Skip to main content

Very Good

#47 of 192 private schools in SC

Top 24% of private schools

Sandhills School

School

1500 HALLBROOK DR, Columbia, SC 29209

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 70 schools in Columbia. Learn more

Enrollment

113

Student-Teacher

5.3:1

Score

7.1

Grades

1st – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Columbia

#5 of 13

public schools

South Carolina schools

#24 of 116

About Sandhills School

Sandhills School serves students in grades 1-12 with an enrollment of 113 students in Columbia, South Carolina. This regular public school maintains an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 5.3:1 with 21 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for highly personalized attention and instruction. The school has earned a solid MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 out of 10 and ranks #59 out of 192 schools statewide, placing it in the 70th percentile among South Carolina schools.

This performance reflects the school's commitment to providing quality education in a smaller learning environment where students can receive individualized support. Located at 1500 Hallbrook Drive in the 29209 zip code area, Sandhills School serves a diverse community where the median household income is $57,969 and 37% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The neighborhood features a median home value of $173,600, reflecting a stable residential area.

With a poverty rate of 19.5%, the school works with families across various economic backgrounds. The intimate size of Sandhills School creates a close-knit educational community where students spanning elementary through high school can benefit from strong relationships with teachers and staff. The school operates within Columbia's mid-size city environment, offering students both educational opportunities and access to the broader cultural and economic resources of South Carolina's capital city.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 113 students, Sandhills School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 5.3:1, Sandhills School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Sandhills School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2024 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$29,175
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$36,131
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.24x — Strong
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
62%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$9.7M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 113 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Sandhills School compares to 74 public schools serving similar grades in Columbia, SC

Student-Teacher Ratio
5.3:1
This School
vs
12.9:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
113
This School
vs
644
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.1
This School
vs
6.1
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 85% vs 0%
Black 3.5% vs 0%
Asian 2.7% vs 0%
Hispanic 0.9% vs 0%
Sandhills School Columbia Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
Sandhills School (this school) 7.1
Caughman Road Elementary 4.0
Mill Creek Elementary 4.9
Annie Burnside Elementary 5.9
Meadowfield Elementary 5.6
Richland One Charter Middle College 5.3
Brennen Elementary 6.2
South Kilbourne Elementary 5.8
Rosewood Elementary 7.1
Crayton Middle 8.3
Dreher High 8.5
A. C. Flora High 9.0
Brockman Elementary 8.4
A. C. Moore Elementary 6.7
Hand Middle 6.9
Satchel Ford Elementary 7.7
Bradley Elementary 5.2
Forest Lake Elementary 6.8
Richland Northeast High 8.7
W. G. Sanders Middle 6.4
Carver-Lyon Elementary 8.3

Showing 20 of 74 schools. View all schools in Columbia

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in SC.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 9.4 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 5.3:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
C- 1.7 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 5.6 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 980
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B+ 6.6 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 25%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.3 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 113
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in SC

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 85.0%
Two or More 6.2%
Black 3.5%
Asian 2.7%
Native American 1.8%
Hispanic 0.9%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1500 HALLBROOK DR, Columbia, SC 29209

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Sandhills School may also want to explore other schools in the area. A. C. Flora High (rated 9.0/10, 5.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Dreher High (rated 8.5/10, 5.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Brockman Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 5.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Columbia, see our Columbia schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 5.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Caughman Road Elementary Columbia 0.4 mi 4.0
Mill Creek Elementary Columbia 0.4 mi 4.9
Annie Burnside Elementary Columbia 1.1 mi 5.9
Meadowfield Elementary Columbia 2.6 mi 5.6
HAMMOND SCHOOL Columbia 2.7 mi 6.5
Lower Richland High Hopkins 2.9 mi 8.2
Richland One Charter Middle College Columbia 3.9 mi 5.3
Brennen Elementary Columbia 4.1 mi 6.2
Hopkins Elementary Hopkins 4.6 mi 8.0
KILBOURNE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH WEEKDAY PRESCHOOL Columbia 4.3 mi
South Kilbourne Elementary Columbia 4.1 mi 5.8
Crayton Middle Columbia 4.9 mi 8.3
ST JOSEPH SCHOOL Columbia 4.6 mi 8.1
Horrell Hill Elementary Hopkins 4.5 mi 4.8
Southeast Middle Hopkins 4.6 mi 6.1
Rosewood Elementary Columbia 4.7 mi 7.1
SHANDON UNITED METHODIST PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN Columbia 4.8 mi
Dreher High Columbia 5.0 mi 8.5
Brockman Elementary Columbia 5.4 mi 8.4
A. C. Flora High Columbia 5.2 mi 9.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 29209 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$58,854

Median Home Value

$183,200

Median Rent

$1,252/mo

Population

37,314

College Educated

39.3%

Homeownership

59%

Avg Commute

21.7 min

Poverty Rate

19.8%

Median Age

33.4

Community Profile

The community surrounding Sandhills School has a median household income of $58,854. It is an area where 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $183,200, with a median rent of $1,252/month. The area has a poverty rate of 19.8%. 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
NORTH MYRTLE BEACH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Longs, SC 7.1
TABERNACLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Greenville, SC 7.0
MIDLAND VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Graniteville, SC 6.9
NORTH WALTERBORO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Walterboro, SC 6.9
HAWTHORNE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Chester, SC 6.7
TEMPLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Anderson, SC 6.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Sandhills School

What grades does Sandhills School serve?

Sandhills School serves students in grades 1st through 12th.

How many students attend Sandhills School?

Sandhills School has an enrollment of approximately 113 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Sandhills School?

The student-teacher ratio at Sandhills School is 5.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Sandhills School rank in SC?

Sandhills School is ranked #47 out of 192 private schools in SC.

What is Sandhills School's MySchoolScout rating?

Sandhills School has a composite rating of 7.1 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.

Is Sandhills School a private school?

Yes, Sandhills School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Sandhills School a religious school?

No, Sandhills School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
19 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
22 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
32 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (4,022/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Columbia). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
1st – 12th
Enrollment
113
Gender Split
60% M / 40% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
5.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
21
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
5.6 hours
Days Per Year
175 days
Setting
Midsize City
County
RICHLAND
Data Year
2022–2023

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.

Read our full methodology

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.