Average
#525 of 1,176 schools in SC
Top 45% in state
Hand Middle
Middle School · Richland 01 · Columbia, SC
A Richland 01 middle school serving grades 6th – 8th.
2600 Wheat Street, Columbia, SC 29205
- Math 34% proficient (2022)
- Reading 44% proficient (2022)
- 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Hand Middle score 39% 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 41 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 39% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 50% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 56% (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 Hand 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 80Very Walkable
- Transit 32Some Transit
- Bike 67Bikeable
- 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
$62,197
Median home value
$335,200
Median rent
$1,100/mo
College educated
66.3%
Homeownership
52.5%
Poverty rate
18.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 29205; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clear Dot Charter SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.6 | PK–10 | 2.1 mi | 418 | Compare → |
| Crayton MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 8.4 | 6–8 | 2.4 mi | 924 | Compare → |
| Daniels Christian SchoolsPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–12 | 2.6 mi | 21 | Compare → |
| W. A. Perry MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 4.1 | 6–8 | 2.6 mi | 310 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Richland 01
- Schools in district
- 48
- Rank in district
- #17 of 47
- District spending per student
- $18,992NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 24.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Hand Middle is listed in Richland 01; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Hand Middle
Hand Middle is a public middle school in Columbia, SC, part of Richland 01, serving approximately 700 students in grades 6th-8th with a 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.6 out of 10 and ranks #525 of 1,176 schools in SC. State assessment records show 50% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 56% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Hand Middle
What grades does Hand Middle serve?
Hand Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Hand Middle?
Hand Middle has an enrollment of approximately 700 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hand Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Hand Middle is 11.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Hand Middle rank in SC?
Hand Middle ranks #525 of 1,176 schools in SC.
What is Hand Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Hand Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.6 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 Hand Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Hand Middle has 50% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 56% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Hand Middle a charter school?
No, Hand Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Hand Middle a Title I school?
No, Hand Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Hand Middle?
100.0% of students at Hand 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
- 700
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 59
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Richland County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 27.9%
- Phone
- (803) 343-2947
- Area population (ZIP 29205)
- 22,757
- Area average commute
- 16.5 min
- Area median age
- 30
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 29205; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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