For the 2026 school year, there are 98 public schools serving 62,995 students in Richland County, SC (there are 43 private schools, serving 7,175 private students). 90% of all K-12 students in Richland County, SC are educated in public schools (compared to the SC state average of 92%).
The top-ranked public schools in Richland County, SC are Lake Carolina Elementary Lower Campus, Blythewood High School and Dreher High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Richland County, SC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 36% (versus the South Carolina public school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 51% (versus the 52% statewide average). Schools in Richland County have an average ranking of 7/10, which is in the top 50% of South Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 75% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public school average of 54% (majority Black).
Best Public Schools in Richland County (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Lake Carolina Elementary Lower Campus
(Math: 92% | Reading: 97% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1151 Kelly Mill Road
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 714-1300
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 714-1300
Gr: PK-2 | 531 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #22.
Blythewood High School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 92%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
10901 Wilson Boulevard
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 691-4090
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 691-4090
Gr: 9-12 | 2,164 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #33.
Dreher High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3319 Millwood Avenue
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 253-7000
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 253-7000
Gr: 9-12 | 1,144 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #44.
Dutch Fork High School
Magnet School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1400 Old Tamah Road
Irmo, SC 29063
(803) 476-3300
Irmo, SC 29063
(803) 476-3300
Gr: 9-12 | 1,703 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #55.
Spring Valley High School
Magnet School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
120 Sparkleberry Lane
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-3500
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-3500
Gr: 9-12 | 2,230 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #66.
Richland One Charter Middle College
Charter School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 80-89% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
316 South Beltline Boulevard R
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 738-7114
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 738-7114
Gr: 11-12 | 106 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #77.
Brockman Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2245 Montclair Drive
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 790-6743
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 790-6743
Gr: PK-5 | 297 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #88.
Ridge View High School
Magnet School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4801 Hard Scrabble Road
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-2999
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-2999
Gr: 9-12 | 1,631 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #99.
Rosewood Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3300 Rosewood Drive
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 343-2930
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 343-2930
Gr: K-5 | 338 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #1010.
Satchel Ford Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5901 Satchel Ford Road
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 738-7209
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 738-7209
Gr: K-5 | 721 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #1111.
Brennen Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4438 Devereaux Road
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 738-7204
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 738-7204
Gr: PK-5 | 805 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #1212.
Round Top Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
449 Rimer Pond Road
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 691-8676
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 691-8676
Gr: PK-5 | 581 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #1313.
A. C. Flora High School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1 Falcon Drive
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 738-7300
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 738-7300
Gr: 9-12 | 1,328 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #1414.
Westwood High School
Magnet School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
180 Turkey Farm Road
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 691-4049
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 691-4049
Gr: 9-12 | 1,743 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #1515.
Ballentine Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1040 Bickley Road
Irmo, SC 29063
(803) 476-4500
Irmo, SC 29063
(803) 476-4500
Gr: PK-5 | 523 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #1616.
Richland Northeast High School
Magnet School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
7500 Brookfield Road
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 699-2800
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 699-2800
Gr: 9-12 | 1,340 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #1717.
River Springs Elementary School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
115 Connie Wright Road
Irmo, SC 29063
(803) 476-4400
Irmo, SC 29063
(803) 476-4400
Gr: PK-5 | 416 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #1818.
Bethel-hanberry Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
125 Boney Road
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 691-6880
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 691-6880
Gr: PK-5 | 711 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #1919.
Lake Carolina Elementary Upper Campus
(Math: 58% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1261 Kelly Mill Road
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 691-3360
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 691-3360
Gr: 3-5 | 523 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #2020.
W.j. Keenan High School
Magnet School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
361 Pisgah Church Road
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 714-2500
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 714-2500
Gr: 9-12 | 675 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2121.
Irmo Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
7401 Gibbes Street
Irmo, SC 29063
(803) 476-4200
Irmo, SC 29063
(803) 476-4200
Gr: PK-5 | 487 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #2222.
Oak Pointe Elementary School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1 River Bottom Road
Irmo, SC 29063
(803) 476-4100
Irmo, SC 29063
(803) 476-4100
Gr: PK-5 | 484 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #2323.
Sc Whitmore School
Charter School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
501 Commerce Drive Ne
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 476-6416
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 476-6416
Gr: 9-12 | 431 students Student-teacher ratio: 29:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #2424.
Crayton Middle School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
5000 Clemson Avenue
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 738-7224
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 738-7224
Gr: 6-8 | 952 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #2525.
Langford Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
480 Langford Road
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 691-4091
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 691-4091
Gr: PK-5 | 631 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #2626.
