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Very Good

#417 of 1,176 schools in SC

Top 35% in state

W. G. Sanders Middle

Middle School · Richland 01

3455 Pine Belt Road, Columbia, SC 29204

Enrollment

524

Student-Teacher

10.3:1

Score

7.0

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

South Carolina schools

#417 of 1,176

In Columbia

#21 of 72

public schools

In district

#13 of 47

Richland 01

School environment

9.4 / 10

Excellent

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W. G. Sanders Middle

7.0/10

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

Sonlight Heritage Academy

Nearby

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

Bradley Elementary

6.3/10

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

About W. G. Sanders Middle

W. G. Sanders Middle is a public middle school in Columbia, SC, part of Richland 01.

W. G. Sanders Middle serves approximately 524 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio.

W. G. Sanders Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #417 of 1,176 schools in SC.

Structured state assessment records for W. G. Sanders Middle show 30% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 40% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares1.9 pts above district
  • This school 7.0 · Very Good
  • District avg 5.1
  • SC avg 5.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.5Very Good40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.51 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics4.7Below Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency19% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency41% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency30% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)36% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-6.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile29th
Resources & Environment9.4Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,992
Chronic Absenteeism26.1%

W. G. Sanders Middle — Students at W. G. Sanders Middle score 30% 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 30.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 40.3% (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
62%
ELA
70%
2010
Math
51%
ELA
50%
2011
Math
45%
ELA
50%
2012
Math
37%
ELA
51%
2013
Math
40%
ELA
48%
2014
Math
20%
ELA
26%
2015
Math
20%
ELA
30%
2016
Math
24%
ELA
31%
2017
Math
26%
ELA
33%
2018
Math
27%
ELA
38%
2019
Math
27%
ELA
38%
2020*
Math
11%
ELA
29%
2021*
Math
11%
ELA
29%
2022
Math
19%
ELA
41%

* 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: 7.5/10.

How W. G. Sanders Middle Compares

See how W. G. Sanders Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.0/10
65th percentile in SC
Academic
4.7/10
Below Average
Growth
7.5/10
Very Good
Environment
9.4/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
100%
Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
51 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
26.1%

Location

3455 Pine Belt Road, Columbia, SC 29204

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering W. G. Sanders Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Crayton Middle (rated 8.4/10, 1.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy (rated 4.8/10, 1.9 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, W. A. Perry Middle (rated 4.1/10, 1.4 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Columbia, see our Columbia schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.9 mi
School Distance Rating
SONLIGHT HERITAGE ACADEMY Columbia 0.3 mi
Bradley Elementary Columbia 0.6 mi 6.3
HARMONY SCHOOL Columbia 0.7 mi
CENTER FOR LEARNING INC Columbia 1.0 mi 6.2
Burton Pack Elementary Columbia 1.0 mi 3.6
Satchel Ford Elementary Columbia 1.1 mi 8.6
SC Whitmore School Columbia 1.3 mi 5.6
Brockman Elementary Columbia 1.3 mi 8.9
Pendergrass Fairwold School Columbia 1.4 mi 6.8
A. C. Flora High Columbia 1.6 mi 8.3
W. A. Perry Middle Columbia 1.4 mi 4.1
V.V.REID SCHOOL Columbia 1.8 mi
V.V. REID SCHOOL, LLC Columbia 1.8 mi
CUTLER JEWISH DAY SCHOOL Columbia 1.5 mi 7.0
Watkins-Nance Elementary Columbia 1.6 mi 4.3
Crayton Middle Columbia 1.8 mi 8.4
Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy Columbia 1.9 mi 4.8
A. J. Lewis Greenview Elementary Columbia 2.0 mi 3.4
C. A. Johnson High Columbia 1.9 mi 6.5
Arden Elementary Columbia 1.9 mi 3.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 29204 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$49,745

Median Home Value

$185,800

Median Rent

$993/mo

Population

18,067

College Educated

38.7%

Homeownership

59.1%

Avg Commute

20.3 min

Poverty Rate

21.7%

Median Age

36.7

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Haut Gap Middle Johns Island, SC 7.0
Marrington Middle School of the Arts Goose Creek, SC 7.0
Mid-Carolina Middle Prosperity, SC 7.0
Socastee Middle Myrtle Beach, SC 7.1
Waccamaw Middle Pawleys Island, SC 6.9
Hand Middle Columbia, SC 6.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about W. G. Sanders Middle

What grades does W. G. Sanders Middle serve?

W. G. Sanders Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend W. G. Sanders Middle?

W. G. Sanders Middle has an enrollment of approximately 524 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at W. G. Sanders Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at W. G. Sanders Middle is 10.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does W. G. Sanders Middle rank in SC?

W. G. Sanders Middle ranks #417 of 1,176 schools in SC.

What is W. G. Sanders Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

W. G. Sanders Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 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 W. G. Sanders Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, W. G. Sanders Middle has 30% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 40% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is W. G. Sanders Middle a charter school?

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

Is W. G. Sanders Middle a Title I school?

No, W. G. Sanders Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for W. G. Sanders Middle?

100.0% of students at W. G. Sanders 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
48 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
26 Some Transit
Bike Score
33 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
524
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
51
Free/Reduced Lunch
100.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Richland County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
26.1%

District

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

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