Is Westwood High a good school?

Westwood High ranks 152 nd of 235 South Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Westwood High?

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,689 students attended Westwood High.

What is the racial makeup of Westwood High?

Students at Westwood High are 79% African American, 8% White, 8% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Westwood High?

Westwood High is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Bethel-Hanberry Elementary Elementary : Killian Elementary Elementary : Sandlapper Elementary Middle : Longleaf Middle

Westwood High

Summary:

Westwood High is a public high school located in Blythewood, South Carolina, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,684 students. 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 from SchoolDigger.

Westwood High's academic performance, as measured by the percentage of students proficient or better in various End-of-Course (EOCEP) exams, is generally lower than the district and state averages. However, the school's performance for African American and Hispanic students is relatively better compared to their peers in the state. In contrast, Westwood High's performance for White students, low socioeconomic status students, and students with disabilities is lower. The school has a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 49.94% to 65.8%, which is significantly higher than the state average.

Westwood High's academic performance is generally lower than the nearby Blythewood High and Spring Valley High, which consistently rank higher in the state. However, Westwood High outperforms some of the schools in the neighboring Richland 01 district, such as W.J. Keenan High and Eau Claire High, which have even lower academic proficiency rates.

Detail:

Public, Magnet 9-12

180 Turkey Farm Road
Blythewood, SC 29016

(803) 691-4049

District: Richland 02

SchoolDigger Rank:
152^nd of 235 South Carolina High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,584

Feeder schools for Westwood High:

Elementary:	Bethel-Hanberry Elementary
	Killian Elementary
	Sandlapper Elementary
Middle:	Longleaf Middle

Student/teacher ratio: 17.4

Number of students: 1,689

Racial breakdown:

African American:

78.6%

White:

8.2%

Hispanic:

7.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 55.1%

See top rated South Carolina high schools

Compare Westwood High to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Westwood High ranks worse than 64.7% of high schools in South Carolina. It also ranks 4^th among 5 ranked high schools in the Richland 02 School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 32.54. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Westwood High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

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

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (78.6%), White (8.2%), Hispanic (7.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 55.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Westwood High is 17.4. 2 high schools in the Richland 02 School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Westwood High employs 96.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Westwood High is $11,584, which is the lowest among 5 high schools in the Richland 02 School District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Westwood High:

SchoolDigger ranks Westwood High 152^nd of 235 South Carolina public high schools. (See Westwood High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Disabled students:

Gifted and Talented students:

Military Connected students:

Male students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Richland 02:

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

Average Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Westwood High.

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Rank History for Westwood High

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Rank History for all students at Westwood High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile
2015	30.67	159^th	232	31.5%
2016	33.66	149^th	231	35.5%
2017	24.45	156^th	223	30.0%
2018	26.83	148^th	216	31.5%
2019	29.83	138^th	225	38.7%
2021	49.33	103^rd	227	54.6%
2022	27.38	158^th	226	30.1%
2023	35.00	146^th	237	38.4%
2024	32.54	152^nd	235	35.3%

See the entire list of South Carolina High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Westwood High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	42.36	33^rd	53	37.7%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Westwood High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	23.22	160^th	214	25.2%
2019	32.38	132^nd	217	39.2%
2021	46.12	107^th	213	49.8%
2022	32.10	154^th	220	30.0%
2023	35.17	144^th	226	36.3%
2024	35.68	148^th	229	35.4%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Westwood High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	30.53	143^rd	210	31.9%
2019	30.11	137^th	213	35.7%
2021	57.66	74^th	213	65.3%
2022	32.97	146^th	220	33.6%
2023	36.07	138^th	223	38.1%
2024	34.61	148^th	225	34.2%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Westwood High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	38.01	83^rd	137	39.4%
2019	36.94	91^st	143	36.4%
2022	35.38	87^th	139	37.4%
2023	43.11	78^th	141	44.7%
2024	36.69	96^th	145	33.8%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Westwood High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	27.03	134^th	156	14.1%
2024	47.21	109^th	157	30.6%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Military Connected students at Westwood High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	27.35	14^th	15	6.7%
2024	39.33	10^th	15	33.3%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Military Connected Students!

