Public schools in West Columbia, SC
14 open public schools with an address in West Columbia, operated by 4 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
14
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
10,372
14 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.9:1
South Carolina median 13.6:1
Charter schools
3
1 magnet · 1 virtual
An overview of West Columbia public schools
The federal directory lists 14 public schools in West Columbia, SC: 6 elementary, 4 middle, 3 high, 1 combined or other. The 14 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 10,372 students, an average of 741 per school. The largest campus is South Carolina Virtual Charter School (2,180 students), and the largest elementary school is Riverbank Elementary (996).
Lexington 02 operates the most schools here (9), and 2 regular districts have at least one West Columbia campus, plus 2 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 12.9:1, 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 3 charter schools, 1 magnet school, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 4 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
School districts and agencies serving West Columbia
Lexington 02
Public school district
9 schools in West Columbia · 13 total
Charter Institute at Erskine
Independent charter agency
2 schools in West Columbia · 28 total
Lexington 01
Public school district
2 schools in West Columbia · 32 total
SC Public Charter School District
Independent charter agency
1 school in West Columbia · 45 total
Elementary schools in West Columbia
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Congaree Elementary Lexington 02 | 02–05 | 352 | 12.6:1 | |
| Herbert A. Wood Elementary Lexington 02 | PK–05 | 938 | 13.4:1 | |
| Riverbank Elementary Lexington 02 | PK–05 | 996 | 12.5:1 | |
| Saluda River Academy for the Arts Lexington 02 · Magnet | PK–05 | 400 | 12.9:1 | |
| Springdale Elementary Lexington 02 | PK–05 | 443 | 14.3:1 | |
| White Knoll Elementary Lexington 01 | PK–05 | 615 | 12.6:1 |
Middle schools in West Columbia
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northside Middle Lexington 02 | 06–08 | 528 | 12.3:1 | |
| Pine Ridge Middle Lexington 02 | 06–08 | 379 | 12.2:1 | |
| R. H. Fulmer Middle Lexington 02 | 06–08 | 526 | 11.2:1 | |
| White Knoll Middle Lexington 01 | 06–08 | 693 | 12.8:1 |
High schools in West Columbia
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport High Lexington 02 | 09–12 | 1,272 | 17.4:1 | |
| Gray Collegiate Academy Charter Institute at Erskine · Charter | 06–12 | 935 | 24.9:1 | |
| Midlands Middle College SC Public Charter School District · Charter | 10–12 | 115 | 17.4:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in West Columbia
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Virtual Charter School Charter Institute at Erskine · Charter · Virtual | KG–12 | 2,180 | 17.3:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White44%
- Hispanic21.6%
- Black26.9%
- Asian1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial6.1%
Enrollment-weighted across 14 West Columbia schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (10,372 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in West Columbia
How many public schools are in West Columbia, SC?
The current NCES directory lists 14 open public schools with a location address in West Columbia: 6 elementary, 4 middle, 3 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 10,372 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve West Columbia?
Schools with an address in West Columbia belong to 4 education agencies, led by Lexington 02 (9 schools), Charter Institute at Erskine (2 schools), Lexington 01 (2 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in West Columbia?
Airport High reported the largest high-school enrollment in West Columbia, with 1,272 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in West Columbia?
Yes. 3 of the 14 public schools in West Columbia are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Gray Collegiate Academy, Midlands Middle College, South Carolina Virtual Charter School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in West Columbia schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across West Columbia public schools is 12.9:1, 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 West 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