Forest Lake Elementary

Summary:

Forest Lake Elementary is a public elementary school in Columbia, South Carolina, serving 614 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Richland 02 school district, which is ranked 33 out of 75 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating.

Forest Lake Elementary has a diverse student population, with a racial makeup of 22.64% White, 52.61% African American, 16.78% Hispanic, and 2.93% Asian. The school's academic performance has been mixed, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics generally lower than the district and state averages. However, the school has shown strong performance among specific student subgroups, such as African American and White students, who have consistently ranked in the top quartile of South Carolina elementary schools. When compared to nearby schools within the Richland 02 district, Forest Lake Elementary generally performs on par or slightly better in terms of academic proficiency rates.

Forest Lake Elementary has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 57.75% to 70.36% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state average. The school's relatively high per-student spending, ranging from $11,581 to $12,662 over the past few years, and low student-teacher ratio (12.5 in 2022-2023) indicate a focus on providing resources and personalized attention to support student learning. However, the school's academic performance suggests that additional factors, such as instructional practices and school climate, may also play a role in student outcomes.


Detail:

Public, Magnet PK, KG-5

 6801 Brookfield Road
       Columbia, SC  29206


(803) 782-0470

District: Richland 02

SchoolDigger Rank:
285th of 638 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $12,662 Help


Students who attend Forest Lake Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Dent Middle
High:    Richland Northeast High

Student/teacher ratio:  12.5 Help
Number of students:  614

Racial breakdown:

African American:
52.6%
White:
22.6%
Hispanic:
16.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  70.4% Help


 See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

 Compare Forest Lake Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Forest Lake Elementary ranks better than 55.3% of elementary schools in South Carolina. It also ranks 8th among 22 ranked elementary schools in the Richland 02 School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 54.66. (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 Forest Lake Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Richland 02 School District.  (See more...)
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Forest Lake Elementary is $12,662. 16 elementary schools in the Richland 02 School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Forest Lake Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Forest Lake Elementary 285th of 638 South Carolina public elementary schools. (See Forest Lake 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 02:

SchoolDigger ranks Richland 02 33rd of 75 South Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Forest Lake Elementary?

Rank History for Forest Lake Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Forest Lake Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 70.39 158th 542 70.8%
2004 59.41 234th 550 57.5%
2005 59.17 251st 557 54.9%
2006 60.15 243rd 559 56.5%
2007 50.41 309th 566 45.4%
2008 49.37 332nd 577 42.5%
2009 49.24 316th 580 45.5%
2010 48.35 327th 589 44.5%
2011 58.82 260th 597 56.4%
2012 47.32 356th 594 40.1%
2013 37.15 408th 599 31.9%
2014 48.40 360th 630 42.9%
2015 33.91 440th 638 31.0%
2016 27.56 473rd 619 23.6%
2017 37.33 400th 639 37.4%
2018 54.52 270th 624 56.7%
2019 64.22 219th 643 65.9%
2021 60.39 238th 622 61.7%
2022 70.23 177th 625 71.7%
2023 65.44 217th 644 66.3%
2024 54.66 285th 638 55.3%
See the entire list of South Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Forest Lake Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 47.92 299th 588 49.1%
2019 58.63 248th 600 58.7%
2021 38.83 370th 580 36.2%
2022 66.57 184th 600 69.3%
2023 59.42 232nd 608 61.8%
2024 45.12 333rd 599 44.4%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Forest Lake Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 48.13 295th 570 48.2%
2019 58.56 243rd 588 58.7%
2021 52.17 251st 554 54.7%
2022 65.41 191st 573 66.7%
2023 58.71 233rd 580 59.8%
2024 50.10 285th 565 49.6%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Forest Lake Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 58.07 236th 571 58.7%
2019 67.03 188th 590 68.1%
2021 63.55 189th 561 66.3%
2022 70.83 162nd 579 72.0%
2023 66.87 181st 582 68.9%
2024 55.30 253rd 568 55.5%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Forest Lake Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 72.04 80th 412 80.6%
2019 77.29 63rd 421 85.0%
2021 72.03 61st 350 82.6%
2022 87.41 27th 393 93.1%
2023 83.58 38th 394 90.4%
2024 67.49 88th 369 76.2%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Forest Lake Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 52.95 54th 115 53.0%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Forest Lake Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools SC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 89.13 31st 457 93.2%
2021 91.14 26th 439 94.1%
2022 88.68 34th 455 92.5%
2023 89.16 27th 463 94.2%
See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for White 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.