Manning High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
502 Beckman Road
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 935-7203
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 935-7203
Gr: 9-12 | 2 students Student-teacher ratio: 1:1
Rank: #2727.
Columbia High School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1701 Westchester Drive
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 731-8950
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 731-8950
Gr: 9-12 | 681 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2828.
Forest Lake Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
6801 Brookfield Road
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 782-0470
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 782-0470
Gr: PK-5 | 652 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #2929.
C. A. Johnson High School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2219 Barhamville Road
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 253-7092
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 253-7092
Gr: 9-12 | 344 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #3030.
H. E. Corley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1500 Chadford Road
Irmo, SC 29063
(803) 476-4001
Irmo, SC 29063
(803) 476-4001
Gr: PK-5 | 557 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #3131.
North Springs Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1300 Clemson Road
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 736-3183
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 736-3183
Gr: PK-5 | 659 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #3232.
Eau Claire High School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4800 Monticello Road
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-7600
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-7600
Gr: 9-12 | 542 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #3333.
L. B. Nelson Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
225 North Brickyard Road
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 736-8730
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 736-8730
Gr: PK-5 | 541 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #3434.
Pendergrass Fairwold School
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
5935 Token Street
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-3435
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-3435
Gr: K-12 | 46 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #3535.
Blythewood Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2351 Longtown Road East
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 691-6850
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 691-6850
Gr: 6-8 | 872 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Show 63 more public schools in Richland County, SC (out of 98 total schools)
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Richland County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
Broad River Road Correctional Institution (Closed 2005)
Alternative School
4460 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-2853
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-2853
5900 Chesnut Rd
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 787-6815
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 787-6815
Gr: 2-6
Hall Institute (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
1800 Colonial Drive
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 898-1488
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 898-1488
Gr: K-12 | 28 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
5616 Hood Street
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 787-8266
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 787-8266
Gr: 1-3 | 166 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Imagine Columbia Leadership Academy Charter (Closed 2018)
Charter School
3801 North Main Street
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 929-1140
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 929-1140
Gr: K-5 | 132 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Kirkland High School (Closed 2004)
Alternative School
4344 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-2714
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-2714
Gr: 9-12 | 121 students Student-teacher ratio: 121:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Midlands Arts Conservatory (Closed 2023)
Charter School
3806 North Main Street
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 630-1622
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 630-1622
Gr: 6-11 | 166 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Midlands Math And Business Academy Charter (Closed 2014)
Charter School
2638 Two Notch Rd
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 799-5101
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 799-5101
Gr: 4-8 | 79 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Morris Village High School (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
610 Faison Drive
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 935-7100
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 935-7100
Gr: 7-12 | 20 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Northeast Center (Closed 2004)
Alternative School
Post Office Box 207
State Park, SC 29147
(803) 935-0116
State Park, SC 29147
(803) 935-0116
Gr: 6-12
200 Arbor Lake Drive Suite 301
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 735-9110
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 735-9110
Gr: 9-12 | 242 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
115 Atrium Way Suite 200
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 227-6670
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 227-6670
Gr: 9-12 | 310 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
5715 Adams Ct
Columbia, SC 29206
(808) 782-1772
Columbia, SC 29206
(808) 782-1772
Gr: PK-1
425 Summit Terrace Court Build
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 567-5634
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 567-5634
Gr: K-3 | 91 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
Richland Two Charter High School (Closed 2023)
Charter School
7900 Brookmont Lane
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 419-1348
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 419-1348
Gr: 9-12 | 39 students Student-teacher ratio: 39:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Sc Virtual Charter School (Closed 2023)
Charter School
140 Stoneridge Drive Suite 420
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 253-6222
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 253-6222
Gr: K-12 | 3,503 students Student-teacher ratio: 30:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
3700 Forrest Drive Suite 406
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 462-0254
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 462-0254
Gr: K-8 | 226 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
2015 Marion Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 227-6422
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 227-6422
Gr: 6-11 | 140 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Stevenson Correctional Institution (Closed 2014)
Alternative School
4546 Broad River Rd
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-1873
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-1873
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public schools in Richland County, SC?
The top-ranked public schools in Richland County, SC include Lake Carolina Elementary Lower Campus, Blythewood High School and Dreher High School.
How many public schools are located in Richland County?
100 public schools are located in Richland County.
What percentage of students in Richland County go to public school?
90% of all K-12 students in Richland County are educated in public schools (compared to the SC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Richland County?
Richland County public schools minority enrollment is 75% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public schools average of 54% (majority Black).
Which public schools in Richland County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Richland County include: W. A. Perry Middle School vs. W. G. Sanders Middle School, Southeast Middle School vs. Hopkins Middle School, Westwood High School vs. Blythewood High School
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