Top 10 Best Columbia Public Preschools (2024-25)

For the 2024-25 school year, there are 40 public preschools serving 17,967 students in Columbia, SC.
The top ranked public preschools in Columbia, SC are Brockman Elementary School, Brennen Elementary School and L. B. Nelson Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Columbia, SC public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 33% (versus the South Carolina public pre school average of 45%), and reading proficiency score of 39% (versus the 48% statewide average). Pre schools in Columbia have an average ranking of 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of South Carolina public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 87% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public preschool average of 53% (majority Black).

Best Public Preschools in Columbia, SC (2024-25)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Brockman Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2245 Montclair Drive
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 790-6743
Grades: PK-5
| 268 students
Rank: #22.
Brennen Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
4438 Devereaux Road
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 738-7204
Grades: PK-5
| 806 students
Rank: #33.
L. B. Nelson Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
225 North Brickyard Road
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 736-8730
Grades: PK-5
| 567 students
Rank: #44.
Forest Lake Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
6801 Brookfield Road
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 782-0470
Grades: PK-5
| 614 students
Rank: #55.
Harbison West Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
257 Crossbow Drive
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 476-3800
Grades: PK-5
| 550 students
Rank: #66.
Pendergrass Fairwold School
Special Education School
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
5935 Token Street
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-3435
Grades: PK-12
| 46 students
Rank: #77.
North Springs Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1300 Clemson Road
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 736-3183
Grades: PK-5
| 703 students
Rank: #88.
Sandlapper Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1001 Longtown Road
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 691-4045
Grades: PK-5
| 656 students
Rank: #99.
Logan Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
815 Elmwood Avenue
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 343-2915
Grades: PK-5
| 233 students
Rank: #1010.
Nursery Road Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
6706 Nursery Road
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 476-4300
Grades: PK-5
| 450 students
Rank: #1111.
Rice Creek Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
4751 Hard Scrabble Road
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-2900
Grades: PK-5
| 737 students
Rank: #1212.
A. C. Moore Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
333 Etiwan Avenue
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 343-2910
Grades: PK-5
| 204 students
Rank: #1313.
Jackson Creek Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
7150 Trenholm Road Extension
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 790-3800
Grades: PK-5
| 545 students
Rank: #1414.
Joseph Keels Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
7500 Springcrest Drive
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 736-8754
Grades: PK-5
| 438 students
Rank: #1515.
Meadowfield Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
525 Galway Lane
Columbia, SC 29209
(803) 738-5549
Grades: PK-5
| 639 students
Rank: #1616.
Leaphart Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
120 Piney Grove Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 476-4700
Grades: PK-5
| 492 students
Rank: #1717.
Polo Road Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1250 Polo Road
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 419-2226
Grades: PK-5
| 604 students
Rank: #1818.
Killian Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2621 Clemson Road
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-2981
Grades: PK-5
| 742 students
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
Bradley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
3032 Pinebelt Road
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 738-7200
Grades: PK-5
| 437 students
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
Carver-lyon Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2100 Waverly Street
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 343-2900
Grades: PK-5
| 387 students
Rank: #2121.
Windsor Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
9800 Dunbarton Drive
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 736-8723
Grades: PK-5
| 537 students
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
Annie Burnside Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
7300 Patterson Road
Columbia, SC 29209
(803) 783-5530
Grades: PK-5
| 328 students
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
South Kilbourne Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1400 South Kilbourne Road
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 738-7215
Grades: PK-5
| 296 students
Rank: #2424.
H. B. Rhame Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1300 Arrowwood Drive
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 731-8900
Grades: PK-5
| 446 students
Rank: #2525.
Seven Oaks Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2800 Ashland Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 476-8500
Grades: PK-5
| 520 students
Rank: #2626.
L. W. Conder Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
8040 Hunt Club Road
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 736-8720
Grades: PK-5
| 462 students
Rank: #2727.
Mill Creek Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
925 Universal Drive
Columbia, SC 29209
(803) 783-5553
Grades: PK-5
| 339 students
Rank: #2828.
Carolina School For Inquiry
Magnet School
Charter School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
7405-a Fairfield Road
Columbia, SC 29202
(803) 691-1250
Grades: PK-6
| 96 students
Rank: #2929.
Sandel Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2700 Seminole Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 731-8906
Grades: PK-5
| 477 students
Rank: #3030.
Caughman Road Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
7725 Caughman Road
Columbia, SC 29209
(803) 783-5534
Grades: PK-5
| 707 students
Rank: #3131.
Clear Dot Charter School
Magnet School
Charter School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2015 Marion Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 567-3075
Grades: PK-9
| 338 students
Rank: #32 - 3432. - 34.
Burton Pack Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
111 Garden Drive
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 691-5550
Grades: PK-5
| 388 students
Rank: #32 - 3432. - 34.
Forest Heights Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2500 Blue Ridge Terrace
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 691-3780
Grades: PK-5
| 441 students
Rank: #32 - 3432. - 34.
J. P. Thomas Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
6001 Weston Avenue
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-3430
Grades: PK-5
| 323 students
Rank: #3535.
Arden Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1300 Ashley Street
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-3400
Grades: PK-5
| 234 students
Show 5 more public schools in Columbia, SC (out of 40 total schools)
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[+] Show Closed Public Schools in Columbia, South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina Public Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Grades
Students
4460 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-2853
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
5900 Chesnut Rd
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
Grades: K-12
| 28 students
5616 Hood Street
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 787-8266
Grades: 1-3
| 166 students
3801 North Main Street
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 929-1140
Grades: K-5
| 132 students
4344 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-2714
Grades: 9-12
| 121 students
2638 Two Notch Rd
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 799-5101
Grades: 4-8
| 79 students
610 Faison Drive
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 935-7100
Grades: 7-12
| 20 students
200 Arbor Lake Drive Suite 301
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 735-9110
Grades: 9-12
| 242 students
115 Atrium Way Suite 200
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 227-6670
Grades: 9-12
| 310 students
5715 Adams Ct
Columbia, SC 29206
(808) 782-1772
Grades: PK-1
| n/a students
425 Summit Terrace Court Build
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 567-5634
Grades: K-3
| 91 students
7900 Brookmont Lane
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 419-1348
Grades: 9-12
| 39 students
140 Stoneridge Drive Suite 420
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 253-6222
Grades: K-12
| 3,503 students
3700 Forrest Drive Suite 406
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 462-0254
Grades: K-8
| 226 students
2015 Marion Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 227-6422
Grades: 6-11
| 140 students
501 Commerce Drive
Columbia, SC 29223
(866) 476-6416
Grades: 9-12
| 449 students
4546 Broad River Rd
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
Grades: n/a
| n/a students

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked public preschools in Columbia, SC?
The top ranked public preschools in Columbia, SC include Brockman Elementary School, Brennen Elementary School and L. B. Nelson Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Columbia?
40 public preschools are located in Columbia.
What is the racial composition of students in Columbia?
Columbia public preschools minority enrollment is 87% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public preschools average of 53% (majority Black).
Which public preschools in Columbia are often viewed compared to one another?

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