Forest Lake 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
Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Open Quote We are so happy to have both of our children at Forest Lake Elementary. The staff are excellent and caring, the teaching methods/subjects are very modern, and the principal is the glue that holds everything together. I can't say enough wonderful things about this school. Close Quote


by a parent
Sunday, August 5, 2018

Open Quote Amazing school. Supportive staff and the best teachers Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Open Quote I completely agree with previous posting. Two of my children attend this school by choice within the district. The staff is amazing! The principal was "Elementary Principal of the Year" for the state in 2011. It was featured on NBC's Education Nation series two years ago because of their successes and innovations in elementary education. The children are supported and challenged. These evaluations based upon test scores alone DO NOT give an accurate picture of the school or the level of education that the kids get there. Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, September 24, 2010

Open Quote Forest Lake Elementary is a Technology Magnet School. They do a phenomenal job with their students. They are a NASA explorer school, and have won several awards and grants. Don't let the test scores be your only option when deciding which schools are "good". Students who want to be challenged have every opportunity to reach their potential at this school. My boys have had a wonderful experience here. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Forest Lake Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 327 238 17 15 2 n/a n/a 0 599
1989 319 244 10 16 1 n/a n/a 0 590
1990 317 233 15 15 0 n/a n/a 0 580
1991 316 290 16 10 0 n/a n/a 0 632
1992 282 292 9 11 0 n/a n/a 0 594
1993 304 282 8 16 0 n/a n/a 0 610
1994 258 266 2 11 0 n/a n/a 0 537
1995 254 286 4 14 0 n/a n/a 0 558
1996 254 286 4 14 0 n/a n/a 0 558
1997 247 281 6 14 0 n/a n/a 0 548
1998 248 299 5 10 0 n/a n/a 0 562
1999 236 323 5 9 0 n/a n/a 0 573
2000 283 348 10 20 0 n/a n/a 0 661
2001 260 342 7 13 2 n/a n/a 0 624
2002 267 365 11 9 0 n/a n/a 5 657
2003 267 365 11 9 0 n/a n/a 5 657
2004 217 391 9 14 0 n/a n/a 8 639
2005 182 361 13 17 1 n/a n/a 3 577
2006 183 354 6 19 0 n/a n/a 3 565
2007 198 356 10 21 1 n/a n/a 0 586
2008 179 354 13 31 2 n/a n/a 13 592
2009 155 362 15 37 1 n/a n/a 7 577
2010 140 399 14 34 0 n/a n/a 4 591
2011 137 394 13 41 0 2 0 0 587
2012 117 404 15 44 1 1 8 0 590
2013 109 443 28 36 3 3 12 0 634
2014 108 422 20 28 4 1 22 0 605
2015 97 425 18 26 3 0 18 0 587
2016 114 382 19 37 1 2 12 0 567
2017 132 342 24 43 1 0 25 0 567
2018 136 353 28 57 1 1 25 0 601
2019 136 341 26 66 1 0 32 0 602
2020 132 332 21 89 1 1 30 0 606
2021 141 325 25 81 2 1 28 0 603
2022 130 321 23 108 1 3 27 0 613
2023 139 323 18 103 3 1 27 0 614

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 Forest Lake Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 599 36.2 16.5 n/a
1989 590 37.2 15.8 n/a
1990 580 37.3 15.5 n/a
1991 632 36.5 17.3 22.5
1992 594 36.3 16.3 24.9
1993 610 37.6 16.2 30.7
1994 537 39.0 13.8 33.3
1995 558 39.4 14.2 30.1
1996 558 39.4 14.2 30.1
1997 548 39.0 14.1 29
1998 562 39.0 14.4 30.6
1999 573 40.9 14.0 34.9
2000 661 46.4 14.2 36.5
2001 624 48.0 13.0 39.6
2002 657 49.0 13.4 45.2
2003 657 49.0 13.4 45.2
2004 639 47.0 13.6 51.3
2005 577 48.8 11.8 54.9
2006 565 48.0 11.8 33.1
2007 586 58.5 10.0 57.3
2008 592 49.0 12.1 53.2
2009 577 48.0 12.0 53.3
2010 591 43.7 13.5 56.7
2011 587 42.4 13.8 51.6
2012 590 40.4 14.6 63.7
2013 634 48.2 13.1 67.2
2014 605 49.2 12.2 65.6
2015 587 47.0 12.4 61
2016 567 47.0 12.0 55.9
2017 567 45.0 12.6 58.4
2018 601 44.2 13.5 57.2
2019 602 44.2 13.6 58.3
2020 606 46.2 13.1 57.4
2021 603 49.2 12.2 59
2022 613 46.2 13.2 57.7
2023 614 49.0 12.5 70.4