Rank History for Male students at Westwood High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	25.21	152^nd	213	28.6%
2019	32.78	129^th	218	40.8%
2021	47.22	101^st	215	53.0%
2022	25.01	168^th	224	25.0%
2023	34.05	143^rd	229	37.6%
2024	32.34	151^st	228	33.8%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Westwood High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	52.43	75^th	183	59.0%
2019	57.19	58^th	184	68.5%
2021	79.07	18^th	178	89.9%
2022	58.02	66^th	190	65.3%
2023	57.99	65^th	199	67.3%
2024	56.77	69^th	194	64.4%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Westwood High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	67.44	22^nd	80	72.5%
2019	64.09	25^th	86	70.9%
2022	45.38	61^st	108	43.5%
2023	51.23	60^th	119	49.6%
2024	57.46	45^th	121	62.8%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Westwood High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	39.99	93^rd	185	49.7%
2019	50.02	72^nd	191	62.3%
2022	39.73	109^th	192	43.2%
2023	49.87	91^st	197	53.8%
2024	56.65	73^rd	196	62.8%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina High 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.

Data source: South Carolina State Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a teacher
Tuesday, August 18, 2020

I have taught science in five different high schools in the Upstate and Midlands of SC over the past 29 years. I can honestly attest to the fact that Westwood has the most devoted, supportive Administrative Team and teachers/staff of any of the other schools in which I have worked. I love Westwood. We have many terrific students and parents here. I will always cherish the time that I have spent here at Westwood High School. I am grateful to be a part of the Westwood Family! Close Quote

Enrollment information for Westwood High

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2013	188	943	7	44	3	0	19	0	1204
2014	196	1041	4	49	2	0	22	0	1314
2015	212	1032	4	60	3	1	33	0	1345
2016	202	1070	1	73	1	1	41	0	1389
2017	182	1045	7	90	1	0	36	2	1363
2018	196	1141	7	90	1	1	40	0	1476
2019	191	1117	6	90	1	2	58	0	1465
2020	193	1115	12	90	1	3	56	0	1470
2021	168	1162	15	94	2	3	68	0	1512
2022	175	1284	12	103	2	2	80	0	1658
2023	162	1295	12	129	3	3	80	0	1684
2024	138	1328	9	130	2	1	77	4	1689

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 Westwood High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2013	1204	82.0	14.6	53.2
2014	1314	86.4	15.2	54.3
2015	1345	92.0	14.6	47.4
2016	1389	91.0	15.2	47.4
2017	1363	92.8	14.6	46.1
2018	1476	91.8	16.0	47.3
2019	1465	92.8	15.7	52.3
2020	1470	94.2	15.6	51.8
2021	1512	92.2	16.3	53.4
2022	1658	92.0	18.0	49.9
2023	1684	94.0	17.9	65.8
2024	1689	96.8	17.4	55.1

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 Westwood High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2013	1204	82.0	14.6	53.2
2014	1314	86.4	15.2	54.3
2015	1345	92.0	14.6	47.4
2016	1389	91.0	15.2	47.4
2017	1363	92.8	14.6	46.1
2018	1476	91.8	16.0	47.3
2019	1465	92.8	15.7	52.3
2020	1470	94.2	15.6	51.8
2021	1512	92.2	16.3	53.4
2022	1658	92.0	18.0	49.9
2023	1684	94.0	17.9	65.8
2024	1689	96.8	17.4	55.1

