Hand Middle School

2600 Wheat Street
Columbia, SC 29205
(School attendance zone shown in map)
4/
10
Bottom 50%
Serving 652 students in grades 6-8, Hand Middle School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in South Carolina for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 34% (which is lower than the South Carolina state average of 41%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 44% (which is lower than the South Carolina state average of 52%).
The student:teacher ratio of 11:1 is lower than the South Carolina state level of 14:1.
Minority enrollment is 72% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the South Carolina state average of 52% (majority Black).

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • School Type: Magnet School
  • Grades: 6-8
  • Enrollment: 652 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 11:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 72%
  • : Bottom 50% in SC
  • : 34% (Btm 50%)
  • : 44% (Btm 50%)
  • : 40-44% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SC Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Hand Middle School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in South Carolina for:

School Overview

Hand Middle School's student population of 652 students has declined by 23% over five school years.
The teacher population of 57 teachers has declined by 8% over five school years.
School Type
Grades Offered
Grades 6-8
(offers virtual instruction)
Total Students
652 students
This chart displays total students of Hand Middle School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Gender %
This chart displays gender of Hand Middle School
Total Classroom Teachers
57 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Hand Middle School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Hand Middle School by grade.

School Rankings

Hand Middle School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 1,154 schools in South Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Hand Middle School is 0.60, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.66. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School
State Level (SC)
#718 out of 1154 schools
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Hand Middle School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
34%
41%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Hand Middle School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in South Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
44%
52%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Hand Middle School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of South Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
40-44%
50%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Hand Middle School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in South Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
11:1
14:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Hand Middle School and the public school average student teacher ratio of South Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
American Indian
n/a
n/a
Asian
1%
2%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Hand Middle School and the percentage of Asian public school students in South Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hispanic
11%
13%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Hand Middle School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in South Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Black
56%
31%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Hand Middle School and the percentage of Black public school students in South Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
White
28%
48%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Hand Middle School and the percentage of White public school students in South Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
4%
6%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Hand Middle School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in South Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
All Ethnic Groups
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Hand Middle School.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of public school students of all ethnic groups in South Carolina.
0.60
This chart displays the diversity score of Hand Middle School and the public school average diversity score of South Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
100%
67%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Hand Middle School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in South Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch (14-15)
4%
6%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Hand Middle School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in South Carolina by year, with the latest 2014-15 school year data.
School District Name
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SC Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hand Middle School's ranking?
Hand Middle School is ranked #718 out of 1,154 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in South Carolina.
What schools are Hand Middle School often compared to?
Hand Middle Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Blythewood Middle School, Dent Middle School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
34% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 41% SC state average), while 44% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 52% SC state average).
How many students attend Hand Middle School?
652 students attend Hand Middle School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
56% of Hand Middle School students are Black, 28% of students are White, 11% of students are Hispanic, 4% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Hand Middle School?
Hand Middle School has a student ration of 11:1, which is lower than the South Carolina state average of 14:1.
What grades does Hand Middle School offer ?
Hand Middle School offers enrollment in grades 6-8 (offers virtual instruction).
What school district is Hand Middle School part of?
Hand Middle School is part of Richland 01 School District.
In what neighborhood is Hand Middle School located?
Hand Middle School is located in the Shandon neighborhood of Columbia, SC.

School Reviews

5   4/27/2011
I love hand middle school and all their great teacher and faculty and a cheer for Mr. Burden
- Posted by Student/Alumni - j.as1

Review Hand Middle School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:

  • Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
  • Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Rate this school:

Recent Articles

Drug Testing Teachers: Testing Positive or Negative?
Drug Testing Teachers: Testing Positive or Negative?
This article examines the ongoing debate about drug testing for teachers in public schools. It discusses the rationale behind such policies, privacy concerns, cost implications, and the relatively low prevalence of drug use among educators. The piece also explores future considerations for drug testing policies in educational settings.
Head in the Clouds: Why Public Schools are Embracing Cloud Computing
Head in the Clouds: Why Public Schools are Embracing Cloud Computing
Explore how public schools are integrating cloud computing into their educational frameworks. Understand the advantages such as enhanced collaboration, cost savings, and accessibility, as well as the challenges schools face in adopting this technology.
Understanding Rubrics
September 27, 2024
Understanding Rubrics
This article explores the fundamental principles of rubrics in education, focusing on their role as assessment tools. It breaks down the key components of rubrics, including criteria, performance levels, and descriptors. The piece also delves into the two main types of rubrics - holistic and analytic - providing authoritative definitions and explaining their unique applications in educational settings.

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • School Type: Magnet School
  • Grades: 6-8
  • Enrollment: 652 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 11:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 72%
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 34% (Btm 50%)
  • : 44% (Btm 50%)
  • : 40-44% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), SC Dept. of Education

Related School Videos

Quick Links