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#702 of 1,176 schools in SC

E. L. Wright Middle

Elementary School · Richland 02 · Columbia, SC

A Richland 02 elementary school where students score 15 points below what's typical for similar communities.

2740 Alpine Road, Columbia, SC 29223

  • Math 35% proficient (2022)
  • Reading 45% proficient (2022)
  • 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.6Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.05 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics4.9Below Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency35% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency45% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency40% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)55% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-15.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile30th
Resources & Environment5.9Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.1:1
District spending per student$14,024
Chronic Absenteeism21.9%

Students at E. L. Wright Middle score 40% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 55%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. SC average.

Math Proficiency35%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency45%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 6 points since 2019, to 40% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
76%
ELA
81%
2010
Math
69%
ELA
69%
2011
Math
67%
ELA
70%
2012
Math
67%
ELA
70%
2013
Math
68%
ELA
70%
2014
Math
43%
ELA
42%
2015
Math
35%
ELA
42%
2016
Math
39%
ELA
40%
2017
Math
40%
ELA
40%
2018
Math
43%
ELA
49%
2019
Math
43%
ELA
49%
2020*
Math
33%
ELA
48%
2021*
Math
33%
ELA
48%
2022
Math
35%
ELA
45%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 49% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 55% (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 score

Free/reduced lunch

58.3%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where E. L. Wright 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 19Car-Dependent
  • Bike 30Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High4,022/100K

Powered byWalk Score

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

$56,300

Median home value

$183,800

Median rent

$1,217/mo

College educated

36.1%

Homeownership

57.9%

Poverty rate

18%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 29223; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Windsor ElementaryEnrollment path unverified6.1PK–50.5 mi529Compare →
Polo Road ElementaryEnrollment path unverified4.7PK–51.1 mi659Compare →
L. W. Conder ElementaryEnrollment path unverified4.3PK–51.4 mi472Compare →
Catawba Trail ElementaryEnrollment path unverified7.7PK–5Not available666Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Richland 02

Schools in district
32
Rank in district
#23 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

E. L. Wright Middle is listed in Richland 02; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About E. L. Wright Middle

E. L. Wright Middle is a public elementary school in Columbia, SC, part of Richland 02, serving approximately 1,285 students in grades Kindergarten-8th with a 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio.

It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.9 out of 10 and ranks #702 of 1,176 schools in SC. State assessment records show 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about E. L. Wright Middle

What grades does E. L. Wright Middle serve?

E. L. Wright Middle serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend E. L. Wright Middle?

E. L. Wright Middle has an enrollment of approximately 1,285 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at E. L. Wright Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at E. L. Wright Middle is 15.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does E. L. Wright Middle rank in SC?

E. L. Wright Middle ranks #702 of 1,176 schools in SC.

What is E. L. Wright Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

E. L. Wright Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.9 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 E. L. Wright Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, E. L. Wright Middle has 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is E. L. Wright Middle a charter school?

No, E. L. Wright Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is E. L. Wright Middle a Title I school?

No, E. L. Wright Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for E. L. Wright Middle?

58.3% of students at E. L. Wright 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
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
1,285
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
85
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Richland County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
21.9%
Area population (ZIP 29223)
52,835
Area average commute
24.1 min
Area median age
37.2
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 29223; 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

About our data · How we calculate scores

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