Best Public Schools in Columbia, SC

The city of Columbia, South Carolina is home to a diverse array of 71 schools, including 42 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, 13 high schools, and 4 alternative schools. These schools span across several districts, including Richland 01, Richland 02, Lexington 05, the Charter Institute at Erskine, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Department of Correction.

Some standout schools in the area include Brockman Elementary, ranked 35th out of 638 elementary schools in the state with high proficiency rates in English Language Arts, and Rosewood Elementary, ranked 133rd and performing well across grade levels. At the middle school level, Crayton Middle stands out, ranking 46th out of 325 middle schools. On the high school side, Dreher High is ranked 80th out of 235 high schools with strong performance in Algebra 1 and English 2.

However, the data also reveals significant disparities in academic performance across the district, with some schools struggling with proficiency rates as low as 0-2% while others exceed 90%. This gap is often correlated with high rates of economic disadvantage, as measured by free and reduced lunch eligibility. Specialized school models like Clear Dot Charter and Pendergrass Fairwold demonstrate that alternative approaches can produce strong results in certain contexts. Overall, the data suggests both pockets of excellence and significant challenges in providing equitable educational opportunities for all students in Columbia.