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Best Elementary Schools in Columbia, SC (2025-26)
Every ranked elementary school in Columbia, SC, ordered by SchoolGrade. A grade rewards actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact. Click a column heading to sort, or filter by school, city or district.
Columbia, SC rankings: Elementary Schools
Columbia, SC elementary schools ranked
| Rank | Grade | School | City | District | Actual | Projected | Impact | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | A+ | Brockman Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 80% | 63% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 268 |
| #2 | A | Satchel Ford Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 70% | 62% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 631 |
| #3 | A | Brennen Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 65% | 59% | Exceeds Expectations | 806 |
| #4 | A- | Rosewood Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 60% | 52% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 329 |
| #5 | B | Forest Lake Elementary (Magnet) | Columbia | Richland 02 | 50% | 24% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 614 |
| #6 | B | Harbison West Elementary (Magnet) | Columbia | Lexington 05 | 50% | 39% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 550 |
| #7 | B | North Springs Elementary (Magnet) | Columbia | Richland 02 | 45% | 21% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 703 |
| #8 | B- | A C Moore Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 40% | 32% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 204 |
| #9 | B- | E L Wright Middle (Magnet) | Columbia | Richland 02 | 40% | 34% | Exceeds Expectations | 1,354 |
| #10 | B- | Logan Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 40% | 33% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 233 |
| #11 | B- | Rice Creek Elementary (Magnet) | Columbia | Richland 02 | 40% | 23% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 737 |
| #12 | C | L B Nelson Elementary (Magnet) | Columbia | Richland 02 | 35% | 22% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 567 |
| #13 | C | Sandlapper Elementary | Columbia | Richland 02 | 35% | 19% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 656 |
| #14 | C | Summit Parkway Middle (Magnet) | Columbia | Richland 02 | 32% | 29% | Exceeds Expectations | 1,154 |
| #15 | C- | Carver Lyon Elementary (Magnet) | Columbia | Richland 01 | 30% | 19% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 387 |
| #16 | C- | Caughman Road Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 30% | 25% | Exceeds Expectations | 707 |
| #17 | C- | H B Rhame Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 30% | 23% | Exceeds Expectations | 446 |
| #18 | D+ | Carolina School For Inquiry (Charter) | Columbia | Richland 01 | 25% | 16% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 96 |
| #19 | D+ | Jackson Creek Elementary | Columbia | Richland 02 | 25% | 17% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 545 |
| #20 | D+ | Joseph Keels Elementary (Magnet) | Columbia | Richland 02 | 25% | 20% | Exceeds Expectations | 438 |
| #21 | D+ | Killian Elementary (Magnet) | Columbia | Richland 02 | 25% | 21% | Exceeds Expectations | 742 |
| #22 | D+ | Leaphart Elementary (Magnet) | Columbia | Lexington 05 | 25% | 29% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 492 |
| #23 | D+ | Meadowfield Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 25% | 23% | Meets Expectations | 639 |
| #24 | D+ | Nursery Road Elementary (Magnet) | Columbia | Lexington 05 | 25% | 30% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 450 |
| #25 | D+ | Seven Oaks Elementary (Magnet) | Columbia | Lexington 05 | 25% | 23% | Exceeds Expectations | 520 |
| #26 | D+ | Edward E Taylor Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 21% | 17% | Exceeds Expectations | 225 |
| #27 | D+ | Pine Grove Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 21% | 20% | Meets Expectations | 541 |
| #28 | D+ | Watkins Nance Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 21% | 15% | Exceeds Expectations | 383 |
| #29 | D | Bradley Elementary (Magnet) | Columbia | Richland 01 | 20% | 21% | Meets Expectations | 437 |
| #30 | D | Mill Creek Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 20% | 16% | Exceeds Expectations | 339 |
| #31 | D | Windsor Elementary (Magnet) | Columbia | Richland 02 | 20% | 20% | Meets Expectations | 537 |
| #32 | D- | L W Conder Elementary (Magnet) | Columbia | Richland 02 | 15% | 19% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 462 |
| #33 | D- | A J Lewis Greenview Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 11% | 13% | Meets Expectations | 375 |
| #34 | D- | Forest Heights Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 11% | 16% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 441 |
| #35 | D- | J P Thomas Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 11% | 13% | Meets Expectations | 323 |
| #36 | D- | Sandel Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 11% | 13% | Meets Expectations | 477 |
| #37 | F | Annie Burnside Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 10% | 13% | Meets Expectations | 328 |
| #38 | F | Polo Road Elementary (Magnet) | Columbia | Richland 02 | 10% | 19% | Underperforms Expectations | 604 |
| #39 | F | South Kilbourne Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 10% | 15% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 296 |
| #40 | F | Arden Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 5% | 9% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 234 |
| #41 | F | Burton Pack Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 5% | 13% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 388 |
| #42 | F | Hyatt Park Elementary | Columbia | Richland 01 | 5% | 8% | Meets Expectations | 393 |
How Columbia, SC's elementary schools compare
A: 4B: 7C: 6D: 19F: 6
26% of the 42 ranked elementary schools in Columbia, SC earn an A or B (4 A grades, 7 B, 6 C, 19 D, 6 F), against 46% of elementary schools nationwide. 34 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (81% here, 71% nationally), and 25 exceed it. On average 29% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 24% (national averages: 39% actual, 38% projected).
The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Forest Lake Elementary (50% against 24%, B), North Springs Elementary (45% against 21%, B), Brockman Elementary (80% against 63%, A+), Rice Creek Elementary (40% against 23%, B-), Sandlapper Elementary (35% against 19%, C).
Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 11): Richland 01 (6), Richland 02 (4).
The largest ranked elementary schools: E L Wright Middle (1,354 students, B-, #9), Summit Parkway Middle (1,154 students, C, #14), Brennen Elementary (806 students, A, #3).
Of the top 25, 13 are magnet schools and 1 is a charter. Selective and specialised schools tend to post high actual scores; the projection column is the fairer comparison for a neighborhood school.
Elementary schools in Columbia, SC that are not ranked
1 graded elementary schools are listed here rather than ranked, each for the reason given. Every one has its own page with its full SchoolGrade report.
Not yet graded (1)
Too little test data to grade.
About this ranking
- Scope: public elementary schools in Columbia, SC, as grouped on its schools page; the South Carolina ranking covers the whole state.
- Order: SchoolGrade, then actual proficiency, then name; schools with the same grade and score share a rank.
- Ranked: regular public schools that NCES lists as open, not fully online, with at least 30 students. Others are listed with the reason.
- Tags: Magnet and Charter from the NCES school directory; K-12 marks schools serving every grade that are ranked with the elementary schools.
- Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model. How SchoolGrade works
Questions about elementary schools in Columbia, SC
What is the best elementary school in Columbia, SC?
Brockman Elementary in Columbia ranks first among the 42 ranked elementary schools in Columbia, SC with a SchoolGrade of A+, 80% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 63%.
How are elementary schools in Columbia, SC ranked?
By SchoolGrade, the 2025-26 model that scores each school's actual test proficiency against the level projected for its student context, then by actual proficiency to break ties. Regular public schools that are open, not fully online and have at least 30 students are ranked; the rest are listed below the table with the reason.
How many elementary schools does Columbia, SC have?
SchoolGrade grades 43 public elementary schools in Columbia, SC; 42 are ranked here and 1 are listed as not ranked.