Average
#899 of 1,176 schools in SC
J. P. Thomas Elementary
Elementary School · Richland 01
6001 Weston Avenue, Columbia, SC 29203
Enrollment
302
Student-Teacher
11.6:1
Score
5.1
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
302
Student-Teacher
11.6:1
Score
5.1
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Columbia
#53 of 72
public schools
South Carolina elementary schools
#506 of 680
In district
#38 of 47
Richland 01
School environment
9.7 / 10
Exceptional
About J. P. Thomas Elementary
J. P. Thomas Elementary is a public elementary school located in Columbia, South Carolina, within Richland County’s large suburban area.
Serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, the school currently has an enrollment of 302 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 11.6:1, with 26 full-time equivalent teachers on staff. Despite its MySchoolScout Rating of 3.4 out of 10 and a state ranking of #1081 out of 1192 schools in South Carolina (9th percentile), J. P.
Thomas Elementary focuses on nurturing the growth and development of each student, with an emphasis on foundational skills in ELA/Reading and Math where currently only about 20% of students are proficient or above in both subjects. The school is situated in a supportive community that values education and works to provide its young learners with the tools they need to succeed. J.
P. Thomas Elementary serves as a cornerstone for families in this part of Columbia, offering a warm and engaging learning environment for children at all grade levels from pre-K through fifth grade.
Score Breakdown
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J. P. Thomas Elementary — Students at J. P. Thomas Elementary score 22% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 36%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
100%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores SC EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 test records from SC state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 4.4/10.
How J. P. Thomas Elementary Compares
See how J. P. Thomas Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 27% (2019) to 22% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 27% (2019) to 22% (2022).
Location
6001 Weston Avenue, Columbia, SC 29203
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering J. P. Thomas Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Carolina School for Inquiry (rated 7.0/10, 2.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is CENTER FOR LEARNING INC (rated 6.2/10, 2.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Burton Pack Elementary (rated 5.4/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Columbia, see our Columbia schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.7 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy Columbia | 0.5 mi | 4.9 |
| Arden Elementary Columbia | 0.9 mi | 5.1 |
| Alcorn Middle Columbia | 0.8 mi | 4.2 |
| Pendergrass Fairwold School Columbia | 1.1 mi | 8.6 |
| V.V.REID SCHOOL Columbia | 1.2 mi | — |
| V.V. REID SCHOOL, LLC Columbia | 1.2 mi | — |
| Burton Pack Elementary Columbia | 1.4 mi | 5.4 |
| SC Whitmore School Columbia | 1.4 mi | 3.4 |
| A. J. Lewis Greenview Elementary Columbia | 1.5 mi | 3.7 |
| Eau Claire High Columbia | 1.6 mi | 7.2 |
| Hyatt Park Elementary Columbia | 1.9 mi | 4.8 |
| Carolina School for Inquiry Columbia | 2.1 mi | 7.0 |
| W. A. Perry Middle Columbia | 2.2 mi | 5.7 |
| SONLIGHT HERITAGE ACADEMY Columbia | 2.0 mi | — |
| Watkins-Nance Elementary Columbia | 2.3 mi | 3.7 |
| DANIELS CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS Columbia | 2.4 mi | — |
| W. G. Sanders Middle Columbia | 2.3 mi | 6.4 |
| CENTER FOR LEARNING INC Columbia | 2.5 mi | 6.2 |
| C. A. Johnson High Columbia | 2.7 mi | 5.2 |
| Bradley Elementary Columbia | 2.7 mi | 5.2 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 29203 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$42,371
Median Home Value
$121,600
Median Rent
$1,041/mo
Population
40,811
College Educated
21.9%
Homeownership
47.9%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
28.3%
Median Age
34.7
Community Profile
The community surrounding J. P. Thomas Elementary has a median household income of $42,371. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $121,600, with a median rent of $1,041/month. The area has a poverty rate of 28.3%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Arden Elementary Columbia, SC | 5.1 |
| West Pelzer Elementary West Pelzer, SC | 5.1 |
| Bennettsville Intermediate Bennettsville, SC | 5.0 |
| Clinton Elementary Clinton, SC | 5.0 |
| Coastal Montessori Charter Pawleys Island, SC | 5.0 |
| North Charleston Creative Arts Elementary North Charleston, SC | 5.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about J. P. Thomas Elementary
What grades does J. P. Thomas Elementary serve?
J. P. Thomas Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend J. P. Thomas Elementary?
J. P. Thomas Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 302 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at J. P. Thomas Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at J. P. Thomas Elementary is 11.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does J. P. Thomas Elementary rank in SC?
J. P. Thomas Elementary is ranked #899 out of 1,176 schools in SC.
What is J. P. Thomas Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
J. P. Thomas Elementary has a composite rating of 5.1 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at J. P. Thomas Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, J. P. Thomas Elementary has 20.3% math proficiency and 20.3% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is J. P. Thomas Elementary a charter school?
No, J. P. Thomas Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is J. P. Thomas Elementary a Title I school?
No, J. P. Thomas Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for J. P. Thomas Elementary?
100.0% of students at J. P. Thomas 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (4,022/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Columbia). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 302
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 26
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 100.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Richland County
- Phone
- (803) 735-3430
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Richland 01- District Enrollment
- 22,123
- Schools in District
- 48
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,992
- District Rank
- #38 of 47
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
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