Best Special Needs Schools in Shaw Afb, South Carolina (2026)

Our campus sits on Shaw Air Force Base, and children who live in the base housing behind the school walk in through our own walker gate. High Hills Elementary is part of Sumter School District, and many of our families are military families who are new to the Sumter area. We are a Leader in Me school. Students learn the 8 Habits and build toward the Profile of a South Carolina Graduate, and our teachers plan lessons from state standards and student data, using hands-on learning, differentiated instruction and flexible grouping. State-identified gifted students in grades 2 to 5 attend QUEST, a weekly pull-out enrichment program built around STEM and engineering problem-based units, and the district's REACH program serves students gifted in visual arts, music and theatre. On club days, students pick from groups such as Lego, cooking, book, author, fitness, cheer and Panther News Network. We also offer a fall after-school program, a Title I program, school counseling and breakfast in the cafeteria each morning. Students support Relay for Life, March of Dimes and the Heart Walk.

• Public elementary school
• Gifted and talented
• Leader in Me
• Gifted enrichment (QUEST)