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6.3 avg / 10

Richland 02 School District

School District · Columbia, South Carolina

Students: 28,917
Teachers (FTE): 2,108
Estimated Scores: 3%

Avg Rating

6.3

out of 10

Schools

32

23 elem, 4 mid, 5 high

Per-Pupil Spending

$14,024

Student-Teacher Ratio

13.7:1

How this district compares

South Carolina rank

#39 of 77

districts by avg. composite

Vs. state average

+0.1

above South Carolina avg

Per-pupil spending

$14,024

$307 vs South Carolina median

District size

28,917 students

Much larger than South Carolina median

About Richland 02

Richland School District 2 serves 28,917 students across 32 ranked schools in South Carolina. The district averages 6.4 out of 10 across all ranked campuses — a figure that reflects the full spread. The highest-scoring schools land considerably above that mark.

Blythewood High leads the district at 8.4 out of 10. Jackson Creek Elementary ties that score, making it the top elementary in the district. Finding both the top high school and the top elementary at 8.4 in the same 32-school district signals that strong performance isn't concentrated at one grade level. L. B. Nelson Elementary (8.2) and Richland Northeast High (8.2) each sit more than a full point above the 6.4 district average. Bookman Road Elementary completes the top five at 7.9, giving Richland 2 five schools that each exceed the district average by at least 1.5 points.

Elementary families have three credible options — Jackson Creek, L. B. Nelson, and Bookman Road — clustered between 7.9 and 8.4. In a district of 28,917 students and 32 schools, that density of high-scoring elementary campuses means parents aren't locked into a single standout. Multiple strong targets exist at the elementary level, and which school a family can access depends largely on where they live within district boundaries.

Both high schools in the top five score above 8.0. Blythewood High earns 8.4 — the same mark as the top elementary — and Richland Northeast High scores 8.2. Each sits at least 1.8 points above the 6.4 district average. That average reflects all 32 schools; the district's top performers operate in a different tier. Parents mapping their children's K-12 path within Richland 2 will find the score spread strongly favors those in the attendance zones of the district's five highest-ranked schools.

District Map

Schools in Richland 02, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.

District Average Test Scores

Math Proficiency 45.2%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 51.5%
School
State
N/A

Average proficiency across all schools in Richland 02 with test data.

District Details

City
Columbia
Total Enrollment
28,917
Teachers (FTE)
2,108
Child Poverty Rate
0.1%
Data Year
2023

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Richland 02?

Richland 02 has 32 schools in total — 23 elementary, 4 middle, and 5 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.

What is the average rating for Richland 02?

The average composite rating for Richland 02 is 6.3/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.

What is the per-pupil spending in Richland 02?

Richland 02 spends $14,024 per student per year.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Richland 02?

The average student-teacher ratio in Richland 02 is 13.7:1.

What is the top-rated school in Richland 02?

Richland Northeast High is the highest-rated school in Richland 02 with a composite score of 8.7/10.

What are the test scores in Richland 02?

Across schools in Richland 02 with test data, the average math proficiency is 45.2% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 51.5%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.

How does Richland 02 compare to other districts in South Carolina?

Richland 02 has an average school rating of 6.3/10 across 32 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in South Carolina by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools?

MySchoolScout ratings are based on a comprehensive methodology that weighs Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.

District Averages

Overall Rating
6.3/10
Math Proficiency
45.2%
ELA Proficiency
51.5%

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

Other School Districts in SC

Compare Richland 02 with neighboring districts in the state.

See all districts in SC →

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.

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