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 Westwood High

Year	Personnel Expenditures from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Expenditures from Federal Funds	Total Expenditures from Federal Funds	Personnel Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$431 (3.7%)	$507 (4.3%)	$938 (8.0%)	$8,800 (75.2%)	$1,969 (16.8%)	$10,769 (92.0%)	$11,706
2020	$402 (3.5%)	$502 (4.3%)	$904 (7.8%)	$8,795 (76.1%)	$1,860 (16.1%)	$10,655 (92.2%)	$11,558
2021	$253 (2.1%)	$354 (3.0%)	$607 (5.1%)	$9,162 (76.9%)	$2,140 (18.0%)	$11,302 (94.9%)	$11,909
2022	$433 (3.8%)	$506 (4.4%)	$938 (8.2%)	$8,665 (75.7%)	$1,837 (16.1%)	$10,502 (91.8%)	$11,440
2023	$308 (2.7%)	$671 (5.8%)	$979 (8.5%)	$8,720 (75.3%)	$1,884 (16.3%)	$10,605 (91.5%)	$11,584

Data source: South Carolina Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Westwood High

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 138^th of 225 High schools	Ranks 146^th of 237 High schools	0.3%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (Westwood High)	60.7	45.4	15.3%
End of Course Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (Richland 02)	74.2	68.8	5.4%
End of Course Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (South Carolina)	68.6	68.3	0.3%
End of Course Biology 1/Applied Biology 2 (Westwood High)	61.1	47.7	13.4%
End of Course Biology 1/Applied Biology 2 (Richland 02)	70.3	57.9	12.4%
End of Course Biology 1/Applied Biology 2 (South Carolina)	67.2	59.1	8.1%
End of Course English 1 (Westwood High)	72.4	83.3	10.9%
End of Course English 1 (Richland 02)	78.8	85.3	6.5%
End of Course English 1 (South Carolina)	78.9	84	5.1%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1465	1684	14.9%
African American	1117	1295	15.9%
American Indian	1	3	200%
Asian	6	12	100%
Hispanic	90	129	43.3%
Pacific Islander	2	3	50%
White	191	162	15.2%
Two or More Races	58	80	37.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	52.3%	65.8%	13.5%

