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Below Average

#1015 of 1,176 schools in SC

Northside Middle

Middle School · Lexington 02

157 Cougar Drive, West Columbia, SC 29169

Enrollment

496

Student-Teacher

13.1:1

Score

4.2

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

South Carolina schools

#1,015 of 1,176

In West Columbia

#12 of 14

public schools

In district

#11 of 12

Lexington 02

School environment

7.6 / 10

Very Good

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Northside Middle

4.2/10

Middle School in West Columbia · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Riverbank Elementary

7.9/10

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

East Point Academy

7.8/10

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

About Northside Middle

Northside Middle is a public middle school in West Columbia, SC, part of Lexington 02. Northside Middle serves approximately 496 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Northside Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 out of 10 and ranks #1,015 of 1,176 schools in SC.

Structured state assessment records for Northside Middle show 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.7 pts below district
  • This school 4.2 · Below Average
  • District avg 4.9
  • SC avg 5.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress2.9Needs Improvement40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-4.63 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics3.3Needs Improvement35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency24% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency28% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency26% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)43% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-17.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile14th
Resources & Environment7.6Very Good25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,535
Chronic Absenteeism24.4%

Northside Middle — Students at Northside Middle score 26% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

84.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores SC EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 44.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 51.0% (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
78%
ELA
78%
2010
Math
72%
ELA
73%
2011
Math
72%
ELA
74%
2012
Math
66%
ELA
78%
2013
Math
69%
ELA
76%
2014
Math
41%
ELA
45%
2015
Math
32%
ELA
45%
2016
Math
31%
ELA
39%
2017
Math
26%
ELA
32%
2018
Math
27%
ELA
38%
2019
Math
27%
ELA
38%
2020*
Math
27%
ELA
35%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
35%
2022
Math
24%
ELA
28%

* 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: 2.9/10.

How Northside Middle Compares

See how Northside Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.2/10
14th percentile in SC
Academic
3.3/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
2.9/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
7.6/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
85%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
38 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
24.4%

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

157 Cougar Drive, West Columbia, SC 29169

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Northside Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. GRACE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (rated 8.0/10, 1.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Riverbank Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 0.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, East Point Academy (rated 7.8/10, 0.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in West Columbia, see our West Columbia schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Riverbank Elementary West Columbia 0.1 mi 7.9
East Point Academy West Columbia 0.5 mi 7.8
Saluda River Academy for the Arts West Columbia 0.7 mi 6.4
GLENFOREST SCHOOL West Columbia 0.7 mi 7.4
H. B. Rhame Elementary Columbia 1.8 mi 4.6
St. Andrews Middle Columbia 1.8 mi 3.2
GRACE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL West Columbia 1.9 mi 8.0
HOPE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY West Columbia 1.9 mi
MONTESSORI EARLY LEARNING CENTER Columbia 2.0 mi 4.9
South Carolina Virtual Charter School West Columbia 2.2 mi 7.8
SC Connections Academy Columbia 2.6 mi 3.9
Sandel Elementary Columbia 2.9 mi 4.7
Gray Collegiate Academy West Columbia 2.5 mi 7.1
Springdale Elementary West Columbia 2.9 mi 6.6
Brookland-Cayce High Cayce 2.8 mi 7.0
Edward E. Taylor Elementary Columbia 2.9 mi 3.5
Columbia High Columbia 3.3 mi 7.1
EDGE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY West Columbia 3.3 mi 6.0
Seven Oaks Elementary Columbia 3.3 mi 3.8
Airport High West Columbia 3.6 mi 6.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 29169 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$53,673

Median Home Value

$189,900

Median Rent

$1,081/mo

Population

21,342

College Educated

39%

Homeownership

55.4%

Avg Commute

19.2 min

Poverty Rate

14.8%

Median Age

38.2

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Georgetown Middle Georgetown, SC 4.2
Newberry Middle Newberry, SC 4.2
Robert E. Howard Middle Orangeburg, SC 4.2
Long Middle Cheraw, SC 4.3
Saluda Middle Saluda, SC 4.3
CrossRoads Intermediate Columbia, SC 4.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Northside Middle

What grades does Northside Middle serve?

Northside Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Northside Middle?

Northside Middle has an enrollment of approximately 496 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Northside Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Northside Middle is 13.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Northside Middle rank in SC?

Northside Middle ranks #1,015 of 1,176 schools in SC.

What is Northside Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Northside Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 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 Northside Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Northside Middle has 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Northside Middle a charter school?

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

Is Northside Middle a Title I school?

No, Northside Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Northside Middle?

84.5% of students at Northside 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
46 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
38 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
496
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
38
Free/Reduced Lunch
84.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Lexington County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
24.4%

District

Lexington 02
District Enrollment
8,544
Schools in District
13
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,535
District Rank
#11 of 12

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