J. P. Thomas Elementary

Summary:

J.P. Thomas Elementary is a public elementary school in Columbia, South Carolina, serving 323 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.

J.P. Thomas Elementary has a significantly higher percentage of African American students (85.76%) compared to the surrounding schools, which range from 70-95% African American. The school consistently ranks in the bottom 20% of South Carolina elementary schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger for the past several years. Its proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics are significantly lower than the district and state averages, often by 10-20 percentage points. Despite spending more per student ($19,840 in 2022-2023) than the state average, the school's academic performance remains low. This suggests that the school may be facing systemic challenges that are not being adequately addressed.

The nearby schools in the Richland 01 district share similar demographic and socioeconomic characteristics with J.P. Thomas Elementary, with high percentages of African American and low-income students. However, some of these schools, such as Bradley Elementary and Carver-Lyon Elementary, perform slightly better academically, indicating that factors beyond just demographics and funding may be at play. The consistent low ranking of J.P. Thomas Elementary and the broader patterns observed in the surrounding schools suggest a need for a more holistic and targeted approach to addressing the root causes of these issues within the Richland 01 district.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 6001 Weston Avenue
       Columbia, SC  29203


(803) 735-3430

District: Richland 01

SchoolDigger Rank:
515th of 638 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $19,840 Help


Students who attend J. P. Thomas Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Alcorn Middle
High:    Eau Claire High

Student/teacher ratio:  10.7 Help
Number of students:  323

Racial breakdown:

African American:
85.8%
Two or more races:
8.7%
Hispanic:
3.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


 See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

 Compare J. P. Thomas Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details J. P. Thomas Elementary ranks worse than 80.7% of elementary schools in South Carolina. It also ranks 18th 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 20.89. (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
Help
Compare Details J. P. Thomas 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 J. P. Thomas Elementary is $19,840, which is the 10th highest among 28 elementary schools in the Richland 01 School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

J. P. Thomas Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks J. P. Thomas Elementary 515th of 638 South Carolina public elementary schools. (See J. P. Thomas 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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Rank History for J. P. Thomas Elementary

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Rank History for all students at J. P. Thomas Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 10.45 512th 542 5.5%
2004 8.54 531st 550 3.5%
2005 6.04 546th 557 2.0%
2006 4.38 552nd 559 1.3%
2007 4.27 555th 566 1.9%
2008 9.62 555th 577 3.8%
2009 11.56 546th 580 5.9%
2010 17.80 533rd 589 9.5%
2011 14.31 552nd 597 7.5%
2012 5.74 577th 594 2.9%
2013 9.04 573rd 599 4.3%
2014 13.45 591st 630 6.2%
2015 14.23 596th 638 6.6%
2016 16.78 552nd 619 10.8%
2017 12.46 592nd 639 7.4%
2018 19.98 512th 624 17.9%
2019 17.14 556th 643 13.5%
2021 10.29 575th 622 7.6%
2022 12.10 559th 625 10.6%
2023 13.83 569th 644 11.6%
2024 20.89 515th 638 19.3%
See the entire list of South Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at J. P. Thomas Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 29.74 442nd 588 24.8%
2019 21.94 505th 600 15.8%
2021 14.80 518th 580 10.7%
2022 15.75 532nd 600 11.3%
2023 18.25 523rd 608 14.0%
2024 26.61 458th 599 23.5%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at J. P. Thomas Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 20.71 474th 570 16.8%
2019 18.85 497th 588 15.5%
2021 11.37 507th 554 8.5%
2022 12.79 508th 573 11.3%
2023 18.66 492nd 580 15.2%
2024 28.17 415th 565 26.5%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at J. P. Thomas Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 18.24 495th 571 13.3%
2019 16.46 518th 590 12.2%
2021 7.54 537th 561 4.3%
2022 9.02 548th 579 5.4%
2023 9.92 544th 582 6.5%
2024 6.46 553rd 568 2.6%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at J. P. Thomas Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 48.26 205th 412 50.2%
2019 38.28 280th 421 33.5%
2021 30.41 262nd 350 25.1%
2022 33.45 270th 393 31.3%
2023 37.84 252nd 394 36.0%
2024 40.96 223rd 369 39.6%
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.