Schools Near Westwood High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (2024)	EOCEP English 1 (2024)	EOCEP U.S. History and the Constitution (2024)	EOCEP English 2 (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 End of Course	EOCEP English 1 End of Course	EOCEP U.S. History and the Constitution End of Course	EOCEP English 2 End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Westwood High	Public, Magnet	9-12	180 Turkey Farm Road	Blythewood	29016	Richland County	Richland 02	No	Yes	No	No	(803) 691-4049	1,689	97	17.4	55.1%	138 (8.2%)	1,328 (78.6%)	130 (7.7%)	9 (0.5%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	77 (4.6%)	32.5	152^nd of 235 public high schools	35.3%		35	146^th of 237 public high schools	38.4%	6	52.7	54.7	47.1	84.6	$11,584	$308	$671	$979	$8,720	$1,884	$10,605
Blythewood High	Public	9-12	10901 Wilson Boulevard	Blythewood	29016	Richland County	Richland 02	No	No	No	No	(803) 691-4090	2,117	143	14.8	28.7%	671 (31.7%)	1,085 (51.3%)	173 (8.2%)	53 (2.5%)	3 (0.1%)	7 (0.3%)	119 (5.6%)	70.4	51^st of 235 public high schools	78.3%		76.8	34^th of 237 public high schools	85.7%	17	71.3	71.2	71.2	91.9	$11,930	$400	$575	$976	$9,130	$1,824	$10,954
Ridge View High	Public, Magnet	9-12	4801 Hard Scrabble Road	Columbia	29229	Richland County	Richland 02	No	Yes	No	No	(803) 699-2999	1,696	97	17.4	49.0%	114 (6.7%)	1,354 (79.8%)	112 (6.6%)	20 (1.2%)	2 (0.1%)	4 (0.2%)	90 (5.3%)	42.5	126^th of 235 public high schools	46.4%		38.4	138^th of 237 public high schools	41.8%	12	63.1	55.6	53.8	85.6	$11,906	$433	$730	$1,163	$8,804	$1,939	$10,743
W.J. Keenan High	Public, Magnet	9-12	361 Pisgah Church Road	Columbia	29203	Richland County	Richland 01	No	Yes	No	No	(803) 714-2500	719	54	13.4	100.0%	17 (2.4%)	645 (89.7%)	30 (4.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (3.6%)	11.6	214^th of 235 public high schools	8.9%		13.2	209^th of 237 public high schools	11.8%	5	43.7	36.3	24.7	79.7	$18,602	$534	$879	$1,413	$14,198	$2,991	$17,189
Manning High	Public	9-12	502 Beckman Road	Columbia	29203	Richland County	Dept Of Correction N04	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 935-7203	0	4	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Spring Valley High	Public, Magnet	9-12	120 Sparkleberry Lane	Columbia	29229	Richland County	Richland 02	No	Yes	No	No	(803) 699-3500	2,314	123	18.7	44.0%	464 (20.1%)	1,200 (51.9%)	340 (14.7%)	179 (7.7%)	5 (0.2%)	2 (0.1%)	121 (5.2%)	60.1	76^th of 235 public high schools	67.7%		65	62^nd of 237 public high schools	73.8%	14	66.8	66.5	66.0	88.8	$11,898	$398	$608	$1,006	$9,068	$1,825	$10,892
School Whitmore School	Public, Virtual, Charter	9-12	501 Commerce Drive NE	Columbia	29223	Richland County	School Public Charter School District	Yes	No	Yes	No	(803) 476-6416	478	14	34.1	54.2%	353 (73.8%)	78 (16.3%)	30 (6.3%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	12 (2.5%)	26.8	175^th of 235 public high schools	25.5%		35.1	145^th of 237 public high schools	38.8%	30	31.6	51.6	38.6	85.5	$7,817	$173	$386	$559	$5,255	$2,002	$7,258
Richland Northeast High	Public, Magnet	9-12	7500 Brookfield Road	Columbia	29223	Richland County	Richland 02	No	Yes	No	No	(803) 699-2800	1,301	100	12.9	67.9%	127 (9.8%)	821 (63.1%)	274 (21.1%)	25 (1.9%)	2 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	49 (3.8%)	13.3	211^th of 235 public high schools	10.2%		27.6	165^th of 237 public high schools	30.4%	46	45.9	40.6	32.9	77.5	$14,008	$417	$711	$1,129	$10,607	$2,273	$12,880
Samuel A. Heyward Career and Technology Center	Public	9-12	3560 Lynhaven Drive	Columbia	29204	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 735-3343	0	27	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Eau Claire High	Public	9-12	4800 Monticello Road	Columbia	29203	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 735-7600	599	48	12.4	100.0%	13 (2.2%)	498 (83.1%)	67 (11.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (3.5%)	6.7	226^th of 235 public high schools	3.8%		4.5	233^rd of 237 public high schools	1.7%	7	25.9	35.6	31.8	72.7	$21,310	$1,118	$1,057	$2,174	$15,483	$3,652	$19,135

Westwood High

Westwood High:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Richland 02:

Average Rating:

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Rank History for Westwood High

Rank History for all students at Westwood High

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Westwood High

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Westwood High

Rank History for Female students at Westwood High

Rank History for Disabled students at Westwood High

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Westwood High

Rank History for Military Connected students at Westwood High

Rank History for Male students at Westwood High

Rank History for African American students at Westwood High

Rank History for Hispanic students at Westwood High

Rank History for White students at Westwood High

Review counts

Enrollment information for Westwood High

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Westwood High

Student/Teacher Ratio Westwood High

Per Pupil Expenditures for Westwood High

Impact of COVID-19 on Westwood High

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Westwood High

Frequently Asked Questions about Westwood High

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