Watkins-Nance Elementary

Summary:

Watkins-Nance Elementary is a public elementary school in Columbia, South Carolina, serving 383 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Richland 01 school district, which is ranked 53 out of 75 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Watkins-Nance Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom 10% of South Carolina elementary schools, with a 0 or 1 out of 5 star rating from SchoolDigger over the past 10 years. The school significantly underperforms compared to the district and state in standardized test scores, with proficiency rates as low as 3.2% in 4th grade math. Despite having a 100% free and reduced lunch rate and higher per-student spending than the district and state averages, the school struggles to provide a quality education to its predominantly African American student population.

In contrast, nearby schools like Satchel Ford Elementary and Brockman Elementary have significantly higher academic performance, with proficiency rates that are 30-50 percentage points higher than Watkins-Nance Elementary in many subject areas. This highlights the stark educational disparities within the same school district, suggesting that targeted interventions and support may be necessary to help improve the school's performance and provide its students with the quality education they deserve.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 2525 Barhamville Road
       Columbia, SC  29204


(803) 733-4321

District: Richland 01

SchoolDigger Rank:
617th of 638 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $16,368 Help


Students who attend Watkins-Nance Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    W. A. Perry Middle
High:    C. A. Johnson High

Student/teacher ratio:  15.3 Help
Number of students:  383

Racial breakdown:

African American:
91.6%
Two or more races:
6.0%
Hispanic:
1.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


 See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

 Compare Watkins-Nance Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
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Compare Details Watkins-Nance Elementary ranks worse than 96.7% of elementary schools in South Carolina. It also ranks 26th among 28 ranked elementary schools in the Richland 01 School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 7.88. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Watkins-Nance Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Richland 01 School District.  (See more...)
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Watkins-Nance Elementary is $16,368. 21 elementary schools in the Richland 01 School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Watkins-Nance Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Watkins-Nance Elementary 617th of 638 South Carolina public elementary schools. (See Watkins-Nance Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:


Richland 01:

SchoolDigger ranks Richland 01 53rd of 75 South Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Watkins-Nance Elementary?

Rank History for Watkins-Nance Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Watkins-Nance Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 10.57 510th 542 5.9%
2004 7.55 536th 550 2.5%
2005 8.55 538th 557 3.4%
2006 31.97 427th 559 23.6%
2007 19.23 500th 566 11.7%
2008 20.41 507th 577 12.1%
2009 25.98 480th 580 17.2%
2010 27.05 484th 589 17.8%
2011 21.38 522nd 597 12.6%
2012 22.34 514th 594 13.5%
2013 19.91 524th 599 12.5%
2014 8.52 606th 630 3.8%
2015 13.74 601st 638 5.8%
2016 6.40 602nd 619 2.7%
2017 17.45 561st 639 12.2%
2018 21.21 502nd 624 19.6%
2019 22.55 508th 643 21.0%
2022 10.16 581st 625 7.0%
2023 6.66 628th 644 2.5%
2024 7.88 617th 638 3.3%
See the entire list of South Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Watkins-Nance Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 30.26 437th 588 25.7%
2019 30.98 441st 600 26.5%
2022 14.79 542nd 600 9.7%
2023 7.58 595th 608 2.1%
2024 10.22 574th 599 4.2%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Watkins-Nance Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 17.31 494th 570 13.3%
2019 21.75 477th 588 18.9%
2022 11.06 526th 573 8.2%
2023 5.03 572nd 580 1.4%
2024 7.25 550th 565 2.7%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Watkins-Nance Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 20.79 476th 571 16.6%
2019 22.42 472nd 590 20.0%
2022 9.69 541st 579 6.6%
2023 8.03 554th 582 4.8%
2024 7.82 544th 568 4.2%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Watkins-Nance Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 49.85 194th 412 52.9%
2019 56.65 162nd 421 61.5%
2022 30.04 293rd 393 25.4%
2023 19.12 357th 394 9.4%
2024 24.50 310th 369 16.0%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Data source: test scores: South Carolina Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Watkins-Nance Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: South Carolina Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Thursday, October 19, 2023

Open Quote I am so pleased with my son’s experience in preschool at Watkins Nance Elementary. His PreK teacher is very nurturing and has helped him get the extra services needed for him to succeed. Mr. Jefferson, the new principal, is also an asset to the school. It has been a great year! Close Quote



Enrollment information for Watkins-Nance Elementary

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2002 3 484 0 4 0 n/a n/a 1 492
2003 3 484 0 4 0 n/a n/a 1 492
2004 0 508 0 0 0 n/a n/a 2 510
2005 0 530 0 0 0 n/a n/a 2 532
2006 1 491 0 0 0 n/a n/a 1 493
2007 6 456 0 4 0 n/a n/a 0 466
2008 2 437 0 1 0 n/a n/a 1 441
2009 5 420 0 0 0 n/a n/a 1 426
2010 3 420 0 1 0 n/a n/a 1 425
2011 3 409 0 0 1 0 6 0 419
2012 3 397 0 2 1 0 3 0 406
2013 2 426 0 1 1 0 5 0 435
2014 1 423 0 1 1 0 1 0 427
2015 1 454 0 2 0 0 3 0 460
2016 4 411 0 3 0 0 1 0 419
2017 4 384 0 6 0 0 6 0 400
2018 6 368 0 2 0 0 9 0 385
2019 1 347 0 4 1 0 15 0 368
2020 2 315 0 6 0 0 11 0 334
2021 1 311 0 8 0 0 10 0 330
2022 2 337 0 12 0 0 16 0 367
2023 2 351 0 7 0 0 23 0 383

