For the 2025 school year, there are 81 public schools serving 48,048 students in Columbia, SC (there are 44 private schools, serving 7,146 private students). 87% of all K-12 students in Columbia, SC are educated in public schools (compared to the SC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in Columbia, SC are Dreher High School, Spring Valley High School and Richland One Charter Middle College. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Columbia, SC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 33% (versus the South Carolina public school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 48% (versus the 52% statewide average). Schools in Columbia have an average ranking of 6/10, which is in the top 50% of South Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 76% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public school average of 53% (majority Black).
Best Public Schools in Columbia, SC (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Dreher High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3319 Millwood Avenue
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 253-7000
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 253-7000
Gr: 9-12 | 1,155 student Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #22.
Spring Valley High School
Magnet School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
120 Sparkleberry Lane
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-3500
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-3500
Gr: 9-12 | 2,314 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #33.
Richland One Charter Middle College
Charter School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 80-89% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
316 South Beltline Boulevard R
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 738-7114
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 738-7114
Gr: 11-12 | 104 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #44.
Brockman Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2245 Montclair Drive
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 790-6743
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 790-6743
Gr: PK-5 | 266 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #55.
Ridge View High School
Magnet School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4801 Hard Scrabble Road
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-2999
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-2999
Gr: 9-12 | 1,696 student Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #66.
Midlands Middle College
Charter School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 60-79% )
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1260 Lexington Drive
Columbia, SC 29202
(803) 822-7043
Columbia, SC 29202
(803) 822-7043
Gr: 10-12 | 134 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #77.
Rosewood Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3300 Rosewood Drive
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 343-2930
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 343-2930
Gr: K-5 | 343 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #88.
Satchel Ford Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5901 Satchel Ford Road
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 738-7209
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 738-7209
Gr: K-5 | 698 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #99.
Brennen Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4438 Devereaux Road
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 738-7204
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 738-7204
Gr: PK-5 | 792 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #1010.
A. C. Flora High School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1 Falcon Drive
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 738-7300
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 738-7300
Gr: 9-12 | 1,334 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #1111.
Richland Northeast High School
Magnet School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
7500 Brookfield Road
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 699-2800
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 699-2800
Gr: 9-12 | 1,301 student Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #1212.
W.j. Keenan High School
Magnet School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
361 Pisgah Church Road
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 714-2500
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 714-2500
Gr: 9-12 | 719 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1313.
Irmo High School
Magnet School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
6671 St. Andrews Road
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 476-5000
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 476-5000
Gr: 9-12 | 1,268 student Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #1414.
Sc Whitmore School
Charter School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
501 Commerce Drive Ne
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 476-6416
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 476-6416
Gr: 9-12 | 478 students Student-teacher ratio: 34:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #1515.
Crayton Middle School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
5000 Clemson Avenue
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 738-7224
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 738-7224
Gr: 6-8 | 924 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #1616.
Manning High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
502 Beckman Road
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 935-7203
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 935-7203
Gr: 9-12
Rank: #1717.
Columbia High School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1701 Westchester Drive
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 731-8950
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 731-8950
Gr: 9-12 | 693 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #1818.
Forest Lake Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
6801 Brookfield Road
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 782-0470
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 782-0470
Gr: PK-5 | 638 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
C. A. Johnson High School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2219 Barhamville Road
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 253-7092
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 253-7092
Gr: 9-12 | 369 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
Harbison West Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
257 Crossbow Drive
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 476-3800
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 476-3800
Gr: PK-5 | 507 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #2121.
North Springs Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1300 Clemson Road
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 736-3183
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 736-3183
Gr: PK-5 | 672 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #2222.
Eau Claire High School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4800 Monticello Road
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-7600
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-7600
Gr: 9-12 | 599 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2323.
L. B. Nelson Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
225 North Brickyard Road
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 736-8730
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 736-8730
Gr: PK-5 | 553 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #2424.
Pendergrass Fairwold School
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
5935 Token Street
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-3435
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-3435
Gr: PK-12 | 56 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #2525.
Sandlapper Elementary School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1001 Longtown Road
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 691-4045
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 691-4045
Gr: PK-5 | 694 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #2626.
Logan Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
815 Elmwood Avenue
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 343-2915
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 343-2915
Gr: PK-5 | 221 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #2727.
