6.2 avg / 10

Best Schools in Columbia, South Carolina

96 schools · 56 Elementary · 12 Middle · 18 High · 10 Other

Last updated: May 2026

Public: 74

Private: 22

Districts: 7

Avg Rating: 6.2/10

Estimated Scores: 18%

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 6.2/10
Median household income: $59,100
Median home value: $221,240
Bachelor's degree or higher: 44%
Avg commute: 22 min
Owner-occupied homes: 55%

How Columbia compares

South Carolina rank

#70 of 129

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

+0.0

above South Carolina avg (6.2)

Median household income

$59k

95% of South Carolina median

Schools in this city

About Schools in Columbia, South Carolina

Columbia's public school landscape covers 72 ranked schools with an average score of 6.1 out of 10 — a baseline that masks significant variation across the metro. Parents will find a wide performance spread here, making neighborhood and district research essential before committing to an address.

The upper tier is genuinely strong. A. C. Flora High leads the city with a 9.0 out of 10, followed closely by Logan Elementary at 8.9 and both Irmo High and Richland Northeast High at 8.7. Pendergrass Fairwold School rounds out the top five at 8.6. Taken together, 23 schools — 32% of the ranked total — score 7 or above, meaning roughly one in three Columbia public schools clears that higher-performance threshold. That's a meaningful pool of options for families willing to look beyond their immediate zone.

The spread between the top and the city average tells the real story. A. C. Flora's 9.0 sits nearly three full points above the 6.1 citywide mean, which signals that school quality in Columbia is not evenly distributed. Several of the strongest schools fall under suburban districts — Richland County School District One and Two serve different parts of the metro, and families in areas feeding Irmo or Richland Northeast benefit from that positioning. Logan Elementary's near-top score also signals that high performance isn't limited to the high school level; parents of younger children have strong options worth seeking out.

Practically speaking, parents researching Columbia should prioritize checking which specific district and attendance zone corresponds to any address they're considering. The 6.1 average means roughly half the ranked schools fall below that mark, so proximity alone isn't a reliable guide to quality. Families with high school students should look closely at A. C. Flora and Irmo, both of which score in the top tier. Those with elementary-age children should put Logan Elementary near the top of their visit list. With 23 schools scoring 7 or above across grade levels, Columbia offers real choices — but those choices reward parents who do the zone-by-zone homework upfront.

Filter by Level: All Levels (96) Elementary (56) Middle (12) High (18)

Filter by Type: All Types (96) Public (74) Private (22)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (96) Academics (96) Growth (68) Resources (72)

Filter by ZIP: 29203 (16) 29210 (13) 29204 (12) 29223 (11) 29205 (10) 29229 (9) 29206 (7) 29209 (6) 29212 (6) 29201 (3) 29202 (2)

