Public schools in Columbia, SC
79 open public schools with an address in Columbia, operated by 8 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
79
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
49,097
78 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.3:1
South Carolina median 13.6:1
Charter schools
8
31 magnet · 3 virtual
An overview of Columbia public schools
The federal directory lists 79 public schools in Columbia, SC: 42 elementary, 12 middle, 20 high, 5 combined or other. The 78 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 49,097 students, an average of 629 per school. The largest campus is SC Connections Academy (6,152 students), and the largest elementary school is E. L. Wright Middle (1,275).
Richland 01 operates the most schools here (41), and 3 regular districts have at least one Columbia campus, plus 5 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 12.3:1, lower than the statewide school median of 13.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 8 charter schools, 31 magnet schools, 3 virtual schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 14 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 12 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 11 of 20 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
School districts and agencies serving Columbia
Richland 01
Public school district
41 schools in Columbia · 48 total
Richland 02
Public school district
18 schools in Columbia · 32 total
Lexington 05
Public school district
7 schools in Columbia · 23 total
Dept Of Correction N04
State operated agency
4 schools in Columbia · 12 total
Dept of Juvenile Justice
State operated agency
3 schools in Columbia
SC Public Charter School District
Independent charter agency
3 schools in Columbia · 45 total
Charter Institute at Erskine
Independent charter agency
2 schools in Columbia · 28 total
Limestone Charters Association
Independent charter agency
1 school in Columbia · 17 total
Elementary schools in Columbia
42| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. C. Moore Elementary Richland 01 | PK–05 | 244 | 10.6:1 | |
| A. J. Lewis Greenview Elementary Richland 01 | PK–05 | 358 | 15.2:1 | |
| Annie Burnside Elementary Richland 01 | PK–05 | 306 | 13.9:1 | |
| Arden Elementary Richland 01 | PK–05 | 216 | 11.4:1 | |
| Bradley Elementary Richland 01 · Magnet | PK–05 | 392 | 11.9:1 | |
| Brennen Elementary Richland 01 | PK–05 | 805 | 14.2:1 | |
| Brockman Elementary Richland 01 · Magnet | PK–05 | 297 | 14.1:1 | |
| Burton Pack Elementary Richland 01 | PK–05 | 255 | 9.8:1 | |
| Carolina School for Inquiry Richland 01 · Charter | PK–06 | 114 | 9.5:1 | |
| Carver-Lyon Elementary Richland 01 · Magnet | PK–05 | 417 | 8.9:1 | |
| Caughman Road Elementary Richland 01 · Magnet | PK–05 | 715 | 13.5:1 | |
| E. L. Wright Middle Richland 02 · Magnet | KG–08 | 1,275 | 14.6:1 | |
| Edward E. Taylor Elementary Richland 01 | PK–05 | 217 | 11.4:1 | |
| Forest Heights Elementary Richland 01 | PK–05 | 435 | 12.1:1 | |
| Forest Lake Elementary Richland 02 · Magnet | PK–05 | 652 | 13.2:1 | |
| H. B. Rhame Elementary Richland 01 | PK–05 | 418 | 13.9:1 | |
| Harbison West Elementary Lexington 05 · Magnet | PK–05 | 510 | 9:1 | |
| Hyatt Park Elementary Richland 01 | PK–05 | 317 | 11.7:1 | |
| J. P. Thomas Elementary Richland 01 | PK–05 | 346 | 12.4:1 | |
| Jackson Creek Elementary Richland 02 | PK–05 | 551 | 10.9:1 | |
| Joseph Keels Elementary Richland 02 · Magnet | PK–05 | 465 | 10.9:1 | |
| Killian Elementary Richland 02 · Magnet | PK–05 | 699 | 11.6:1 | |
| L. B. Nelson Elementary Richland 02 · Magnet | PK–05 | 541 | 12.2:1 | |
| L. W. Conder Elementary Richland 02 · Magnet | PK–05 | 489 | 11.2:1 | |
| Leaphart Elementary Lexington 05 · Magnet | PK–05 | 483 | 10.7:1 | |
| Logan Elementary Richland 01 · Magnet | PK–05 | 237 | 10.8:1 | |
| Meadowfield Elementary Richland 01 | PK–05 | 615 | 14.6:1 | |
| Mill Creek Elementary Richland 01 | PK–05 | 353 | 15.3:1 | |
| North Springs Elementary Richland 02 · Magnet | PK–05 | 659 | 12.4:1 | |
| Nursery Road Elementary Lexington 05 · Magnet | PK–05 | 471 | 8.7:1 | |
| Pine Grove Elementary Richland 01 | PK–05 | 501 | 12.8:1 | |
| Polo Road Elementary Richland 02 · Magnet | PK–05 | 665 | 13.2:1 | |
| Rice Creek Elementary Richland 02 · Magnet | PK–05 | 718 | 13.1:1 | |
| Rosewood Elementary Richland 01 | KG–05 | 338 | 13.1:1 | |
| Sandel Elementary Richland 01 | PK–05 | 479 | 13.3:1 | |
| Sandlapper Elementary Richland 02 | PK–05 | 671 | 13.2:1 | |
| Satchel Ford Elementary Richland 01 | KG–05 | 721 | 15.2:1 | |
| Seven Oaks Elementary Lexington 05 · Magnet | PK–05 | 522 | 9.3:1 | |
| South Kilbourne Elementary Richland 01 | PK–05 | 234 | 11.7:1 | |
| Summit Parkway Middle Richland 02 · Magnet | KG–08 | 1,229 | 14.6:1 | |
| Watkins-Nance Elementary Richland 01 | PK–05 | 499 | 16.6:1 | |
| Windsor Elementary Richland 02 · Magnet | PK–05 | 579 | 11.2:1 |
Middle schools in Columbia
12| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcorn Middle Richland 01 | 06–08 | 381 | 12.5:1 | |
| Crayton Middle Richland 01 | 06–08 | 952 | 14:1 | |
| CrossRoads Intermediate Lexington 05 | 06–06 | 557 | 10.9:1 | |
| Dent Middle Richland 02 · Magnet | 06–08 | 1,059 | 12.8:1 | |
| Hand Middle Richland 01 | 06–08 | 755 | 12.4:1 | |
| Heyward Gibbes Middle Richland 01 | 06–08 | 252 | 9.9:1 | |
| Irmo Middle Lexington 05 · Magnet | 06–08 | 992 | 11.4:1 | |
| Longleaf Middle Richland 02 · Magnet | 06–08 | 796 | 14.3:1 | |
| Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy SC Public Charter School District · Charter | 02–08 | 216 | 9.4:1 | |
| St. Andrews Middle Richland 01 | 06–08 | 627 | 10.8:1 | |
| W. A. Perry Middle Richland 01 · Magnet | 06–08 | 320 | 10:1 | |
| W. G. Sanders Middle Richland 01 · Magnet | 06–08 | 503 | 9.3:1 |
High schools in Columbia
20| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. C. Flora High Richland 01 | 09–12 | 1,328 | 15.7:1 | |
| Broad River High Dept Of Correction N04 · Alternative School | 09–12 | 28 | 28:1 | |
| C. A. Johnson High Richland 01 · Magnet | 09–12 | 344 | 9.1:1 | |
| Columbia High Richland 01 | 09–12 | 681 | 12.6:1 | |
| Dreher High Richland 01 | 09–12 | 1,144 | 14.8:1 | |
| Eau Claire High Richland 01 | 09–12 | 542 | 11.7:1 | |
| Empowerment and Enrichment Academy Dept of Juvenile Justice · Alternative School | 05–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| Irmo High Lexington 05 · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,272 | 11.9:1 | |
| Kirkland High Dept Of Correction N04 · Alternative School | 09–12 | 42 | 42:1 | |
| Manning High Dept Of Correction N04 · Alternative School | 09–12 | 2 | 0.5:1 | |
| Richland Northeast High Richland 02 · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,340 | 13.3:1 | |
| Richland One Charter Middle College Richland 01 · Charter | 11–12 | 106 | 23.6:1 | |
| Ridge View High Richland 02 · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,631 | 16.5:1 | |
| Samuel A. Heyward Career and Technology Center Richland 01 · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| Sara Babb High Dept Of Correction N04 · Alternative School | 09–12 | 8 | 2:1 | |
| SC Whitmore School SC Public Charter School District · Charter · Virtual | 09–12 | 431 | 28.7:1 | |
| SCDJJ Evaluation and Detention Center Dept of Juvenile Justice · Alternative School | 05–12 | 417 | 11.1:1 | |
| Spring Valley High Richland 02 · Magnet | 09–12 | 2,230 | 17.8:1 | |
| The Palmetto Empowerment and Enrichment Academy Dept of Juvenile Justice · Alternative School | 05–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| W.J. Keenan High Richland 01 · Magnet | 09–12 | 675 | 12.7:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Columbia
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arts Innovation and Media Middle College (AIM High) Limestone Charters Association · Charter | 09–10 | — | — | |
| Carolus Online Academy SC Public Charter School District · Charter · Virtual | KG–12 | 1,786 | 27.9:1 | |
| Clear Dot Charter School Charter Institute at Erskine · Charter | KG–12 | 474 | 11.3:1 | |
| Pendergrass Fairwold School Richland 01 · Special Education School | KG–12 | 46 | 3.3:1 | |
| SC Connections Academy Charter Institute at Erskine · Charter · Virtual | KG–12 | 6,152 | 23:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White24.5%
- Hispanic10.8%
- Black56.4%
- Asian1.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial5.9%
Enrollment-weighted across 75 Columbia schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (49,097 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Columbia
How many public schools are in Columbia, SC?
The current NCES directory lists 79 open public schools with a location address in Columbia: 42 elementary, 12 middle, 20 high, 5 combined or other. Together they reported 49,097 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Columbia?
Schools with an address in Columbia belong to 8 education agencies, led by Richland 01 (41 schools), Richland 02 (18 schools), Lexington 05 (7 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Columbia?
Spring Valley High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Columbia, with 2,230 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Columbia?
Yes. 8 of the 79 public schools in Columbia are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Arts Innovation and Media Middle College (AIM High), Carolina School for Inquiry, Carolus Online Academy. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Columbia schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Columbia public schools is 12.3:1, lower than the South Carolina school median of 13.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Columbia guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby South Carolina cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All South Carolina cities