J. P. Thomas Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: South Carolina Department of Education

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Enrollment information for J. P. Thomas Elementary

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 12 767 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 781
1989 17 670 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 689
1990 17 639 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 658
1991 22 735 2 1 0 n/a n/a 0 760
1992 23 720 2 3 0 n/a n/a 0 748
1993 16 672 1 3 0 n/a n/a 0 692
1994 18 648 1 4 0 n/a n/a 0 671
1995 14 621 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 636
1996 14 621 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 636
1997 13 641 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 656
1998 6 638 1 2 0 n/a n/a 0 647
1999 6 622 0 2 0 n/a n/a 0 630
2000 2 669 0 2 0 n/a n/a 0 673
2001 3 644 0 5 0 n/a n/a 0 652
2002 4 631 0 2 0 n/a n/a 0 637
2003 4 631 0 2 0 n/a n/a 0 637
2004 3 530 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 534
2005 5 500 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 506
2006 4 482 0 0 0 n/a n/a 2 488
2007 3 405 0 5 0 n/a n/a 0 413
2008 6 394 0 3 1 n/a n/a 3 407
2009 5 392 1 4 0 n/a n/a 2 404
2010 6 410 1 2 0 n/a n/a 3 422
2011 3 412 1 9 0 0 11 0 436
2012 2 411 0 5 0 0 5 0 423
2013 6 440 0 10 0 0 4 0 460
2014 6 449 1 9 0 0 10 0 475
2015 5 439 0 11 0 0 7 0 462
2016 2 426 0 10 0 0 4 0 442
2017 1 379 0 13 0 0 3 0 396
2018 5 362 0 16 0 0 8 0 391
2019 7 350 0 17 0 0 11 0 385
2020 5 334 0 18 0 0 18 0 375
2021 4 329 0 11 0 0 16 0 360
2022 5 308 0 12 0 0 13 0 338
2023 8 277 0 10 0 0 28 0 323

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 J. P. Thomas Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 781 46.7 16.7 n/a
1989 689 39.9 17.2 n/a
1990 658 38.5 17.0 n/a
1991 760 42.0 18.0 66.6
1992 748 43.7 17.1 79.4
1993 692 41.6 16.6 87
1994 671 42.5 15.8 81.7
1995 636 47.0 13.5 86.9
1996 636 47.0 13.5 86.9
1997 656 45.0 14.6 88.9
1998 647 44.6 14.5 94
1999 630 43.6 14.4 88.6
2000 673 51.0 13.2 91.5
2001 652 45.0 14.5 85.6
2002 637 44.0 14.5 89.3
2003 637 44.0 14.5 89.3
2004 534 37.7 14.2 94.6
2005 506 38.0 13.3 93.9
2006 488 37.0 13.2 91.6
2007 413 55.5 7.4 93
2008 407 36.0 11.3 81.2
2009 404 29.0 13.9 87.6
2010 422 39.0 10.8 90.2
2011 436 34.0 12.8 93.6
2012 423 31.0 13.6 92
2013 460 35.0 13.1 95.4
2014 475 34.0 13.9 90.5
2015 462 34.0 13.5 78.6
2016 442 38.0 11.6 100
2017 396 34.0 11.6 100
2018 391 35.0 11.1 100
2019 385 36.0 10.6 100
2020 375 35.0 10.7 100
2021 360 32.0 11.2 100
2022 338 33.0 10.2 100
2023 323 30.0 10.7 100

