For the 2025-26 school year, there are 21 public middle schools serving 16,555 students in Columbia, SC.
The top ranked public middle schools in Columbia, SC are Crayton Middle School, Pendergrass Fairwold School and Sc Connections Academy. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Columbia, SC public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 27% (versus the South Carolina public middle school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 46% (versus the 46% statewide average). Middle schools in Columbia have an average ranking of 6/10, which is in the top 50% of South Carolina public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 65% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public middle school average of 52% (majority Black).
Best Public Middle Schools in Columbia, SC (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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 | 924 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #22.
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: PK-12 | 56 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #33.
Sc Connections Academy
Charter School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
201 Executive Center Drive Sui
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 212-4712
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 212-4712
Gr: K-12 | 5,955 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #44.
Scdjj Evaluation And Detention Center
Alternative School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
5000 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 896-9037
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 896-9037
Gr: 4-12 | 436 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #55.
E. L. Wright Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2740 Alpine Road
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 736-8740
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 736-8740
Gr: K-8 | 1,285 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #66.
Summit Parkway Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
200 Summit Parkway
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-3580
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-3580
Gr: K-8 | 1,176 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #77.
Hand Middle School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2600 Wheat Street
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 343-2947
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 343-2947
Gr: 6-8 | 700 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #88.
Dent Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2721 Decker Boulevard
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 699-2750
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 699-2750
Gr: 6-8 | 1,035 student Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #99.
Irmo Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
6051 Wescott Road
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 476-3600
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 476-3600
Gr: 6-8 | 989 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #1010.
Longleaf Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1160 Longreen Parkway
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 691-4870
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 691-4870
Gr: 6-8 | 800 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #1111.
W. G. Sanders Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3455 Pine Belt Road
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 735-7575
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 735-7575
Gr: 6-8 | 524 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #1212.
Clear Dot Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2015 Marion Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 567-3075
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 567-3075
Gr: PK-10 | 418 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #1313.
St. Andrews Middle School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1231 Bluefield Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 731-8910
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 731-8910
Gr: 6-8 | 700 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #1414.
W. A. Perry Middle School
(Math: 7% | Reading: 22%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2600 Barhamville Road
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 256-6347
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 256-6347
Gr: 6-8 | 310 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1515.
Heyward Gibbes Middle School
(Math: 8% | Reading: 17%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
500 Summerlea Drive
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 343-2942
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 343-2942
Gr: 6-8 | 263 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1616.
Palmetto Achievement Center For Excellence Academy
Charter School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
6015 N Main Street
Columbia, SC 29224
(803) 900-0664
Columbia, SC 29224
(803) 900-0664
Gr: 2-8 | 198 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #1717.
Empowerment And Enrichment Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19% )
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
5000 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 896-9114
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 896-9114
Gr: 5-12
Rank: #1818.
Alcorn Middle School
(Math: 4% | Reading: 18%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
5125 Fairfield Road
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-3439
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-3439
Gr: 6-8 | 384 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1919.
The Palmetto Empowerment And Enrichment Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
5000 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-5952
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-5952
Gr: 5-12
Rank: n/an/a
Carolus Online Academy
Charter School
1812 Barnwell Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(866) 968-7512
Columbia, SC 29201
(866) 968-7512
Gr: K-8 | 402 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: n/an/a
220 Stoneridge Drive Suite 403
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 212-4712
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 212-4712
Gr: K-12
Columbia, South Carolina 51³Ô¹ÏÍøºÚÁÏ (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%
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%
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%
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%
501 Commerce Drive
Columbia, SC 29223
(866) 476-6416
Columbia, SC 29223
(866) 476-6416
Gr: 9-12 | 449 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
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 middle schools in Columbia, SC?
The top ranked public middle schools in Columbia, SC include Crayton Middle School, Pendergrass Fairwold School and Sc Connections Academy.
How many public middle schools are located in Columbia?
21 public middle schools are located in Columbia.
What is the racial composition of students in Columbia?
Columbia public middle schools minority enrollment is 65% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public middle schools average of 52% (majority Black).
Which public middle schools in Columbia are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public middle schools in Columbia include: W. A. Perry Middle School vs. W. G. Sanders Middle School, W. G. Sanders Middle School vs. W. A. Perry Middle School, The Palmetto Empowerment And Enrichment Academy vs. Empowerment And Enrichment Academy
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