Elementary Schools

56 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Logan Elementary 221 students · Pre-K–5th	221	Pre-K–5th	8.9
2	Jackson Creek Elementary 586 students · Pre-K–5th	586	Pre-K–5th	8.6
3	Brockman Elementary 266 students · Pre-K–5th	266	Pre-K–5th	8.4
4	Carver-Lyon Elementary 360 students · Pre-K–5th	360	Pre-K–5th	8.3
5	L. B. Nelson Elementary 553 students · Pre-K–5th	553	Pre-K–5th	8.3
6	Harbison West Elementary 507 students · Pre-K–5th	507	Pre-K–5th	7.8
7	Joseph Keels Elementary 478 students · Pre-K–5th	478	Pre-K–5th	7.8
8	Satchel Ford Elementary 698 students · Kindergarten–5th	698	Kindergarten–5th	7.7
9	Rosewood Elementary 343 students · Kindergarten–5th	343	Kindergarten–5th	7.1
10	North Springs Elementary 672 students · Pre-K–5th	672	Pre-K–5th	7.1
11	Carolina School for Inquiry 113 students · Pre-K–6th	113	Pre-K–6th	7.0
12	Forest Lake Elementary 638 students · Pre-K–5th	638	Pre-K–5th	6.8
13	Forest Heights Elementary 433 students · Pre-K–5th	433	Pre-K–5th	6.7
14	A. C. Moore Elementary 224 students · Pre-K–5th	224	Pre-K–5th	6.7
15	Sandlapper Elementary 694 students · Pre-K–5th	694	Pre-K–5th	6.7
16	Brennen Elementary 792 students · Pre-K–5th	792	Pre-K–5th	6.2
17	Leaphart Elementary 501 students · Pre-K–5th	501	Pre-K–5th	6.0
18	Annie Burnside Elementary 319 students · Pre-K–5th	319	Pre-K–5th	5.9
19	South Kilbourne Elementary 289 students · Pre-K–5th	289	Pre-K–5th	5.8
20	Meadowfield Elementary 610 students · Pre-K–5th	610	Pre-K–5th	5.6
21	Burton Pack Elementary 344 students · Pre-K–5th	344	Pre-K–5th	5.4
22	Summit Parkway Middle 1,176 students · Kindergarten–8th	1,176	Kindergarten–8th	5.4
23	Nursery Road Elementary 464 students · Pre-K–5th	464	Pre-K–5th	5.3
24	Bradley Elementary 413 students · Pre-K–5th	413	Pre-K–5th	5.2
25	Edward E. Taylor Elementary 222 students · Pre-K–5th	222	Pre-K–5th	5.2

Show 31 more elementary schools

26	Pine Grove Elementary 530 students · Pre-K–5th	530	Pre-K–5th	5.1
27	Arden Elementary 227 students · Pre-K–5th	227	Pre-K–5th	5.1
28	J. P. Thomas Elementary 302 students · Pre-K–5th	302	Pre-K–5th	5.1
29	Rice Creek Elementary 764 students · Pre-K–5th	764	Pre-K–5th	5.1
30	H. B. Rhame Elementary 470 students · Pre-K–5th	470	Pre-K–5th	5.0
31	Mill Creek Elementary 329 students · Pre-K–5th	329	Pre-K–5th	4.9
32	E. L. Wright Middle 1,285 students · Kindergarten–8th	1,285	Kindergarten–8th	4.9
33	Hyatt Park Elementary 333 students · Pre-K–5th	333	Pre-K–5th	4.8
34	Polo Road Elementary 659 students · Pre-K–5th	659	Pre-K–5th	4.8
35	Windsor Elementary 529 students · Pre-K–5th	529	Pre-K–5th	4.6
36	Sandel Elementary 507 students · Pre-K–5th	507	Pre-K–5th	4.4
37	L. W. Conder Elementary 472 students · Pre-K–5th	472	Pre-K–5th	4.2
38	Seven Oaks Elementary 502 students · Pre-K–5th	502	Pre-K–5th	4.1
39	Killian Elementary 740 students · Pre-K–5th	740	Pre-K–5th	4.1
40	Caughman Road Elementary 742 students · Pre-K–5th	742	Pre-K–5th	4.0
41	Watkins-Nance Elementary 435 students · Pre-K–5th	435	Pre-K–5th	3.7
42	A. J. Lewis Greenview Elementary 353 students · Pre-K–5th	353	Pre-K–5th	3.7
Private Schools 14 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF COLUMBIA Private 107 students · Pre-K–7th	107	Pre-K–7th	Not Rated
2	ST JOSEPH SCHOOL Private 257 students · Pre-K–6th	257	Pre-K–6th	Not Rated
3	ST PETERS CATHOLIC SCHOOL Private 93 students · Pre-K–6th	93	Pre-K–6th	Not Rated
4	CUTLER JEWISH DAY SCHOOL Private 73 students · Kindergarten–5th	73	Kindergarten–5th	Not Rated
5	1955 Private 62 students · Pre-K–3rd	62	Pre-K–3rd	Not Rated
6	CENTER FOR LEARNING INC Private 70 students · Kindergarten–5th	70	Kindergarten–5th	Not Rated
7	MONTESSORI EARLY LEARNING CENTER Private 87 students · Kindergarten–6th	87	Kindergarten–6th	Not Rated
8	ST MARTIN DE PORRES SCHOOL Private 28 students · Pre-K–4th	28	Pre-K–4th	Not Rated
9	HARMONY SCHOOL Private 18 students · Pre-K–5th	18	Pre-K–5th	Not Rated
10	V.V.REID SCHOOL Private 15 students · Pre-K–2nd	15	Pre-K–2nd	Not Rated
11	LAKE MURRAY MONTESSORI SCHOOL Private 2 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	2	Pre-K–Kindergarten	Not Rated
12	V.V. REID SCHOOL, LLC Private 13 students · Pre-K–2nd	13	Pre-K–2nd	Not Rated
13	KILBOURNE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH WEEKDAY PRESCHOOL Private 24 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	24	Pre-K–Kindergarten	Not Rated
14	SHANDON UNITED METHODIST PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN Private 6 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	6	Pre-K–Kindergarten	Not Rated

