located on Hilton Head Island, which has a population of approximately 40,000. The school is located just inside of the Ocean Gate into Sea Pines Resort.

## History

The school was formed in 1985 as a result of the merger of Sea Pines Academy and May River Academy. Both predecessor schools opened in the late 1960s after Beaufort County Schools ended educational segregation and have been cited as examples of segregation academies.

When Sea Pines Academy was established, some of the students lived as far as 50 miles away and were bused to the school so their parents could avoid enrolling them in racially integrated public $schools.^{:52}$

## Curriculum

The upper school offers 13 Advanced Placement courses. In middle school, students are required to take one semester of P.E. each year if they do not participate in school or club athletics.

## Schedule

As of 2015, the upper school day consists of seven 45-minute periods with three minutes between classes, a 20-minute break and a twenty-five-minute lunch. The school day is shortened on Fridays, with 37-minute periods and an extended mid-morning break, but without a lunch break.

## Athletics

### Athletic Department

The athletic program at Prep has greater than 75% participation of the student body, with many student-athletes participating in multiple sports.

Athletic facilities include the Joseph B. Fraser, Jr. Field House, which was opened in 2007. It is a 20,600 square foot building that includes a multi-functional basketball and volleyball gymnasium, four locker rooms, a wellness center, and an athletic trainer room.

The school's athletic rivals are Hilton Head Christian Academy and Thomas Heyward Academy

### SCISA championships

Hilton Head Prep has won many SCISA championships as a member school of the South Carolina Independent School Association. In the 2015–2016 school year the men's golf team and tennis team captured SCISA championships. This was their third straight tennis title in three years.

