Rock Hill Schools runs 23 schools on a modified year-round calendar. Next break: Thanksgiving, Nov. 25-27. District office: 803-981-1000.
Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Facts on this page come from Rock Hill Schools: its directory of schools, the 2026-27 academic calendar (PDF) and the Board of Trustees page.
Public schools in Rock Hill are run by Rock Hill Schools, formally York School District 3. The district runs 14 elementary schools, a child development center, five middle schools and three high schools, plus the Applied Technology Center, alternative programs and adult education. Dr. Deborah Elder has been superintendent since July 1, 2025.
Every public school in Rock Hill, with its zone and report card: Rock Hill public schools.
Who to call
- District office: 386 E. Black St., 803-981-1000
- Which school am I zoned for? The School Zone Locator and zone maps
- Enroll a new student: online enrollment and the registration page
- A question or concern: the district’s Who to Contact guide sets the order: start with the school
The 2026-27 calendar
Rock Hill Schools uses a modified year-round calendar, with breaks in October and February. The board approved it on Oct. 28, 2025. Dates for students:
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Monday, Aug. 3, 2026 | First day of school |
| Oct. 5-9 | Fall break |
| Monday, Oct. 12 | No students (teacher work day; also a possible weather make-up day) |
| Tuesday, Nov. 3 | No school, Election Day |
| Nov. 25-27 | Thanksgiving break |
| Friday, Dec. 18 | Early dismissal; last day of the first semester |
| Dec. 21 to Jan. 1 | Winter break |
| Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027 | Second semester begins |
| Monday, Jan. 18 | No school, Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| Feb. 15-19 | Presidents’ Day, then a break for students |
| March 29 to April 2 | Spring break |
| Friday, April 23 | Early dismissal |
| Friday, May 28 | Early dismissal; last day of school |
| Tuesday, June 1 | Graduation at the Winthrop Coliseum |
The district lists Oct. 12, Feb. 1, March 26 and June 1 as potential weather make-up days, and says every date can change because of severe weather or new state law. The year has 180 student days. A Spanish version of the calendar is available.
Graduation on June 1 runs Northwestern at 10 a.m., South Pointe at 1 p.m. and Rock Hill High at 4 p.m.
The schools
| High schools | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern High | 2503 W. Main St. | 803-981-1200 |
| Rock Hill High | 320 W. Springdale Road | 803-981-1300 |
| South Pointe High | 801 Neely Road | 803-980-2100 |
| Middle schools | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Castle Heights Middle | 2382 Firetower Road | 803-981-1400 |
| Dutchman Creek Middle | 4757 Mount Gallant Road | 803-985-1700 |
| Rawlinson Road Middle | 2631 W. Main St. | 803-981-1500 |
| Saluda Trail STEAM Middle | 2300 Saluda Road | 803-981-1800 |
| Sullivan Middle | 1825 Eden Terrace | 803-981-1450 |
Elementary schools: Cherry Park, Ebenezer Avenue, Ebinport, Independence, India Hook, Lesslie, Mount Gallant, Mount Holly, Northside Elementary School of the Arts, Oakdale, Old Pointe, Richmond Drive, Sunset Park Center for Accelerated Studies and York Road, plus the Central Child Development Center at 414 E. Black St. Addresses and phone numbers are in the district’s directory of schools.
Other programs: the Applied Technology Center, 2399 W. Main St., 803-981-1100; Rock Hill Adult Education, 501 Belleview Road, 803-981-1375; and alternative programs at 1234 Flint St. Ext., 803-981-1975. Families can apply for the district’s program options through its SchoolMint portal.
Enrolling
Use the School Zone Locator to find your zoned schools by address, then start the online enrollment. Returning students update their information through the district’s returning student registration. Parents check grades and attendance in the PowerSchool parent portal, and school menus are on Nutrislice.
Ratings: the state report card
South Carolina rates every public school and district on a 100-point scale as Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average or Unsatisfactory, using test scores, student growth, graduation rates, English learners’ progress, college and career readiness and school climate, as the district’s State Report Card page explains. Look up any Rock Hill school’s latest card at screportcards.com. The 2026 cards, covering 2025-26, came out in October 2026: see how every Rock Hill school rated. The 2025 cards came out on Nov. 3, 2025, according to the South Carolina Department of Education.
The school board
Seven trustees govern the district: Helena Miller (chair, Seat 2), Jennifer Hutchinson (vice chair, at large), Dr. Montrio Belton (Seat 1), James Burns (Seat 3), Pete Nosal (Seat 4), Melissa Harris (Seat 5) and Lacy Daniel (at large). A board district map shows the seats.
The board typically meets at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at the district office, 386 E. Black St., with one meeting in December and July if needed. Meetings are open to the public. To speak on an agenda item, submit a written request to the board chair or superintendent by noon the Wednesday before the meeting, according to the board page.
Colleges in town
The city lists three colleges in Rock Hill: Winthrop University, Clinton College and York Technical College, according to its colleges and universities page.
What this means for you
- Fall break is over; the next days off are Election Day, Nov. 3, and Thanksgiving, Nov. 25-27.
- New to town? Check your zoned school by address before you sign a lease.
- Board meetings are the place to weigh in; sign up by noon the Wednesday before.
Related guides: voting in York County, moving to Rock Hill and Friday night football.
Zoned schools area by area: our Rock Hill neighborhoods guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is the first day of school in Rock Hill?
The 2026-27 school year began Monday, Aug. 3, 2026. The first semester ends Friday, Dec. 18, and the second runs Jan. 5 to May 28, 2027.
Does Rock Hill Schools have a fall break?
Yes. Rock Hill Schools uses a modified year-round calendar with a fall break Oct. 5-9, a February break Feb. 16-19 and spring break March 29 to April 2, 2027.
How do I find out which school my child is zoned for in Rock Hill?
Use the district’s School Zone Locator on rock-hill.k12.sc.us, or call the district office at 803-981-1000. New students register through the district’s online enrollment site.
When is graduation for Rock Hill Schools in 2027?
Tuesday, June 1, 2027, at the Winthrop Coliseum: Northwestern at 10 a.m., South Pointe at 1 p.m. and Rock Hill High at 4 p.m., according to the board-approved calendar.
When does the Rock Hill school board meet?
The Board of Trustees typically meets at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at the district office, 386 E. Black St. December and July have only one meeting if needed.
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