Middle Schools

12 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Crayton Middle 924 students · 6th–8th	924	6th–8th	8.3
2	Hand Middle 700 students · 6th–8th	700	6th–8th	6.9
3	Dent Middle 1,035 students · 6th–8th	1,035	6th–8th	6.9
4	Irmo Middle 989 students · 6th–8th	989	6th–8th	6.6
5	W. G. Sanders Middle 524 students · 6th–8th	524	6th–8th	6.4
6	W. A. Perry Middle 310 students · 6th–8th	310	6th–8th	5.7
7	Heyward Gibbes Middle 263 students · 6th–8th	263	6th–8th	5.6
8	Longleaf Middle 800 students · 6th–8th	800	6th–8th	5.6
9	St. Andrews Middle 700 students · 6th–8th	700	6th–8th	5.3
10	Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy 198 students · 2nd–8th	198	2nd–8th	4.9
11	Alcorn Middle 384 students · 6th–8th	384	6th–8th	4.2
12	CrossRoads Intermediate 644 students · 6th–6th	644	6th–6th	4.1

High Schools

18 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	A. C. Flora High 1,334 students · 9th–12th	1,334	9th–12th	9.0
2	Irmo High 1,268 students · 9th–12th	1,268	9th–12th	8.7
3	Richland Northeast High 1,301 students · 9th–12th	1,301	9th–12th	8.7
4	Dreher High 1,155 students · 9th–12th	1,155	9th–12th	8.5
5	Kirkland High 32 students · 9th–12th	32	9th–12th	7.8
6	Columbia High 693 students · 9th–12th	693	9th–12th	7.7
7	Eau Claire High 599 students · 9th–12th	599	9th–12th	7.2
8	Spring Valley High 2,314 students · 9th–12th	2,314	9th–12th	7.0
9	Midlands Middle College 134 students · 10th–12th	134	10th–12th	7.0
10	W.J. Keenan High 719 students · 9th–12th	719	9th–12th	6.6
11	Ridge View High 1,696 students · 9th–12th	1,696	9th–12th	5.8
12	Richland One Charter Middle College 104 students · 11th–12th	104	11th–12th	5.3
13	C. A. Johnson High 369 students · 9th–12th	369	9th–12th	5.2
14	SC Whitmore School 478 students · 9th–12th	478	9th–12th	3.4
15	Sara Babb High 3 students · 9th–12th	3	9th–12th	—
16	Broad River High 16 students · 9th–12th	16	9th–12th	—
Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	CARDINAL NEWMAN SCHOOL Private 495 students · 7th–12th	495	7th–12th	Not Rated
2	SONLIGHT HERITAGE ACADEMY Private 5 students · 8th–11th	5	8th–11th	Not Rated

