The Rock Hill School Board voted on April 28 to adopt 2026-27 salary schedules that raise teacher step pay by roughly $2,000 each, adding about $4.4 million to the district’s required teacher compensation this year without a property tax increase, according to reporting on the April 28 board meeting.
The district’s chief financial officer, Kevin Mann, told the board that stronger-than-expected property tax revenue and approximately $2.8 million in additional state funding allow Rock Hill Schools to absorb the salary increases and still project a balanced budget for the coming school year. The district plans to accept the full state funding increase available this year.
Salary Schedule Details
The newly adopted schedules apply to both classroom teachers and assistant principals. Teacher step increases of roughly $2,000 each bring total required teacher salary costs up by approximately $4.4 million district-wide. The schedule applies across Rock Hill Schools – York County District 3, which serves more than 16,000 students across 25 schools in Rock Hill.
The vote comes during a period of sustained enrollment and demographic change for the district. As of the 2022-23 school year, District 3 enrolled approximately 16,493 students and employed 1,260 full-time classroom teachers, according to federal education data. The student-teacher ratio stood at approximately 13 students per teacher.
Budget Context
Rock Hill Schools draws funding from federal, local, and state sources. In the most recent full budget cycle, state funding accounted for about 50 percent of total revenue, local property taxes contributed 41 percent, and federal funds made up approximately 9 percent. The balanced-budget projection reflects the district’s reliance on state formula funding that fluctuates with enrollment and legislative appropriations.
The salary schedule approval also coincides with Rock Hill Schools naming new principals for several buildings. The district’s homepage lists principal appointments as a current news item, reflecting ongoing leadership transitions ahead of the 2026-27 academic year.
York County District 3 encompasses Rock Hill’s full municipal area and operates programs ranging from elementary through secondary education, including the Be Great Academy, ST-ARTS magnet program, and T3 Elementary Center. The Foundation for Rock Hill Schools provides supplemental grant funding for teacher programs and classroom innovation.
Sources: Rock Hill Board meeting report, April 28, 2026; Rock Hill Schools district (rock-hill.k12.sc.us).
