The Goddard School breaks ground on new Bluffton campus, plans early 2027 opening

BLUFFTON, S.C. (WTOC) - A new early childhood education option is on the way to Beaufort County.

Leaders broke ground Wednesday morning on The Goddard School Bluffton, a project expected to serve families with children as young as 6 weeks and as old as 6 years.

The school will be built in a future facility off Buckwalter Parkway and is planned to include 13 classrooms and an outdoor field/athletic area.

Once open, the campus is expected to welcome about 245 students and employ around 40 teachers and staff members.

Organizers say the idea came after years of visiting the Lowcountry and hearing directly from people in the area about a growing need for more childcare and early learning options.

“We’re very passionate about early childhood education and providing a strong foundation in the early years of a child’s life to help them develop a lifelong love of learning,” Liz Scott with The Goddard School Bluffton said.

Scott and her family currently operate multiple The Goddard School locations in Florida, serving more than 1,000 children, and said they’re bringing that experience to Bluffton as the community continues to grow.

Managing partner Marie Ann Howard said their focus extends beyond the classroom.

“This is Liz, and my tenth year together in early childhood education, so I think what we have is a magic formula. It’s quality education for the children, but also we are very much about supporting the whole community,” Howard said.

The school is expected to open in spring 2027.