Needs Improvement
#1118 of 1,176 schools in SC
Arden Elementary
Elementary School · Richland 01
1300 Ashley Street, Columbia, SC 29203
Enrollment
227
Student-Teacher
10.8:1
Score
3.4
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
227
Student-Teacher
10.8:1
Score
3.4
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
South Carolina schools
#1,118 of 1,176
In Columbia
#69 of 72
public schools
In district
#44 of 47
Richland 01
School environment
8.5 / 10
Excellent
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Arden Elementary
Elementary School in Columbia · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Alcorn Middle
0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
J. P. Thomas Elementary
0.9 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Arden Elementary
Arden Elementary is a public elementary school in Columbia, SC, part of Richland 01. Arden Elementary serves approximately 227 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 10.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Arden Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,118 of 1,176 schools in SC.
Structured state assessment records for Arden Elementary show 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
- This school 3.4 · Needs Improvement
- District avg 5.2
- SC avg 6.1
What Parents Should Know
38% of students at Arden Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Arden Elementary — Students at Arden Elementary score 20% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 36%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
100%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores SC EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 28 test records from SC state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 1.8/10.
How Arden Elementary Compares
See how Arden Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
Location
1300 Ashley Street, Columbia, SC 29203
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Arden Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Carver-Lyon Elementary (rated 6.3/10, 2.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is CENTER FOR LEARNING INC (rated 6.2/10, 1.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, J. P. Thomas Elementary (rated 5.1/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Columbia, see our Columbia schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.1 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Alcorn Middle Columbia | 0.5 mi | 4.4 |
| J. P. Thomas Elementary Columbia | 0.9 mi | 5.1 |
| Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy Columbia | 1.0 mi | 4.8 |
| Burton Pack Elementary Columbia | 0.9 mi | 3.6 |
| Hyatt Park Elementary Columbia | 1.1 mi | 3.3 |
| Eau Claire High Columbia | 1.1 mi | 6.7 |
| W. A. Perry Middle Columbia | 1.3 mi | 4.1 |
| Watkins-Nance Elementary Columbia | 1.5 mi | 4.3 |
| DANIELS CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS Columbia | 1.5 mi | — |
| Pendergrass Fairwold School Columbia | 1.3 mi | 6.8 |
| C. A. Johnson High Columbia | 1.8 mi | 6.5 |
| SC Whitmore School Columbia | 1.6 mi | 5.6 |
| V.V.REID SCHOOL Columbia | 1.7 mi | — |
| V.V. REID SCHOOL, LLC Columbia | 1.7 mi | — |
| CENTER FOR LEARNING INC Columbia | 1.8 mi | 6.2 |
| SONLIGHT HERITAGE ACADEMY Columbia | 1.8 mi | — |
| Carver-Lyon Elementary Columbia | 2.1 mi | 6.3 |
| W. G. Sanders Middle Columbia | 1.9 mi | 7.0 |
| A. J. Lewis Greenview Elementary Columbia | 2.0 mi | 3.4 |
| Heyward Gibbes Middle Columbia | 2.1 mi | 4.5 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 29203 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$42,371
Median Home Value
$121,600
Median Rent
$1,041/mo
Population
40,811
College Educated
21.9%
Homeownership
47.9%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
28.3%
Median Age
34.7
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Bells Elementary Ruffin, SC | 3.4 |
| Waterloo Elementary Waterloo, SC | 3.4 |
| Edward E. Taylor Elementary Columbia, SC | 3.5 |
| McCormick Elementary Mccormick, SC | 3.3 |
| Thornwell School for the Arts Hartsville, SC | 3.6 |
| South Kilbourne Elementary Columbia, SC | 3.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Arden Elementary
What grades does Arden Elementary serve?
Arden Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Arden Elementary?
Arden Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 227 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Arden Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Arden Elementary is 10.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Arden Elementary rank in SC?
Arden Elementary ranks #1,118 of 1,176 schools in SC.
What is Arden Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Arden Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Arden Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Arden Elementary has 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Arden Elementary a charter school?
No, Arden Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Arden Elementary a Title I school?
No, Arden Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Arden Elementary?
100.0% of students at Arden Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
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Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 227
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 10.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 21
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 100.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Richland County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 37.9%
- Phone
- (803) 735-3400
Resources & Links
District
Richland 01- District Enrollment
- 22,123
- Schools in District
- 48
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,992
- District Rank
- #44 of 47
Other Schools in This District
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