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Watkins-Nance Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2002 492 36.0 13.7 85.9
2003 492 36.0 13.7 85.9
2004 510 36.5 14.0 99.8
2005 532 35.5 15.0 92.5
2006 493 36.0 13.7 93.3
2007 466 56.5 8.2 92.3
2008 441 35.0 12.6 94.3
2009 426 29.0 14.7 81.2
2010 425 35.0 12.1 92
2011 419 32.0 13.0 96.4
2012 406 29.0 14.0 88.4
2013 435 33.5 12.9 96.8
2014 427 29.5 14.4 95.1
2015 460 35.0 13.1 82.4
2016 419 34.0 12.3 100
2017 400 36.0 11.1 100
2018 385 31.0 12.4 100
2019 368 31.0 11.8 100
2020 334 27.0 12.3 100
2021 330 26.0 12.6 100
2022 367 26.0 14.1 100
2023 383 25.0 15.3 100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Watkins-Nance Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2002 492 36.0 13.7 85.9
2003 492 36.0 13.7 85.9
2004 510 36.5 14.0 99.8
2005 532 35.5 15.0 92.5
2006 493 36.0 13.7 93.3
2007 466 56.5 8.2 92.3
2008 441 35.0 12.6 94.3
2009 426 29.0 14.7 81.2
2010 425 35.0 12.1 92
2011 419 32.0 13.0 96.4
2012 406 29.0 14.0 88.4
2013 435 33.5 12.9 96.8
2014 427 29.5 14.4 95.1
2015 460 35.0 13.1 82.4
2016 419 34.0 12.3 100
2017 400 36.0 11.1 100
2018 385 31.0 12.4 100
2019 368 31.0 11.8 100
2020 334 27.0 12.3 100
2021 330 26.0 12.6 100
2022 367 26.0 14.1 100
2023 383 25.0 15.3 100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Watkins-Nance Elementary

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YearPersonnel Expenditures from Federal FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from Federal FundsTotal Expenditures from Federal FundsPersonnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $893 (6.1%) $744 (5.1%) $1,637 (11.1%) $10,988 (74.7%) $2,078 (14.1%) $13,066 (88.9%) $14,703
2020 $855 (5.9%) $732 (5.0%) $1,587 (10.9%) $10,836 (74.5%) $2,126 (14.6%) $12,962 (89.1%) $14,549
2021 $783 (5.1%) $718 (4.7%) $1,501 (9.7%) $11,903 (77.2%) $2,009 (13.0%) $13,913 (90.3%) $15,413
2022 $1,134 (6.4%) $1,105 (6.3%) $2,239 (12.7%) $12,904 (73.1%) $2,512 (14.2%) $15,416 (87.3%) $17,655
2023 $1,359 (8.3%) $1,741 (10.6%) $3,100 (18.9%) $11,135 (68.0%) $2,132 (13.0%) $13,268 (81.1%) $16,368

Data source: South Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Watkins-Nance Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 508th of 643 Elementary schoolsRanks 628th of 644 Elementary schools
 18.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Watkins-Nance Elementary)3221.8
 10.2%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Richland 01)41.445
 3.6%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)49.753.5
 3.8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Watkins-Nance Elementary)3414.5
 19.5%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Richland 01)45.543.6
 1.9%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)57.753.6
 4.1%
4th Grade Science (Watkins-Nance Elementary)38.116.6
 21.5%
   4th Grade Science (Richland 01)4333
 10%
   4th Grade Science (South Carolina)5246.6
 5.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Watkins-Nance Elementary)35.730.3
 5.4%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Richland 01)44.446.9
 2.5%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)51.357.2
 5.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Watkins-Nance Elementary)47.618.1
 29.5%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Richland 01)35.732.9
 2.8%
   4th Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)50.547
 3.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Watkins-Nance Elementary)18.326.5
 8.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Richland 01)35.344.2
 8.9%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)4155.2
 14.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Watkins-Nance Elementary)24.512.2
 12.3%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Richland 01)33.431.2
 2.2%
   5th Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)45.444.6
 0.8%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students368383
 4.1%
African American347351
 1.2%
American Indian10
 100%
Asian00
Hispanic47
 75%
Pacific Islander00
White12
 100%
Two or More Races1523
 53.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients100%100%


Schools Near Watkins-Nance Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Watkins-Nance Elementary

Watkins-Nance Elementary ranks in the bottom 3.3% of South Carolina elementary schools.

Students who attend Watkins-Nance Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : W. A. Perry Middle
High : C. A. Johnson High

In the 2022-23 school year, 383 students attended Watkins-Nance Elementary.

Students at Watkins-Nance Elementary are 92% African American, 6% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the South Carolina Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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