Columbia serves 100,000+ students who are enrolled in local public school districts. We’re giving you the 411 on the schools in Columbia, including enrollment, student-teacher ratio, tuition, and more on six major districts around the Midlands. And don’t worry, there won’t be any homework.
Before we dive in, here are four fast facts about the districts in the Capital City:
- Lexington-Richland School District Five is No. 1 in Best School Districts in the Columbia Area.
- Lexington-Richland School District Five also ranked No. 1 for the Best Places to Teach in SC.
- Richland School District Two is ranked No. 3 for the Best School Districts for Athletes in SC.
- 71.6% of students within Richland County School District One are economically disadvantaged.
- Lexington County School District Two’s student body is 35.3% White, 32.1% Black, 1.4% Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander, 24.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.2% American Indian or Alaska Native.
Kershaw County School District
- Number of schools: 19
- Number of students: ~10,856
- Student-teacher ratio: ~15:1
- No. 36 school district in SC
The top-rated public elementary, middle, and high school in this district
Blaney Elementary School, 1621 Smyrna Rd., Elgin, SC
- Grades PK-5
- Total enrollment: 710
- Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
- No. 152 in SC’s elementary schools
North Central Middle School, 805 Keys Ln., Kershaw, SC 29067
- Grades 6-8
- Total enrollment: 425
- Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
- No. 68 in SC’s middle schools
Lugoff-Elgin High School, 1284 Hwy 1 South, Lugoff
- Grades 9-12
- Total enrollment: 1,744
- Student-teacher ratio: 21:1
- No. 91 in SC’s high schools
Lexington County School District One
- Number of schools: 31
- Number of students: ~27,766
- Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
- No. 4 school district in SC
The outside of River Bluff High School. | Photo via River Bluff High School
The top-rated public elementary, middle, and high school in this district
Lake Murray Elementary, 205 Wise Ferry Rd., Lexington
- Grades PK-5
- Total enrollment: 836
- Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
- No. 63 in SC’s elementary schools
Meadow Glen Middle, 440 Ginny Ln., Lexington
- Grades 6-8
- Total enrollment: 1,020
- Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
- No. 53 in SC’s middle schools
River Bluff High School, 320 Corley Mill Rd., Lexington
- Grades 9-12
- Total enrollment: 2,197
- Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
- No. 18 in SC’s high schools
Lexington County School District Two
- Number of schools: 13
- Number of students: ~8,641
- Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
- SC ranking not available
Airport High School’s total enrollment is 1,337. | Photo via Lexington County School District Two
The top-rated public elementary, middle, and high school in this district
Springdale Elementary, 361 Wattling Rd., West Columbia
- Grades PK-5
- Total enrollment: 398
- Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
- No. 82 in SC’s elementary schools
R. H. Fulmer Middle, 1614 Walterboro St., West Columbia
- Grades 6-8
- Total enrollment: 648
- Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
- No. 95 in SC’s middle schools
Brookland-Cayce Senior High School, 1300 State St., Cayce
- Grades 9-12
- Total enrollment: 1,171
- Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
- No. 84 in SC’s high schools
Lexington-Richland School District Five
- Number of schools: 23
- Number of students: ~17,245
- Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
- No. 2 school district in SC
Chapin Middle School is ranked No. 59 in SC’s middle schools. | Photo via Chapin Middle School
The top-rated public elementary, middle, and high school in this district
Lake Murray Elementary, 1531 Three Dog Rd., Chapin
- Grades K-4
- Total enrollment: 797
- Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
- No.13 in SC’s elementary schools
Chapin Intermediate, 1130 Old Lexington Hwy., Chapin
- Grades 5-6
- Total enrollment: 900
- Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
- No. 74 in SC’s middle schools
Spring Hill High School, 11629 Broad River Rd., Chapin
- Grades 9-12
- Total enrollment: 1,089
- Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
- No. 5 in SC’s high schools
Richland County School District One
- Number of schools: 48
- Number of students: ~22,151
- Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
- SC ranking not available
Dreher High School is ranked No. 7 in SC’s high schools. Photo via Dreher High School
The top-rated public elementary, middle, and high school in this district
Rosewood Elementary, 3300 Rosewood Dr., Columbia
- Grades PK-5
- Total enrollment: 323
- Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
- No. 17 in SC’s elementary schools
Crayton Middle, 5000 Clemson Ave., Columbia
- Grades 6-8
- Total enrollment: 948
- Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
- No. 22 in SC’s middle schools
Dreher High School, 3319 Millwood Ave., Columbia
- Grades 9-12
- Total enrollment: 1,150
- Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
- No. 14 in SC’s high schools
Richland County School District Two
- Number of schools: 32
- Number of students: ~28,303
- Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
- SC ranking not available
The top-rated public elementary, middle, and high school in this district
E. L. Wright Middle, 2740 Alpine Rd., Columbia
- Grades K-8
- Total enrollment: 1,372
- Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
- No. 5 in SC’s elementary schools
Blythewood Middle, 2351 Longtown Rd. East, Blythewood
- Grades 6-8
- Total enrollment: 862
- Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
- No. 86 in SC’s middle schools
Blythewood High School, 10901 Wilson Blvd., Blythewood
- Grades 9-12
- Total enrollment: 2,094
- Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
- No. 28 in SC’s high schools
The top five private schools in Columbia
Ben Lippen is ranked No. 4 best Christian high school in South Carolina. | Photo via Ben Lippen
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, 3000 S Beltline Blvd., Columbia
- Grades PK-12
- Total enrollment: 880
- Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
- Tuition is ~$20,000
- No. 2 in best private high school in South Carolina
Hammond School, 854 Galway Ln., Columbia
- Grades PK-12
- Total enrollment: 999
- Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
- Tuition is ~$20,000
- No. 4 in best private high school in South Carolina
Camden Military Academy, 520 US-1, Camden
- Grades 7-12
- Total enrollment: 285
- Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
- Tuition is ~$23,495
- No. 9 best private high school in South Carolina
Ben Lippen School, three campus locations
- Grades PK-12
- Total enrollment: 1,154
- Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
- Tuition is ~$17,000
- No. 4 in best Christian high school in South Carolina
Cardinal Newman School, 2945 Alpine Rd., Columbia
- Grades 7-12
- Total enrollment: 557
- Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
- Tuition is ~$16,388
- No. 1 best Catholic high schools in South Carolina
The top five charter schools in Columbia
GREEN Charter School Midlands, 7820 Broad River Rd., Irmo
- Grades K-8
- Total enrollment: 302
- Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
- Tuition: Call for tuition information
- No. 6 best charter elementary school in South Carolina
East Point Academy, 1401 Leaphart St., West Columbia
- Grades PK, K-8
- Total enrollment: 776
- Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
- Tuition: $149 annually
- No. 11 best charter elementary school in South Carolina
Richland One Charter Middle College, 316 S. Beltline Blvd., Columbia
- Grades 11-12
- Total enrollment: 79
- Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
- Tuition is free
- No. 5 best charter high school in South Carolina
Gray Collegiate Academy, 3833 Leaphart Rd., West Columbia
- Grades 7-12
- Total enrollment: 803
- Student-teacher ratio: 21:1
- Tuition is free
- No. 13 best charter high school in South Carolina
Midlands Middle College, 1260 Lexington Dr., West Columbia
- Grades 11-12
- Total enrollment: 89
- Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
- Tuition is free with dual enrollment
- No. 14 best charter high school in South Carolina
