For the 2024-25 school year, there are 21 public middle schools serving 16,544 students in Columbia, SC.
The top ranked public middle schools in Columbia, SC are Crayton Middle School, Pendergrass Fairwold School and Midlands Arts Conservatory. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Columbia, SC public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 28% (versus the South Carolina public middle school average of 33%), and reading proficiency score of 46% (versus the 46% statewide average). Middle schools in Columbia have an average ranking of 7/10, which is in the top 50% of South Carolina public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 64% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public middle school average of 51% (majority Black).
Best Public Middle Schools in Columbia, SC (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Crayton Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
5000 Clemson Avenue
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 738-7224
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 738-7224
Grades: 6-8
| 905 students
Rank: #22.
Pendergrass Fairwold School
Special Education School
Magnet School
Magnet 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
| 46 students
Rank: #33.
Midlands Arts Conservatory
Magnet School
Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
3806 North Main Street
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 630-1622
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 630-1622
Grades: 6-11
| 166 students
Rank: #44.
Sc Connections Academy
Magnet School
Charter School
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
| 6,263 students
Rank: #55.
Scdjj Evaluation And Detention Center
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet 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
| 422 students
Rank: #66.
E. L. Wright Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2740 Alpine Road
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 736-8740
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 736-8740
Grades: K-8
| 1,354 students
Rank: #77.
Hand Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2600 Wheat Street
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 343-2947
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 343-2947
Grades: 6-8
| 652 students
Rank: #88.
Summit Parkway Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
200 Summit Parkway
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-3580
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-3580
Grades: K-8
| 1,154 students
Rank: #99.
Dent Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2721 Decker Boulevard
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 699-2750
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 699-2750
Grades: 6-8
| 1,018 students
Rank: #1010.
Longleaf Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1160 Longreen Parkway
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 691-4870
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 691-4870
Grades: 6-8
| 802 students
Rank: #1111.
Irmo Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
6051 Wescott Road
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 476-3600
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 476-3600
Grades: 6-8
| 1,011 students
Rank: #1212.
W. G. Sanders Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3455 Pine Belt Road
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 735-7575
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 735-7575
Grades: 6-8
| 533 students
Rank: #1313.
Clear Dot Charter School
Magnet School
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-9
| 338 students
Rank: #1414.
St. Andrews Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1231 Bluefield Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 731-8910
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 731-8910
Grades: 6-8
| 706 students
Rank: #1515.
W. A. Perry Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 22%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2600 Barhamville Road
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 256-6347
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 256-6347
Grades: 6-8
| 309 students
Rank: #1616.
Palmetto Achievement Center For Excellence Academy
Magnet School
Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
6015 N Main Street
Columbia, SC 29224
(803) 900-0664
Columbia, SC 29224
(803) 900-0664
Grades: 2-8
| 231 students
Rank: #1717.
Alcorn Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 5% | Reading: 18%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
5125 Fairfield Road
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-3439
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-3439
Grades: 6-8
| 370 students
Rank: #1818.
Heyward Gibbes Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 7% | Reading: 17%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
500 Summerlea Drive
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 343-2942
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 343-2942
Grades: 6-8
| 264 students
Rank: #1919.
Empowerment And Enrichment Academy
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet 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
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1731 Shivers Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-5952
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-5952
Grades: 5-12
| n/a 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 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
Odyssey Online Learning School (Closed 2023)
Charter School
200 Arbor Lake Drive Suite 301
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 735-9110
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 735-9110
Grades: 9-12
| 242 students
Palmetto State E-cademy High School (Closed 2015)
Charter School
115 Atrium Way Suite 200
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 227-6670
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 227-6670
Grades: 9-12
| 310 students
Pierce Terrace Elementary School (Closed 2023)
Magnet School
5715 Adams Ct
Columbia, SC 29206
(808) 782-1772
Columbia, SC 29206
(808) 782-1772
Grades: PK-1
| n/a students
Renaissance Collegiate Academy (Closed 2023)
Charter School
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
South Carolina Calvert Academy (Closed 2018)
Charter School
3700 Forrest Drive Suite 406
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 462-0254
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 462-0254
Grades: K-8
| 226 students
South Carolina Science Academy (Closed 2023)
Charter School
2015 Marion Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 227-6422
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 227-6422
Grades: 6-11
| 140 students
South Carolina Whitmore School (Closed 2023)
Charter School
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 middle schools in Columbia, SC?
The top ranked public middle schools in Columbia, SC include Crayton Middle School, Pendergrass Fairwold School and Midlands Arts Conservatory.
How many public middle schools are located in Columbia?
21 public middle schools are located in Columbia.
What is the racial composition of students in Columbia?
Columbia public middle schools minority enrollment is 64% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public middle schools average of 51% (majority Black).
Which public middle schools in Columbia are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public middle 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, The Palmetto Empowerment And Enrichment Academy vs. Empowerment And Enrichment Academy
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