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#154 of 192 private schools in SC

Ben Lippen School

School

500 SAINT ANDREWS RD, Columbia, SC 29210

Private

Enrollment

964

Student-Teacher

13.2:1

Score

5.3

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Data vintage2021-22

How this school compares

South Carolina private schools

#154 of 192

In Columbia

#12 of 13

public schools

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Ben Lippen School

5.3/10

School in Columbia · grades Pre-K – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Seven Oaks Elementary

3.8/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Sc Connections Academy

3.9/10

0.9 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Ben Lippen School

Ben Lippen School is a private school in Columbia, SC. Ben Lippen School serves approximately 964 students, and covers grades Pre-K-12th, and has a 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Ben Lippen School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 out of 10 and ranks #154 of 192 private schools in SC.

How it compares0.9 pts below SC schools
  • This school 5.3 · Average
  • SC avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

Ben Lippen School is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Ben Lippen School compares to 74 public schools serving similar grades in Columbia, SC

Student-Teacher Ratio
13.2:1
This School
vs
12.9:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
964
This School
vs
644
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
5.3
This School
vs
5.9
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 80.1% vs 0%
Black 6.7% vs 0%
Asian 4.7% vs 0%
Hispanic 3.2% vs 0%
Ben Lippen School Columbia Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
Ben Lippen School (this school) 5.3
Seven Oaks Elementary 3.8
SC Connections Academy 3.9
Pine Grove Elementary 3.7
Leaphart Elementary 5.8
Sandel Elementary 4.7
SCDJJ Evaluation and Detention Center 5.4
Columbia High 7.1
Sara Babb High
St. Andrews Middle 3.2
Kirkland High 5.4
Broad River High
H. B. Rhame Elementary 4.6
Irmo High 7.8
Irmo Middle 5.4
CrossRoads Intermediate 4.1
Harbison West Elementary 7.7
Nursery Road Elementary 6.7
Edward E. Taylor Elementary 3.5
Heyward Gibbes Middle 4.5
Eau Claire High 6.7

Showing 20 of 74 schools. View all schools in Columbia

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

Preliminary

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in SC.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
C 2.6 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 13.2:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.2 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7.1 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,263.8
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 34%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C+ 3.9 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 964
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in SC

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 80.1%
Black 6.7%
Asian 4.7%
Two or More 4.7%
Hispanic 3.2%
Native American 0.6%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

500 SAINT ANDREWS RD, Columbia, SC 29210

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Ben Lippen School may also want to explore other schools in the area. GLENFOREST SCHOOL (rated 7.4/10, 3.4 miles away, in nearby West Columbia), which scores notably higher. Another option is SCDJJ Evaluation and Detention Center (rated 5.4/10, 2.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (rated 5.1/10, 2.9 miles away, in nearby Lexington), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Columbia, see our Columbia schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Seven Oaks Elementary Columbia 0.3 mi 3.8
SC Connections Academy Columbia 0.9 mi 3.9
Pine Grove Elementary Columbia 1.3 mi 3.7
Leaphart Elementary Columbia 1.5 mi 5.8
River Bluff High Lexington 1.6 mi 8.0
Sandel Elementary Columbia 1.6 mi 4.7
SCDJJ Evaluation and Detention Center Columbia 2.2 mi 5.4
Columbia High Columbia 2.3 mi 7.1
Gray Collegiate Academy West Columbia 2.8 mi 7.1
Sara Babb High Columbia 2.7 mi
Broad River High Columbia 2.8 mi
Kirkland High Columbia 2.8 mi 5.4
NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Lexington 2.9 mi 5.1
St. Andrews Middle Columbia 2.8 mi 3.2
H. B. Rhame Elementary Columbia 2.8 mi 4.6
Irmo High Columbia 2.9 mi 7.8
Meadow Glen Middle Lexington 3.2 mi 7.7
GLENFOREST SCHOOL West Columbia 3.4 mi 7.4
East Point Academy West Columbia 3.4 mi 7.8
Irmo Middle Columbia 3.2 mi 5.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 29210 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$50,258

Median Home Value

$183,000

Median Rent

$1,076/mo

Population

40,504

College Educated

29.8%

Homeownership

37.1%

Avg Commute

20.6 min

Poverty Rate

18.9%

Median Age

33.7

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
WILSON HALL Sumter, SC 5.4
NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Lexington, SC 5.1
BEN LIPPEN SCHOOL Columbia, SC 5.6
BOB JONES ACADEMY Greenville, SC 4.9
Riverwalk Academy Rock Hill, SC 5.7
SOUTHSIDE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Simpsonville, SC 5.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Ben Lippen School

What grades does Ben Lippen School serve?

Ben Lippen School serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Ben Lippen School?

Ben Lippen School has an enrollment of approximately 964 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Ben Lippen School?

The student-teacher ratio at Ben Lippen School is 13.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Ben Lippen School rank in SC?

Ben Lippen School ranks #154 of 192 private schools in SC.

What is Ben Lippen School's MySchoolScout rating?

Ben Lippen School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Ben Lippen School a private school?

Yes, Ben Lippen School is a private coeducational school with a Christian, no specific denomination affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Ben Lippen School a religious school?

Ben Lippen School has a Christian, no specific denomination religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
37 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
32 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
964
Gender Split
52% M / 48% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
73
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Christian, no specific denomination
School Day
7.1 hours
Days Per Year
178 days
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Lexington County

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