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 Forest Lake Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 599 36.2 16.5 n/a
1989 590 37.2 15.8 n/a
1990 580 37.3 15.5 n/a
1991 632 36.5 17.3 22.5
1992 594 36.3 16.3 24.9
1993 610 37.6 16.2 30.7
1994 537 39.0 13.8 33.3
1995 558 39.4 14.2 30.1
1996 558 39.4 14.2 30.1
1997 548 39.0 14.1 29
1998 562 39.0 14.4 30.6
1999 573 40.9 14.0 34.9
2000 661 46.4 14.2 36.5
2001 624 48.0 13.0 39.6
2002 657 49.0 13.4 45.2
2003 657 49.0 13.4 45.2
2004 639 47.0 13.6 51.3
2005 577 48.8 11.8 54.9
2006 565 48.0 11.8 33.1
2007 586 58.5 10.0 57.3
2008 592 49.0 12.1 53.2
2009 577 48.0 12.0 53.3
2010 591 43.7 13.5 56.7
2011 587 42.4 13.8 51.6
2012 590 40.4 14.6 63.7
2013 634 48.2 13.1 67.2
2014 605 49.2 12.2 65.6
2015 587 47.0 12.4 61
2016 567 47.0 12.0 55.9
2017 567 45.0 12.6 58.4
2018 601 44.2 13.5 57.2
2019 602 44.2 13.6 58.3
2020 606 46.2 13.1 57.4
2021 603 49.2 12.2 59
2022 613 46.2 13.2 57.7
2023 614 49.0 12.5 70.4

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 Forest Lake 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 $342 (2.9%) $417 (3.6%) $759 (6.5%) $9,619 (82.6%) $1,268 (10.9%) $10,886 (93.5%) $11,645
2020 $223 (1.9%) $396 (3.4%) $618 (5.3%) $9,828 (83.9%) $1,270 (10.8%) $11,098 (94.7%) $11,716
2021 $230 (1.8%) $288 (2.3%) $519 (4.2%) $10,628 (85.4%) $1,299 (10.4%) $11,927 (95.8%) $12,445
2022 $341 (2.9%) $388 (3.4%) $729 (6.3%) $9,794 (84.6%) $1,058 (9.1%) $10,853 (93.7%) $11,581
2023 $416 (3.3%) $649 (5.1%) $1,065 (8.4%) $10,365 (81.9%) $1,232 (9.7%) $11,597 (91.6%) $12,662

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Forest Lake 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 219th of 643 Elementary schoolsRanks 217th of 644 Elementary schools
 0.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Forest Lake Elementary)53.652.4
 1.2%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Richland 02)51.152.3
 1.2%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)49.753.5
 3.8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Forest Lake Elementary)53.653.4
 0.2%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Richland 02)6252.1
 9.9%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)57.753.6
 4.1%
4th Grade Science (Forest Lake Elementary)45.959.8
 13.9%
   4th Grade Science (Richland 02)51.146.9
 4.2%
   4th Grade Science (South Carolina)5246.6
 5.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Forest Lake Elementary)43.669.6
 26%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Richland 02)53.760
 6.3%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)51.357.2
 5.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Forest Lake Elementary)51.753
 1.3%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Richland 02)53.348.9
 4.4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)50.547
 3.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Forest Lake Elementary)52.864
 11.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Richland 02)44.358.8
 14.5%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)4155.2
 14.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Forest Lake Elementary)75.841.2
 34.6%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Richland 02)51.145.4
 5.7%
   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 Students602614
 2%
African American341323
 5.3%
American Indian13
 200%
Asian2618
 30.8%
Hispanic66103
 56.1%
Pacific Islander01
White136139
 2.2%
Two or More Races3227
 15.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients58.3%70.4%
 12.1%


Schools Near Forest Lake Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Forest Lake Elementary

Students who attend Forest Lake Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Dent Middle
High : Richland Northeast High

Forest Lake Elementary ranks 285th of 638 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students at Forest Lake Elementary are 53% African American, 23% White, 17% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

In the 2022-23 school year, 614 students attended Forest Lake 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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