Hilton Head Prep is located on Hilton Head Island, which has a population of approximately 34,000. The school is located on 8 Fox Grape Road, 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.
Administration
Jon Hopman serves as the headmaster, assuming the role from Peter Cooper on July 1, 2014.
Curriculum
Core classes
Hilton Head Prep offers educational opportunities for all students. All core classes have honors and college prep classes, with the former being more difficult. The upper school also 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. The Prep Booster Club, led by Prep parents, actively supports the athletic program. 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. In early 2018, Rick Sofield, took over as the head baseball coach assuming the role from Dobbie Green. Coach Dobbie Green managed the Varsity baseball team from 2015 - 2017. During his time as varsity coach, Dobbie Green won two SCISA regional finals and coached the Dolphins to a SCISA final appearance in 2016. 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.
