Best Schools in Columbia, South Carolina
100 schools · 60 Elementary · 12 Middle · 17 High · 11 Other
Choosing a school in Columbia?
Use this page to compare every school in Columbia by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Rosewood Elementary
Elementary · Richland 01. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Brockman Elementary
Elementary · Richland 01. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Satchel Ford Elementary
Elementary · Richland 01. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Columbia for 2026 are Rosewood Elementary (9.4/10), Brockman Elementary (9.0/10), and Satchel Ford Elementary (8.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 71 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
100
74 public · 26 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$221,240
home value · ACS
Districts
7
serving the city
Schools
100
74 public · 26 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$221,240
home value · ACS
Districts
7
serving the city
Rates 9.4/10 despite 100% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.7 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Columbia schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Columbia
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 71 rated schools; 100 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rosewood Elementary | 9.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Brockman Elementary | 9.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Satchel Ford Elementary | 8.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Brennen Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Logan Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
| 6 | A. C. Moore Elementary | 8.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Crayton Middle | 8.5 / 10 |
| 8 | E. L. Wright Middle | 8.3 / 10 |
| 9 | North Springs Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Hand Middle | 8.1 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.6/10
- Median household income
- $59,100
- Median home value
- $221,240
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 44%
- Avg commute
- 22 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 55%
42% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Columbia compares
South Carolina rank
#35 of 133
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.3
above South Carolina avg (6.3)
Median household income
$59k
95% of South Carolina median
Schools in this city
89
Education Snapshot
Columbia, South CarolinaColumbia's 96 schools span 7 districts and enroll roughly 52,080 students. The composite rating across 85 scored schools averages 6.0/10, trailing South Carolina's state average of 6.2/10. The city's median household income of $59,688 runs 13% below the state median of $68,543 — an economic gap that, alongside the below-average composite, makes district-level comparison especially valuable. The level mix is elementary-heavy: 56 elementary schools account for more than half the total, with 18 high schools, 12 middle schools, and 10 other or combined programs filling out the rest. Seven charter schools add public alternatives beyond standard district assignment. Forty percent of Columbia adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The spread of 7 districts across one city means school quality varies considerably, and the ratings below give the clearest read on what each neighborhood actually delivers.
7 districts draw attendance lines through Columbia
Columbia is not one school system. 7 districts cut across the city limits, and the largest still holds only 54% of the public campuses.
Richland 01 is the largest slice at 40 of 74 public schools — not a majority. Choosing a Columbia address is choosing a district first.
Among 71 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.9 to 9.4 — the spread is inside Columbia, not a citywide average.
- Richland 0140 public · 54%
- Richland 0218 public · 24%
- Lexington 057 public · 9%
- Dept of Correction N043 public · 4%
- Sc Public Charter School District3 public · 4%
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.
Elementary Schools
60 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 343 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.4 |
| 2 | 266 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.0 |
| 3 | 698 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.8 |
| 4 | 792 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.7 |
| 5 | 221 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.7 |
| 6 | 224 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.5 |
| 7 | 1,285 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.3 |
| 8 | 672 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.3 |
| 9 | 530 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.9 |
| 10 | 319 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.9 |
Show all 60 elementary schools in Columbia
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
12 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 924 students · 6th–8th | 8.5 |
| 2 | 700 students · 6th–8th | 8.1 |
| 3 | 1,035 students · 6th–8th | 7.7 |
| 4 | 989 students · 6th–8th | 7.5 |
| 5 | 800 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 |
| 6 | 644 students · 6th–6th | 6.7 |
| 7 | 263 students · 6th–8th | 5.1 |
| 8 | 310 students · 6th–8th | 5.0 |
| 9 | 700 students · 6th–8th | 5.0 |
| 10 | 524 students · 6th–8th | 4.9 |
Show all 12 middle schools in Columbia
High Schools
17 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,155 students · 9th–12th | 7.8 |
| 2 | 32 students · 9th–12th | 7.3 |
| 3 | 1,334 students · 9th–12th | 6.9 |
| 4 | 104 students · 11th–12th | 6.9 |
| 5 | 1,696 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 |
| 6 | 2,314 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 |
| 7 | 719 students · 9th–12th | 6.4 |
| 8 | 1,301 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 |
| 9 | 1,268 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 |
| 10 | 599 students · 9th–12th | 5.8 |
Show all 17 high schools in Columbia
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
11 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 56 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.1 | ||
| 2 | 436 students · 4th–12th | 5.6 | ||
| 3 | 5,955 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.4 | ||
| 4 | 418 students · Pre-K–10th | 5.4 | ||
Private Schools7 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | The School of Norah ArkPrivate 141 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 58 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Sandhills SchoolPrivate 104 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | Mission Hope FoundationPrivate 66 students · Pre-K–10th | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | Hammond SchoolPrivate 944 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 6 | Daniels Christian SchoolsPrivate 31 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 11 other schools in Columbia
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Schools in Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina · 100 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.
Schools by Level
- State
- South Carolina
- Elementary
- 60
- Middle
- 12
- High
- 17
- Other
- 11
Resources
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
Other Major Cities in South Carolina
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Columbia, South Carolina
How many schools are in Columbia, South Carolina?
Columbia has 100 schools, including 74 public and 26 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 6.6 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Columbia, South Carolina?
The top-ranked school in Columbia on MySchoolScout is Rosewood Elementary with a composite score of 9.4/10.
What is the best elementary school in Columbia, South Carolina?
The top-ranked elementary school in Columbia on MySchoolScout is Rosewood Elementary with a composite score of 9.4/10.
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 8.5/10.
What is the best high school in Columbia, South Carolina?
The top-ranked high school in Columbia on MySchoolScout is Dreher High with a composite score of 7.8/10.
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 26 private schools alongside 74 public schools. The top-rated private school is The School of Norah Ark with a score of 9.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Columbia, South Carolina?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Columbia is 11.3:1. 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 built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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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.