For the 2025 school year, there are 25 public high schools serving 19,080 students in Columbia, SC.
The top ranked public high schools in Columbia, SC are Spring Valley High School, Richland One Charter Middle College and Dreher High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Columbia, SC public high schools have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the South Carolina public high school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 70% (versus the 77% statewide average). High schools in Columbia have an average ranking of 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of South Carolina public high schools.
Columbia, SC public high school have a Graduation Rate of 73%, which is less than the South Carolina average of 84%.
The school with highest graduation rate is W.j. Keenan High School, with 90-94% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in South Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 66% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public high school average of 52% (majority Black).
Best Public High Schools in Columbia, SC (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Spring Valley High School
Magnet School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
120 Sparkleberry Lane
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-3500
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-3500
Grades: 9-12
| 2,314 students
Rank: #22.
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
Grades: 11-12
| 104 students
Rank: #33.
Dreher High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3319 Millwood Avenue
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 253-7000
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 253-7000
Grades: 9-12
| 1,155 students
Rank: #44.
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
Grades: 10-12
| 134 students
Rank: #55.
Ridge View High School
Magnet School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4801 Hard Scrabble Road
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-2999
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-2999
Grades: 9-12
| 1,696 students
Rank: #66.
W.j. Keenan High School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
361 Pisgah Church Road
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 714-2500
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 714-2500
Grades: 9-12
| 719 students
Rank: #77.
Richland Northeast High School
Magnet School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
7500 Brookfield Road
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 699-2800
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 699-2800
Grades: 9-12
| 1,301 students
Rank: #88.
A. C. Flora High School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1 Falcon Drive
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 738-7300
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 738-7300
Grades: 9-12
| 1,334 students
Rank: #99.
Sc Whitmore School
Charter School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
501 Commerce Drive Ne
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 476-6416
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 476-6416
Grades: 9-12
| 478 students
Rank: #1010.
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
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
Rank: #1111.
Columbia High School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1701 Westchester Drive
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 731-8950
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 731-8950
Grades: 9-12
| 693 students
Rank: #1212.
C. A. Johnson High School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2219 Barhamville Road
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 253-7092
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 253-7092
Grades: 9-12
| 369 students
Rank: #1313.
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
Grades: PK-12
| 56 students
Rank: #1414.
Irmo High School
Magnet School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
6671 St. Andrews Road
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 476-5000
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 476-5000
Grades: 9-12
| 1,268 students
Rank: #1515.
Eau Claire High School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4800 Monticello Road
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-7600
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-7600
Grades: 9-12
| 599 students
Rank: #1616.
Sc Connections Academy
Charter School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
201 Executive Center Drive Sui
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 212-4712
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 212-4712
Grades: K-12
| 5,955 students
Rank: #1717.
Scdjj Evaluation And Detention Center
Alternative School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
5000 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 896-9037
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 896-9037
Grades: 4-12
| 436 students
Rank: #1818.
Clear Dot Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2015 Marion Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 567-3075
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 567-3075
Grades: PK-10
| 418 students
Rank: #1919.
Empowerment And Enrichment Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19% )
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
5000 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 896-9114
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 896-9114
Grades: 5-12
| n/a students
Rank: #2020.
The Palmetto Empowerment And Enrichment Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
5000 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-5952
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-5952
Grades: 5-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Broad River High School
Alternative School
4460 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-2714
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-2714
Grades: 9-12
| 16 students
Rank: n/an/a
Kirkland High School
Alternative School
4344 Broad River
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-2708
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-2708
Grades: 9-12
| 32 students
Rank: n/an/a
Samuel A. Heyward Career And Technology Center
Vocational School
3560 Lynhaven Drive
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 735-3343
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 735-3343
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Sara Babb High School
Alternative School
4450 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-2714
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-2714
Grades: 9-12
| 3 students
Rank: n/an/a
220 Stoneridge Drive Suite 403
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 212-4712
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 212-4712
Grades: K-12
| n/a students
Columbia, South Carolina Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
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
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
5900 Chesnut Rd
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 787-6815
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 787-6815
Grades: 2-6
| n/a students
Hall Institute (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
1800 Colonial Drive
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 898-1488
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 898-1488
Grades: K-12
| 28 students
5616 Hood Street
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 787-8266
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 787-8266
Grades: 1-3
| 166 students
3801 North Main Street
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 929-1140
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 929-1140
Grades: K-5
| 132 students
Kirkland High School (Closed 2004)
Alternative School
4344 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-2714
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-2714
Grades: 9-12
| 121 students
Midlands Arts Conservatory (Closed 2023)
Charter School
3806 North Main Street
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 630-1622
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 630-1622
Grades: 6-11
| 166 students
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
Grades: 4-8
| 79 students
Morris Village High School (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
610 Faison Drive
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 935-7100
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 935-7100
Grades: 7-12
| 20 students
200 Arbor Lake Drive Suite 301
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 735-9110
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 735-9110
Grades: 9-12
| 242 students
115 Atrium Way Suite 200
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 227-6670
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 227-6670
Grades: 9-12
| 310 students
5715 Adams Ct
Columbia, SC 29206
(808) 782-1772
Columbia, SC 29206
(808) 782-1772
Grades: PK-1
| n/a students
425 Summit Terrace Court Build
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 567-5634
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 567-5634
Grades: K-3
| 91 students
Richland Two Charter High School (Closed 2023)
Charter School
7900 Brookmont Lane
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 419-1348
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 419-1348
Grades: 9-12
| 39 students
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
Grades: K-12
| 3,503 students
3700 Forrest Drive Suite 406
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 462-0254
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 462-0254
Grades: K-8
| 226 students
2015 Marion Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 227-6422
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 227-6422
Grades: 6-11
| 140 students
501 Commerce Drive
Columbia, SC 29223
(866) 476-6416
Columbia, SC 29223
(866) 476-6416
Grades: 9-12
| 449 students
Stevenson Correctional Institution (Closed 2014)
Alternative School
4546 Broad River Rd
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-1873
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-1873
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Walden (Closed 2010)
Alternative School
4340 Broad River Rd
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-8580
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-8580
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public high schools in Columbia, SC?
The top ranked public high schools in Columbia, SC include Spring Valley High School, Richland One Charter Middle College and Dreher High School.
How many public high schools are located in Columbia?
25 public high schools are located in Columbia.
What is the racial composition of students in Columbia?
Columbia public high schools minority enrollment is 66% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public high schools average of 52% (majority Black).
Which public high schools in Columbia are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public high schools in Columbia include: Dreher High School vs. A. C. Flora High School, A. C. Flora High School vs. Dreher High School, The Palmetto Empowerment And Enrichment Academy vs. Empowerment And Enrichment Academy
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