Average
#548 of 1,176 schools in SC
Top 47% in state
Dent Middle
Middle School · Richland 02 · Columbia, SC
A Richland 02 middle school serving grades 6th – 8th.
2721 Decker Boulevard, Columbia, SC 29206
- Math 30% proficient (2022)
- Reading 43% proficient (2022)
- 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Dent Middle score 36% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 36%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. SC average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 43 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 37% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 45% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 51% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from SC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
100%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Dent Middle sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 48Car-Dependent
- Bike 41Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,022/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Columbia), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$89,726
Median home value
$328,600
Median rent
$1,367/mo
College educated
64.4%
Homeownership
64.7%
Poverty rate
6.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 29206; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mission Hope FoundationPrivate · tuition | 7.0private | PK–10 | 0.8 mi | 58 | Compare → |
| W. G. Sanders MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 7.0 | 6–8 | 2.6 mi | 524 | Compare → |
| Pendergrass Fairwold SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.8 | PK–12 | 2.7 mi | 56 | Compare → |
| Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 4.8 | 2–8 | 3.2 mi | 198 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Richland 02
- Schools in district
- 32
- Rank in district
- #18 of 32
- District spending per student
- $14,024NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 15.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
Dent Middle is listed in Richland 02; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Dent Middle
Dent Middle is a public middle school in Columbia, SC, part of Richland 02, serving approximately 1,035 students in grades 6th-8th with a 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10 and ranks #548 of 1,176 schools in SC. State assessment records show 45% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Dent Middle
What grades does Dent Middle serve?
Dent Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Dent Middle?
Dent Middle has an enrollment of approximately 1,035 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dent Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Dent Middle is 11.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Dent Middle rank in SC?
Dent Middle ranks #548 of 1,176 schools in SC.
What is Dent Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Dent Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 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 Dent Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Dent Middle has 45% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Dent Middle a charter school?
No, Dent Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Dent Middle a Title I school?
No, Dent Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Dent Middle?
100.0% of students at Dent Middle qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 1,035
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 92
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Richland County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 25.6%
- Phone
- (803) 699-2750
- Area population (ZIP 29206)
- 20,054
- Area average commute
- 20.3 min
- Area median age
- 37.7
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 29206; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.