Beaufort, South Carolina, September 19, 2025
News Summary
Beaufort County schools have decided to restrict access to nine specific titles in public school libraries, requiring parental permission for borrowings. This move comes amid a wave of book bans in South Carolina, which leads the nation in the number of banned titles. Most checkouts of these books occurred at Bluffton High School. The decision highlights ongoing tensions between educational content and parental control, prompting a scheduled meeting for public discourse about the contested books.
Beaufort, South Carolina — Amid a national trend towards book bans, Beaufort County schools have taken steps to restrict access to nine specific titles in public school libraries. These books will now be kept behind permission slips and are accessible only with a note from home. This decision has emerged as South Carolina leads the country with a total of 22 banned books from schools statewide.
The nine titles in question have recorded less than 70 checkouts over the last three years, indicating limited interest among students. Of these, the majority of checkouts occurred at Bluffton High School, which accounted for 51 of the total requests. Other schools reporting checkouts included May River High School (8), Beaufort High School (3), Beaufort Middle School (4), and Whale Branch Early College High School (1). The nine restricted books were also available at Bluffton Middle School, Lady’s Island Middle School, Hilton Head Island Middle School, and Battery Creek High School, but no checkouts occurred from these locations. In the remaining 23 schools within the district, the contested titles were not available at all.
Among the restricted titles, “Thirteen Reasons Why” was the most frequently borrowed book with 23 checkouts, followed closely by “The Bluest Eye” with 16 checkouts. In contrast, one of the restricted books, “Crank” by Ellen Hopkins, has no record of checkouts during the reviewing period. Additionally, six other books were removed from Beaufort County schools in the past due to low circulation, and another title, “Like a Love Story” by Abdi Nazemian, was never purchased.
To comply with South Carolina Regulation 43-170, the district deleted records for 21 other banned books from its catalog, leaving only nine restricted titles available in the system. The recent decision to limit access to these books marks the first time the Beaufort County Board of Education has responded to book complaints under a new state regulation on educational materials. This legislative change underscores a significant moment for schools in South Carolina, particularly as over half of the banned or restricted books at the state level originated from complaints by a single Beaufort County parent.
South Carolina law allows parents to submit complaints regarding instructional materials that depict sexual conduct in educational settings, with a limit of up to five complaints per month. The Beaufort County Board of Education voted in favor of keeping the contested books available to students, albeit with the requirement of parental permission for checkouts. This motion passed with a vote of 9 for and 2 against.
A recent public record request revealed that only students at five out of the district’s 32 schools, which serve nearly 21,000 students, borrowed any of the nine contested books. To further discuss the matter, a meeting has been scheduled for August 22, 2025, allowing for public comments and challenges concerning each of the nine restricted library titles.
Context of Book Restrictions
The direction towards a more restrictive approach on educational materials reflects a growing trend across the nation, particularly in South Carolina, which has seen escalating tensions between parents, educators, and regulatory frameworks regarding what content is deemed appropriate for school-aged children. With such legislative actions, it remains crucial to monitor the implications this may have on educational environments and access to diverse literature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current status of book restrictions in Beaufort County?
Nine books in Beaufort County public school libraries are now located behind permission slips in a restricted section accessible only with a note from home.
How many books are currently banned in South Carolina?
South Carolina leads the nation with 22 books banned from all public school classrooms and libraries.
Which school accounted for most checkouts of the restricted titles?
Most of the checkouts for the nine restricted titles occurred at Bluffton High School, accounting for 51 of the total checkouts.
What is the most frequently borrowed restricted book?
“Thirteen Reasons Why” was the most frequently borrowed restricted book with 23 checkouts, followed by “The Bluest Eye” with 16 checkouts.
When is the next meeting regarding challenges to the restricted books?
A meeting was scheduled for August 22, 2025, to further discuss challenges to the nine library books, allowing public comments on each title.
Key Features of Beaufort County Book Restrictions
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Restricted Books | 9 |
| Checkout Frequency | Less than 70 over 3 years |
| Leading School for Checkouts | Bluffton High School |
| Most Borrowed Title | “Thirteen Reasons Why” (23 checkouts) |
| Statewide Book Bans | 22 banned books in South Carolina |
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Additional Resources
- Island Packet: Beaufort County Book Restrictions
- Wikipedia: Book Banning
- WTOC: Library Books Restricted
- Google Search: Book Restrictions in Schools
- WSAV: Book Ban Battle in Beaufort
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Censorship
- Live 5 News: Banned Together Documentary
- Google News: Beaufort County Book Ban
- The State: Opinion on Book Bans
Author: STAFF HERE HILTON HEAD
The HILTON HEAD STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREHiltonHead.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Hilton Head Island, Beaufort County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the RBC Heritage golf tournament, Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival, and the Gullah Celebration. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, plus leading businesses in tourism and hospitality that power the local economy such as Sea Pines Resort and Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAiken.com, HEREBeaufort.com, HEREChapin.com, HERECharleston.com, HEREClinton.com, HEREColumbia.com, HEREGeorgetown.com, HEREGreenwood.com, HEREGreenville.com, HEREHiltonHead.com, HEREIrmo.com, HEREMyrtleBeach.com, HERENewberry.com, HERERockHill.com, and HERESpartanburg.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into South Carolina's dynamic landscape.
