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Below Average

#920 of 1,176 schools in SC

Sandel Elementary

Elementary School · Richland 01

2700 Seminole Road, Columbia, SC 29210

Enrollment

507

Student-Teacher

15.8:1

Score

4.7

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

South Carolina schools

#920 of 1,176

In Columbia

#50 of 72

public schools

In district

#25 of 47

Richland 01

School environment

7.2 / 10

Very Good

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Sandel Elementary

4.7/10

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

Columbia High

7.1/10

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

Sc Connections Academy

3.9/10

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

About Sandel Elementary

Sandel Elementary is a public elementary school in Columbia, SC, part of Richland 01. Sandel Elementary serves approximately 507 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Sandel Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.7 out of 10 and ranks #920 of 1,176 schools in SC.

Structured state assessment records for Sandel Elementary show 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 39% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.5 pts below district
  • This school 4.7 · Below Average
  • District avg 5.2
  • SC avg 6.1

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.5Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-4.04 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics3.5Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency22% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency25% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency24% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)36% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-12.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile16th
Resources & Environment7.2Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,992
Chronic Absenteeism25.6%

Sandel Elementary — Students at Sandel Elementary score 24% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 36%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

100%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores SC EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 35.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 38.8% (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
66%
ELA
79%
2010
Math
50%
ELA
68%
2011
Math
49%
ELA
65%
2012
Math
47%
ELA
71%
2013
Math
58%
ELA
64%
2014
Math
33%
ELA
15%
2015
Math
27%
ELA
23%
2016
Math
22%
ELA
19%
2017
Math
30%
ELA
22%
2018
Math
32%
ELA
29%
2019
Math
32%
ELA
29%
2020*
Math
12%
ELA
17%
2021*
Math
12%
ELA
17%
2022
Math
22%
ELA
25%

* 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: 4.5/10.

How Sandel Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
4.7/10
22th percentile in SC
Academic
3.5/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
4.5/10
Below Average
Environment
7.2/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
100%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
32 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
25.6%

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

2700 Seminole Road, Columbia, SC 29210

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Sandel Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Riverbank Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 2.8 miles away, in nearby West Columbia), which scores notably higher. Another option is East Point Academy (rated 7.8/10, 3.0 miles away, in nearby West Columbia), which scores notably higher. Additionally, 1955 (rated 6.7/10, 2.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Columbia, see our Columbia schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Columbia High Columbia 0.7 mi 7.1
SC Connections Academy Columbia 1.2 mi 3.9
Pine Grove Elementary Columbia 1.3 mi 3.7
St. Andrews Middle Columbia 1.4 mi 3.2
Seven Oaks Elementary Columbia 1.3 mi 3.8
H. B. Rhame Elementary Columbia 1.5 mi 4.6
MONTESSORI EARLY LEARNING CENTER Columbia 1.7 mi 4.9
BEN LIPPEN SCHOOL Columbia 1.6 mi 5.3
Broad River High Columbia 2.1 mi
Kirkland High Columbia 2.1 mi 5.4
Sara Babb High Columbia 2.2 mi
SCDJJ Evaluation and Detention Center Columbia 2.3 mi 5.4
Riverbank Elementary West Columbia 2.8 mi 7.9
Northside Middle West Columbia 2.9 mi 4.2
Edward E. Taylor Elementary Columbia 2.5 mi 3.5
East Point Academy West Columbia 3.0 mi 7.8
Saluda River Academy for the Arts West Columbia 3.1 mi 6.4
1955 Columbia 2.8 mi 6.7
BEN LIPPEN SCHOOL Columbia 2.9 mi 5.6
GLENFOREST SCHOOL West Columbia 3.2 mi 7.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 29210 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$50,258

Median Home Value

$183,000

Median Rent

$1,076/mo

Population

40,504

College Educated

29.8%

Homeownership

37.1%

Avg Commute

20.6 min

Poverty Rate

18.9%

Median Age

33.7

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Doby's Mill Elementary Lugoff, SC 4.7
Eleanor S. Rice Elementary Greenwood, SC 4.7
James M. Brown Elementary Walhalla, SC 4.7
Mary H. Wright Elementary Spartanburg, SC 4.7
Orchard Park Elementary Westminster, SC 4.7
Polo Road Elementary Columbia, SC 4.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Sandel Elementary

What grades does Sandel Elementary serve?

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

How many students attend Sandel Elementary?

Sandel Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 507 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Sandel Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Sandel Elementary is 15.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Sandel Elementary rank in SC?

Sandel Elementary ranks #920 of 1,176 schools in SC.

What is Sandel Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Sandel Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.7 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 Sandel Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Sandel Elementary has 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 39% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Sandel Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Sandel Elementary a Title I school?

No, Sandel Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

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

100.0% of students at Sandel 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
48 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
43 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
507
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
32
Free/Reduced Lunch
100.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Richland County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
25.6%

District

Richland 01
District Enrollment
22,123
Schools in District
48
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,992
District Rank
#25 of 47

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