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Very Good

#309 of 1,176 schools in SC

Top 26% in state

Forest Lake Elementary

Elementary School · Richland 02

6801 Brookfield Road, Columbia, SC 29206

Enrollment

638

Student-Teacher

13.3:1

Score

7.4

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

South Carolina schools

#309 of 1,176

In Columbia

#17 of 72

public schools

In district

#10 of 32

Richland 02

School environment

7.7 / 10

Very Good

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Forest Lake Elementary

7.4/10

Elementary School in Columbia · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Mission Hope Foundation

7.0/10

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

Dent Middle

6.5/10

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

About Forest Lake Elementary

Forest Lake Elementary is a public elementary school in Columbia, SC, part of Richland 02. Forest Lake Elementary serves approximately 638 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 13.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Forest Lake Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and ranks #309 of 1,176 schools in SC.

Structured state assessment records for Forest Lake Elementary show 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.8 pts above district
  • This school 7.4 · Very Good
  • District avg 6.6
  • SC avg 6.1

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.3Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.75 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics7.2Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency51% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency56% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency54% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)54% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-0.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile58th
Resources & Environment7.7Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,024
Chronic Absenteeism20.7%

Forest Lake Elementary — Students at Forest Lake Elementary score 54% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 54%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

61%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores SC EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 55.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 54.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 28 test records from SC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
80%
ELA
87%
2010
Math
76%
ELA
80%
2011
Math
71%
ELA
76%
2012
Math
67%
ELA
77%
2013
Math
75%
ELA
76%
2014
Math
42%
ELA
27%
2015
Math
28%
ELA
27%
2016
Math
35%
ELA
29%
2017
Math
51%
ELA
36%
2018
Math
60%
ELA
50%
2019
Math
60%
ELA
50%
2020*
Math
42%
ELA
46%
2021*
Math
42%
ELA
46%
2022
Math
51%
ELA
56%

* 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: 7.3/10.

How Forest Lake Elementary Compares

See how Forest Lake Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.4/10
74th percentile in SC
Academic
7.2/10
Very Good
Growth
7.3/10
Very Good
Environment
7.7/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
61%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
48 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
20.7%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

6801 Brookfield Road, Columbia, SC 29206

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Forest Lake Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Brockman Elementary (rated 8.9/10, 2.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Satchel Ford Elementary (rated 8.6/10, 1.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Jackson Creek Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Columbia, see our Columbia schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.0 mi
School Distance Rating
MISSION HOPE FOUNDATION Columbia 0.5 mi 7.0
Dent Middle Columbia 0.8 mi 6.5
Jackson Creek Elementary Columbia 0.9 mi 8.5
Richland Northeast High Columbia 0.8 mi 7.8
CUTLER JEWISH DAY SCHOOL Columbia 1.5 mi 7.0
L. W. Conder Elementary Columbia 1.4 mi 4.3
Joseph Keels Elementary Columbia 1.8 mi 6.3
Satchel Ford Elementary Columbia 1.7 mi 8.6
Brockman Elementary Columbia 2.3 mi 8.9
HARMONY SCHOOL Columbia 2.2 mi
CARDINAL NEWMAN SCHOOL Columbia 2.4 mi 8.4
E. L. Wright Middle Columbia 2.6 mi 5.9
Crayton Middle Columbia 2.7 mi 8.4
SONLIGHT HERITAGE ACADEMY Columbia 2.4 mi
W. G. Sanders Middle Columbia 2.5 mi 7.0
SC Whitmore School Columbia 2.6 mi 5.6
Polo Road Elementary Columbia 2.8 mi 4.7
Bradley Elementary Columbia 2.8 mi 6.3
A. J. Lewis Greenview Elementary Columbia 2.8 mi 3.4
A. C. Flora High Columbia 3.0 mi 8.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 29206 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$89,726

Median Home Value

$328,600

Median Rent

$1,367/mo

Population

20,054

College Educated

64.4%

Homeownership

64.7%

Avg Commute

20.3 min

Poverty Rate

6.8%

Median Age

37.7

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
A.J. Whittenberg Elementary Greenville, SC 7.4
Brushy Creek Elementary Taylors, SC 7.4
Buford Elementary Lancaster, SC 7.4
Chapin Elementary Chapin, SC 7.4
Midway Elementary Anderson, SC 7.4
Oak Pointe Elementary Irmo, SC 7.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Forest Lake Elementary

What grades does Forest Lake Elementary serve?

Forest Lake Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Forest Lake Elementary?

Forest Lake Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 638 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Forest Lake Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Forest Lake Elementary is 13.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Forest Lake Elementary rank in SC?

Forest Lake Elementary ranks #309 of 1,176 schools in SC.

What is Forest Lake Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Forest Lake Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 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 Forest Lake Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Forest Lake Elementary has 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Forest Lake Elementary a charter school?

No, Forest Lake Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Forest Lake Elementary a Title I school?

No, Forest Lake Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Forest Lake Elementary?

61.0% of students at Forest Lake 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
55 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
41 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
638
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
48
Free/Reduced Lunch
61.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Richland County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
20.7%

District

Richland 02
District Enrollment
28,917
Schools in District
32
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,024
District Rank
#10 of 32

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