Other Schools

10 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Pendergrass Fairwold School 56 students · Pre-K–12th	56	Pre-K–12th	8.6
2	SCDJJ Evaluation and Detention Center 436 students · 4th–12th	436	4th–12th	7.1
3	Clear Dot Charter School 418 students · Pre-K–10th	418	Pre-K–10th	5.7
4	SC Connections Academy 5,955 students · Kindergarten–12th	5,955	Kindergarten–12th	2.6
Private Schools 6 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	SANDHILLS SCHOOL Private 113 students · 1st–12th	113	1st–12th	Not Rated
2	MISSION HOPE FOUNDATION Private 58 students · Pre-K–10th	58	Pre-K–10th	Not Rated
3	HAMMOND SCHOOL Private 944 students · Pre-K–12th	944	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated
4	BEN LIPPEN SCHOOL Private 979 students · Kindergarten–12th	979	Kindergarten–12th	Not Rated
5	BEN LIPPEN SCHOOL Private 964 students · Pre-K–12th	964	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated
6	DANIELS CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS Private 21 students · Kindergarten–12th	21	Kindergarten–12th	Not Rated

Schools in Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina · 96 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 10 ZIP codes

Median Income

$59,100

Median Home Value

$221,240

Median Rent

$1,214/mo

Population

333,650

College Educated

44%

Homeownership

55%

Avg Commute

22 min

Poverty Rate

19.9%

Community Profile

Columbia has a median household income of $59,100. It is a well-educated community where 44% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $221,240, with a median rent of $1,214/month. The area has a poverty rate of 19.9%. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Quick Facts

State: South Carolina
Total Schools: 96
Elementary: 56
Middle: 12
High: 18
Districts: 7
Avg Rating: 6.2/10

Resources

🔍 Google "Columbia schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Columbia 📊 Niche Columbia Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (7)

Dept Of Correction N04

12 schools · 129 students

Lexington 05

23 schools · 17,278 students

Richland 01

48 schools · 22,123 students

Richland 02

32 schools · 28,917 students

Dept of Juvenile Justice

3 schools · 436 students

SC Public Charter School District

39 schools · 18,404 students

Charter Institute at Erskine

27 schools · 25,146 students

Nearby Cities

Cayce (3 schools)

6 mi

West Columbia (18 schools)

8 mi

Blythewood (10 schools)

Lexington (24 schools)

Winnsboro (7 schools)

Other Major Cities in South Carolina

Top metros statewide by school count.

Greenville 80 schools Charleston 50 schools Spartanburg 36 schools North Charleston 35 schools Rock Hill 34 schools

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Columbia, South Carolina

How many schools are in Columbia, South Carolina?

Columbia has 96 schools, including 74 public and 22 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Columbia, South Carolina?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Columbia is 6.2 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

What is the top-ranked school in Columbia, South Carolina?

The top-ranked school in Columbia on MySchoolScout is A. C. Flora High with a composite score of 9.0/10.

What is the best elementary school in Columbia, South Carolina?

The top-ranked elementary school in Columbia on MySchoolScout is Logan Elementary with a composite score of 8.9/10.

What is the best middle school in Columbia, South Carolina?

The top-ranked middle school in Columbia on MySchoolScout is Crayton Middle with a composite score of 8.3/10.

What is the best high school in Columbia, South Carolina?

The top-ranked high school in Columbia on MySchoolScout is A. C. Flora High with a composite score of 9.0/10.

How many school districts serve Columbia, South Carolina?

Columbia is served by 7 school districts: Dept of Correction N04, Lexington 05, Richland 01, Richland 02, Dept of Juvenile Justice, Sc Public Charter School District, Charter Institute at Erskine.

What is the education level in Columbia, South Carolina?

According to Census data, 44% of adults in Columbia have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Columbia, South Carolina?

The median household income in Columbia is approximately $59,100 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Columbia, South Carolina?

Yes, Columbia has 22 private schools alongside 74 public schools. The top-rated private school is Montessori School of Columbia with a score of 8.5/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Columbia, South Carolina?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Columbia is 11.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Columbia, South Carolina?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.

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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, South Carolina Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.