Top 10 Best Richland County Public Preschools (2025)

For the 2025 school year, there are 51 public preschools serving 23,212 students in Richland County, SC.
The top ranked public preschools in Richland County, SC are Lake Carolina Elementary Lower Campus, Brockman Elementary School and Round Top Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Richland County, SC public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 36% (versus the South Carolina public pre school average of 45%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 48% statewide average). Pre schools in Richland County have an average ranking of 6/10, which is in the top 50% of South Carolina public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 83% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public preschool average of 54% (majority Black).

Best Public Preschools in Richland County (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Lake Carolina Elementary Lower Campus
(Math: 92% | Reading: 97% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
1151 Kelly Mill Road
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 714-1300
Grades: PK-2
| 504 students
Rank: #22.
Brockman Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2245 Montclair Drive
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 790-6743
Grades: PK-5
| 266 students
Rank: #33.
Round Top Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
449 Rimer Pond Road
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 691-8676
Grades: PK-5
| 610 students
Rank: #44.
Brennen Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
4438 Devereaux Road
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 738-7204
Grades: PK-5
| 792 students
Rank: #55.
Bethel-hanberry Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
125 Boney Road
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 691-6880
Grades: PK-5
| 721 students
Rank: #66.
Oak Pointe Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1 River Bottom Road
Irmo, SC 29063
(803) 476-4100
Grades: PK-5
| 489 students
Rank: #77.
Irmo Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
7401 Gibbes Street
Irmo, SC 29063
(803) 476-4200
Grades: PK-5
| 521 students
Rank: #88.
River Springs Elementary School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
115 Connie Wright Road
Irmo, SC 29063
(803) 476-4400
Grades: PK-5
| 426 students
Rank: #99.
Langford Elementary School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
480 Langford Road
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 691-4091
Grades: PK-5
| 640 students
Rank: #1010.
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
| 553 students
Rank: #1111.
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
| 638 students
Rank: #1212.
Pendergrass Fairwold School
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
5935 Token Street
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-3435
Grades: PK-12
| 56 students
Rank: #1313.
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
| 672 students
Rank: #1414.
H. E. Corley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1500 Chadford Road
Irmo, SC 29063
(803) 476-4001
Grades: PK-5
| 572 students
Rank: #1515.
Sandlapper Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1001 Longtown Road
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 691-4045
Grades: PK-5
| 694 students
Rank: #1616.
Logan Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
815 Elmwood Avenue
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 343-2915
Grades: PK-5
| 221 students
Rank: #1717.
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
| 764 students
Rank: #1818.
A. C. Moore Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
333 Etiwan Avenue
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 343-2910
Grades: PK-5
| 224 students
Rank: #1919.
Jackson Creek Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
7150 Trenholm Road Extension
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 790-3800
Grades: PK-5
| 586 students
Rank: #2020.
Dutch Fork Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
7900 Broad River Road
Irmo, SC 29063
(803) 476-3900
Grades: PK-5
| 457 students
Rank: #2121.
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
| 478 students
Rank: #2222.
Meadowfield Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
525 Galway Lane
Columbia, SC 29209
(803) 738-5549
Grades: PK-5
| 610 students
Rank: #2323.
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
| 501 students
Rank: #2424.
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
| 659 students
Rank: #2525.
Gadsden Elementary School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1660 South Goodwin Circle
Gadsden, SC 29052
(803) 353-2231
Grades: PK-5
| 134 students
Rank: #2626.
Hopkins Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
6120 Cabin Creek Road
Hopkins, SC 29061
(803) 783-5541
Grades: PK-5
| 251 students
Rank: #2727.
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
| 740 students
Rank: #28 - 2928. - 29.
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
| 413 students
Rank: #28 - 2928. - 29.
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
| 360 students
Rank: #3030.
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
| 529 students
Rank: #31 - 3231. - 32.
Annie Burnside Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
7300 Patterson Road
Columbia, SC 29209
(803) 783-5530
Grades: PK-5
| 319 students
Rank: #31 - 3231. - 32.
South Kilbourne Elementary 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
| 289 students
Rank: #3333.
H. B. Rhame Elementary School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1300 Arrowwood Drive
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 731-8900
Grades: PK-5
| 470 students
Rank: #3434.
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
| 502 students
Rank: #3535.
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
| 472 students
Show 16 more public schools in Richland County, SC (out of 51 total schools)
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[+] Show Closed Public Schools in Richland County, SC

Richland County 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
3806 North Main Street
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 630-1622
Grades: 6-11
| 166 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
Post Office Box 207
State Park, SC 29147
(803) 935-0116
Grades: 6-12
| n/a 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 Richland County, SC?
The top ranked public preschools in Richland County, SC include Lake Carolina Elementary Lower Campus, Brockman Elementary School and Round Top Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Richland County?
51 public preschools are located in Richland County.
What is the racial composition of students in Richland County?
Richland County public preschools minority enrollment is 83% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public preschools average of 54% (majority Black).
Which public preschools in Richland County are often viewed compared to one another?

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