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Excellent

#7 of 1,176 schools in SC

Top 1% in state

A. C. Flora High

High School · Richland 01

1 Falcon Drive, Columbia, SC 29204

Enrollment

1,334

Student-Teacher

16.5:1

Score

9.0

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Columbia

#1 of 72

public schools

South Carolina high schools

#2 of 216

In district

#1 of 47

Richland 01

Academic growth

9.6 / 10

Exceptional

About A. C. Flora High

A. C. Flora High serves 1,334 students in grades 9 through 12 as a regular public school in Columbia, South Carolina.

It earns a composite score of 9.0 out of 10 — an Exceptional rating — and ranks #7 among 1,176 public schools statewide, outperforming 100% of South Carolina schools on the overall index. Growth is where A. C.

Flora especially stands out. Its growth score of 9.6 signals that students are making academic gains at a rate few schools in South Carolina match. An academic score of 8.9 confirms consistent high performance across subjects.

The student-teacher ratio of 16.5:1 gives a 1,334-student school enough structure to keep instruction personal. Among the 72 public schools in Columbia, A. C.

Flora ranks first — no school in the city scores higher. Statewide, only one other high school outranks it among 216 public high schools in South Carolina. For families comparing secondary options in the Columbia area, those two numbers tell the story: this is the top public high school in the city and one of the two best in the state.

What's said publicly about A. C. Flora High

Sources: Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

A. C. Flora High School is a public high school located in Forest Acres, South Carolina, a suburb of Columbia 1 . It is one of seven high schools operated by Richland County School District One 1 . The school was established in 1959 to address overcrowding and accommodate population growth in the Forest Acres area 1 . It is named after Abram Cline Flora, an educator who served as the district's superintendent 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.6Exceptional25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+4.22 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendImproving
Academics8.9Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency39%
Reading/ELA Proficiency85%
Overall Proficiency62%
Expected (poverty-adj.)36%
vs. Expected+26.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile84th
College Readiness9.8Exceptional30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation26%
IB ProgramYes
Resources & Environment7.0Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,122

A. C. Flora High — Students at A. C. Flora High score 62% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 36%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

100%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores SC EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 37.7%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 82.0%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from SC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
32%
ELA
69%
2021*
Math
42%
ELA
92%
2022
Math
39%
ELA
85%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.6/10.

How A. C. Flora High Compares

See how A. C. Flora High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
9.0/10
100th percentile in SC
Academic
8.9/10
8.9/10
Growth
9.6/10
Above average
Environment
7.0/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
100%
Teaching Staff
17:1 student-teacher ratio
81 teachers

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs IB Programme
26% participation·136 IB enrolled·CRDC 2020-21

Data as of 2020-21 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

1 Falcon Drive, Columbia, SC 29204

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering A. C. Flora High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Dreher High (rated 8.5/10, 1.4 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Richland One Charter Middle College (rated 5.3/10, 2.0 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Columbia, see our Columbia schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Crayton Middle Columbia 0.5 mi 8.3
Brockman Elementary Columbia 0.8 mi 8.4
KILBOURNE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH WEEKDAY PRESCHOOL Columbia 1.0 mi
HARMONY SCHOOL Columbia 1.1 mi
Bradley Elementary Columbia 1.0 mi 5.2
Brennen Elementary Columbia 1.3 mi 6.2
Dreher High Columbia 1.4 mi 8.5
SHANDON UNITED METHODIST PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN Columbia 1.4 mi
ST JOSEPH SCHOOL Columbia 1.4 mi 8.1
Satchel Ford Elementary Columbia 1.5 mi 7.7
CENTER FOR LEARNING INC Columbia 1.4 mi 6.2
W. G. Sanders Middle Columbia 1.6 mi 6.4
CUTLER JEWISH DAY SCHOOL Columbia 1.6 mi 7.0
SONLIGHT HERITAGE ACADEMY Columbia 1.9 mi
Richland One Charter Middle College Columbia 2.0 mi 5.3
Rosewood Elementary Columbia 2.2 mi 7.1
Hand Middle Columbia 2.0 mi 6.9
Carver-Lyon Elementary Columbia 1.9 mi 8.3
W. A. Perry Middle Columbia 2.0 mi 5.7
Watkins-Nance Elementary Columbia 2.1 mi 3.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 29204 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$49,745

Median Home Value

$185,800

Median Rent

$993/mo

Population

18,067

College Educated

38.7%

Homeownership

59.1%

Avg Commute

20.3 min

Poverty Rate

21.7%

Median Age

36.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding A. C. Flora High has a median household income of $49,745. It is an area where 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $185,800, with a median rent of $993/month. The area has a poverty rate of 21.7%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Bluffton High Bluffton, SC 8.9
Spring Hill High Chapin, SC 8.8
Wilson High Florence, SC 8.8
Irmo High Columbia, SC 8.7
Richland Northeast High Columbia, SC 8.7
South Pointe High Rock Hill, SC 8.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about A. C. Flora High

What grades does A. C. Flora High serve?

A. C. Flora High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend A. C. Flora High?

A. C. Flora High has an enrollment of approximately 1,334 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at A. C. Flora High?

The student-teacher ratio at A. C. Flora High is 16.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does A. C. Flora High rank in SC?

A. C. Flora High is ranked #7 out of 1,176 schools in SC.

What is A. C. Flora High's MySchoolScout rating?

A. C. Flora High has a composite rating of 9.0 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at A. C. Flora High?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, A. C. Flora High has 37.7% math proficiency and 82.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is A. C. Flora High a charter school?

No, A. C. Flora High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is A. C. Flora High a Title I school?

No, A. C. Flora High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for A. C. Flora High?

100.0% of students at A. C. Flora High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
44 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
27 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (4,022/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Columbia). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,334
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
81
Free/Reduced Lunch
100.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Richland County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Richland 01
District Enrollment
22,123
Schools in District
48
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,992
District Rank
#1 of 47

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

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