Top Rankings
Richland 01 School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
Student Attention
Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 10 public middle schools serving 4,793 students in Richland 01 School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in South Carolina.
Public Middle Schools in Richland 01 School District have an average math proficiency score of 21% (versus the South Carolina public middle school average of 33%), and reading proficiency score of 35% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 83% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public middle school average of 52% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (SC)
# Schools
48 Schools
352 Schools
# Students
22,123 Students
221,816 Students
# Teachers
1,763 Teachers
15,785 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
District Rank
Richland 01 School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 76 school districts in South Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 86% has increased from 79% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#55 out of 81 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
28%
41%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
52%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
35%
50%
Graduation Rate
86%
84%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.51
0.66
# American Indian Students
6 Students
716 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
230 Students
3,913 Students
% Asian Students
1%
2%
# Hispanic Students
1,759 Students
28,487 Students
% Hispanic Students
8%
13%
# Black Students
14,853 Students
68,879 Students
% Black Students
67%
31%
# White Students
4,042 Students
106,747 Students
% White Students
18%
48%
# Hawaiian Students
21 Students
263 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,212 Students
12,741 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
1,141
1,376
# Students in K Grade:
1,606
4,750
# Students in 1st Grade:
1,637
4,911
# Students in 2nd Grade:
1,716
5,020
# Students in 3rd Grade:
1,664
5,182
# Students in 4th Grade:
1,668
5,185
# Students in 5th Grade:
1,609
5,841
# Students in 6th Grade:
1,654
53,112
# Students in 7th Grade:
1,579
59,443
# Students in 8th Grade:
1,520
60,172
# Students in 9th Grade:
2,038
4,774
# Students in 10th Grade:
1,644
4,352
# Students in 11th Grade:
1,435
3,992
# Students in 12th Grade:
1,212
3,706
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $21,128 is higher than the state median of $15,220. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $19,259 is higher than the state median of $14,817. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$467 MM
$12,084 MM
Spending
$426 MM
$11,764 MM
Revenue / Student
$21,128
$15,220
Spending / Student
$19,259
$14,817
Best Richland 01 School District Public Middle Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Crayton Middle 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
| 924 students
Rank: #22.
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: #33.
Hand Middle 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
| 700 students
Rank: #44.
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
| 524 students
Rank: #55.
Hopkins Middle School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1601 Clarkson Road
Hopkins, SC 29061
(803) 695-3331
Hopkins, SC 29061
(803) 695-3331
Grades: 6-8
| 463 students
Rank: #66.
Southeast Middle School
(Math: 8% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
731 Horrell Hill Road
Hopkins, SC 29061
(803) 695-5700
Hopkins, SC 29061
(803) 695-5700
Grades: 6-8
| 469 students
Rank: #77.
St. Andrews Middle 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
| 700 students
Rank: #88.
W. A. Perry Middle 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
| 310 students
Rank: #99.
Alcorn Middle 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
| 384 students
Rank: #1010.
Heyward Gibbes Middle 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
| 263 students
Recent Articles
Sexual Harassment at Age 6: The Tale of a First Grade Suspension
A six-year old in Aurora, Colorado, was suspended after singing an LMFAO song to a little girl in his class and reportedly “shaking his booty.” We look at the case and the sexual harassment problem in public schools today.
How Scaffolding Could Change the Way Your Child Learns
This article explores the concept of instructional scaffolding, a teaching method that enhances learning by breaking down complex tasks into manageable parts. It highlights how scaffolding supports students in developing critical thinking skills and becoming more independent learners. The article discusses the benefits of scaffolding, including improved engagement and reduced anxiety, and provides strategies for its implementation across various educational levels.
February 05, 2025
Understanding the U.S. Department of Education: Structure, Impact, and EvolutionWe explore how the Department of Education shapes American education, from its cabinet-level leadership to its impact on millions of students, written for general audiences seeking clarity on this vital institution.