Nursery Road Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
6706 Nursery Road
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 476-4300
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 476-4300
Gr: PK-5 | 464 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #2828.
A. C. Moore Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
333 Etiwan Avenue
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 343-2910
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 343-2910
Gr: PK-5 | 224 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #2929.
Sc Connections Academy
Charter School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
201 Executive Center Drive Sui
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 212-4712
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 212-4712
Gr: K-12 | 5,955 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #3030.
Rice Creek Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
4751 Hard Scrabble Road
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-2900
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-2900
Gr: PK-5 | 764 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #3131.
Leaphart Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
120 Piney Grove Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 476-4700
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 476-4700
Gr: PK-5 | 501 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #3232.
Scdjj Evaluation And Detention Center
Alternative School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
5000 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 896-9037
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 896-9037
Gr: 4-12 | 436 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #3333.
Meadowfield Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
525 Galway Lane
Columbia, SC 29209
(803) 738-5549
Columbia, SC 29209
(803) 738-5549
Gr: PK-5 | 610 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #3434.
Polo Road Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1250 Polo Road
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 419-2226
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 419-2226
Gr: PK-5 | 659 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #3535.
E. L. Wright Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2740 Alpine Road
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 736-8740
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 736-8740
Gr: K-8 | 1,285 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Show 46 more public schools in Columbia, SC (out of 81 total schools)
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Columbia, South Carolina Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
Broad River Road Correctional Institution (Closed 2005)
Alternative School
4460 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-2853
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-2853
5900 Chesnut Rd
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 787-6815
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 787-6815
Gr: 2-6
Hall Institute (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
1800 Colonial Drive
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 898-1488
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 898-1488
Gr: K-12 | 28 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
5616 Hood Street
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 787-8266
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 787-8266
Gr: 1-3 | 166 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
3801 North Main Street
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 929-1140
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 929-1140
Gr: K-5 | 132 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Kirkland High School (Closed 2004)
Alternative School
4344 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-2714
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-2714
Gr: 9-12 | 121 students Student-teacher ratio: 121:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Midlands Arts Conservatory (Closed 2023)
Charter School
3806 North Main Street
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 630-1622
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 630-1622
Gr: 6-11 | 166 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Midlands Math And Business Academy Charter (Closed 2014)
Charter School
2638 Two Notch Rd
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 799-5101
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 799-5101
Gr: 4-8 | 79 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Morris Village High School (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
610 Faison Drive
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 935-7100
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 935-7100
Gr: 7-12 | 20 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
200 Arbor Lake Drive Suite 301
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 735-9110
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 735-9110
Gr: 9-12 | 242 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
115 Atrium Way Suite 200
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 227-6670
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 227-6670
Gr: 9-12 | 310 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
425 Summit Terrace Court Build
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 567-5634
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 567-5634
Gr: K-3 | 91 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
Richland Two Charter High School (Closed 2023)
Charter School
7900 Brookmont Lane
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 419-1348
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 419-1348
Gr: 9-12 | 39 students Student-teacher ratio: 39:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Sc Virtual Charter School (Closed 2023)
Charter School
140 Stoneridge Drive Suite 420
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 253-6222
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 253-6222
Gr: K-12 | 3,503 students Student-teacher ratio: 30:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
3700 Forrest Drive Suite 406
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 462-0254
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 462-0254
Gr: K-8 | 226 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
2015 Marion Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 227-6422
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 227-6422
Gr: 6-11 | 140 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
501 Commerce Drive
Columbia, SC 29223
(866) 476-6416
Columbia, SC 29223
(866) 476-6416
Gr: 9-12 | 449 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Stevenson Correctional Institution (Closed 2014)
Alternative School
4546 Broad River Rd
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-1873
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-1873
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Columbia, SC?
The top ranked public schools in Columbia, SC include Dreher High School, Spring Valley High School and Richland One Charter Middle College.
How many public schools are located in Columbia?
81 public schools are located in Columbia.
What percentage of students in Columbia go to public school?
87% of all K-12 students in Columbia are educated in public schools (compared to the SC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Columbia?
Columbia public schools minority enrollment is 76% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public schools average of 53% (majority Black).
Which public schools in Columbia are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Columbia include: W. A. Perry Middle School vs. W. G. Sanders Middle School, W. G. Sanders Middle School vs. W. A. Perry Middle School, Dreher High School vs. A. C. Flora High School
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