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 J. P. Thomas Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 781 46.7 16.7 n/a
1989 689 39.9 17.2 n/a
1990 658 38.5 17.0 n/a
1991 760 42.0 18.0 66.6
1992 748 43.7 17.1 79.4
1993 692 41.6 16.6 87
1994 671 42.5 15.8 81.7
1995 636 47.0 13.5 86.9
1996 636 47.0 13.5 86.9
1997 656 45.0 14.6 88.9
1998 647 44.6 14.5 94
1999 630 43.6 14.4 88.6
2000 673 51.0 13.2 91.5
2001 652 45.0 14.5 85.6
2002 637 44.0 14.5 89.3
2003 637 44.0 14.5 89.3
2004 534 37.7 14.2 94.6
2005 506 38.0 13.3 93.9
2006 488 37.0 13.2 91.6
2007 413 55.5 7.4 93
2008 407 36.0 11.3 81.2
2009 404 29.0 13.9 87.6
2010 422 39.0 10.8 90.2
2011 436 34.0 12.8 93.6
2012 423 31.0 13.6 92
2013 460 35.0 13.1 95.4
2014 475 34.0 13.9 90.5
2015 462 34.0 13.5 78.6
2016 442 38.0 11.6 100
2017 396 34.0 11.6 100
2018 391 35.0 11.1 100
2019 385 36.0 10.6 100
2020 375 35.0 10.7 100
2021 360 32.0 11.2 100
2022 338 33.0 10.2 100
2023 323 30.0 10.7 100

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 J. P. Thomas 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 $827 (5.4%) $605 (4.0%) $1,432 (9.4%) $11,705 (76.7%) $2,122 (13.9%) $13,827 (90.6%) $15,259
2020 $1,385 (8.7%) $648 (4.1%) $2,033 (12.7%) $11,823 (74.1%) $2,109 (13.2%) $13,932 (87.3%) $15,965
2021 $1,511 (9.4%) $676 (4.2%) $2,186 (13.6%) $11,986 (74.7%) $1,876 (11.7%) $13,862 (86.4%) $16,049
2022 $2,120 (11.6%) $726 (4.0%) $2,846 (15.5%) $13,070 (71.2%) $2,433 (13.3%) $15,503 (84.5%) $18,349
2023 $2,633 (13.3%) $1,738 (8.8%) $4,371 (22.0%) $12,952 (65.3%) $2,518 (12.7%) $15,470 (78.0%) $19,840

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

Impact of COVID-19 on J. P. Thomas 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 556th of 643 Elementary schoolsRanks 569th of 644 Elementary schools
 1.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (J. P. Thomas Elementary)25.836.9
 11.1%
   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 (J. P. Thomas Elementary)37.443.6
 6.2%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Richland 01)45.543.6
 1.9%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)57.753.6
 4.1%
4th Grade Science (J. P. Thomas Elementary)34.89.3
 25.5%
   4th Grade Science (Richland 01)4333
 10%
   4th Grade Science (South Carolina)5246.6
 5.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (J. P. Thomas Elementary)27.626
 1.6%
   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 (J. P. Thomas Elementary)1711.2
 5.8%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Richland 01)35.732.9
 2.8%
   4th Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)50.547
 3.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (J. P. Thomas Elementary)2539.6
 14.6%
   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 (J. P. Thomas Elementary)22.520.7
 1.8%
   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 Students385323
 16.1%
African American350277
 20.9%
American Indian00
Asian00
Hispanic1710
 41.2%
Pacific Islander00
White78
 14.3%
Two or More Races1128
 154.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients100%100%


Schools Near J. P. Thomas Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about J. P. Thomas Elementary

J. P. Thomas Elementary ranks in the bottom 19.3% of South Carolina elementary schools.

Students at J. P. Thomas Elementary are 86% African American, 9% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic, 2% White.

Students who attend J. P. Thomas Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Alcorn Middle
High : Eau Claire High

In the 2022-23 school year, 323 students attended J. P. Thomas Elementary.


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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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