Photo: Dr. Blazer · CC BY-SA 4.0

Schools in West Columbia · Lexington School District 2

West Columbia’s public schools score below 74% of South Carolina districts on tests and graduation

On the state reading tests, 40% of West Columbia’s students scored proficient, below the South Carolina average (52%). The grade covers the public school district serving West Columbia, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within South Carolina, not nationally.

#150of 169 South Carolina townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From South Carolina state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency

40%

▼ 12 pts vs SC 52%

2021–22

Math proficiency

32%

▼ 9 pts vs SC 41%

2021–22

Graduate on time

74%

▼ 10 pts vs SC 84%

class of 2023

Spent per student

$15.7K

▲ 4% vs SC $15.1K

FY2024

Students per teacher

13.1

SC 14.3 · smaller classes

Schools in town

4,408 students on the public path

In brief

West Columbia’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 184 South Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of West Columbia’s, its schools beat 20%, lower than their 26% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 40% of tested students were proficient in reading and 32% in math, against 52% and 41% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

74% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 84% across South Carolina. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,713 per student, against $15,090 across South Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and two high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

East Point Academy, Grace Christian School (private), Glenforest School (private) and Hope Christian Academy (private) are in town. South Carolina Virtual Charter School, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind West Columbia’s grade

C⁺ Test scoresD Graduation

C: better than 26% of South Carolina school districts, #150 of 169 South Carolina towns. Both inputs trail the South Carolina average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

South Carolina school districts we grade (92)Better than 26%

Lower resultsHigher results

South Carolina towns with similar household incomes (184)Better than 20%

C⁻CA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 4,422 test results and a graduating class of 628 could put West Columbia anywhere from C− to C. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of West Columbia’s students in the tested grades sat them (4,314 in math, 4,529 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve West Columbia, with each school’s own grade.

Kindergarten in West Columbia · depends on your address

Riverbank Elementary

Grades PK–5 · 996 students · 12:1 students per teacher

C⁺

Saluda River Academy for the Arts

Grades PK–5 · 400 students · 13:1 students per teacher

B⁻

The path, start to finish

PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC⁺ to B⁻

6–8Northside MiddleLexington School District 2C

9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressB⁺ to A⁻

West Columbia’s public schools are run by Lexington School District 2, which also serves Cayce, Pine Ridge, South Congaree and Springdale. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Lexington School District 2Grades PK–12 · 12 schools · 8,465 students, down 1% since 2020–21 · 13.1 per teacher (SC 14.3)

$15,713SC $15,090 · FY2024

Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading40%

State average 52.1% · 4529 students tested

Math32%

State average 41% · 4314 students tested

West Columbia vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the South Carolina towns that share West Columbia’s borders.

Schools next door

Town	Schools	Main districts
West Columbia	C	Lexington School District 2
Columbia	B	Richland School District 2 PK–12 · Richland School District 1 PK–12
Springdale	C	Lexington School District 2
Cayce	C	Lexington School District 2 PK–12 · Richland School District 1 PK–12
Lexington	A⁻	Lexington School District 1

2 of the 4 neighbors share Lexington School District 2 with West Columbia, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in West Columbia

10 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with South Carolina’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in West Columbiaby address

Riverbank Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–5

C⁺

996 students12:1Rate it →

Saluda River Academy for the Arts

Elementary · Grades PK–5

B⁻

400 students13:1Rate it →

Northside Middle

Middle · Grades 6–8

528 students12:1Rate it →

Also serving West Columbiain other towns

Airport High

High · Grades 9–12

A⁻

1,272 students17:1Rate it →

Brookland-Cayce High

High · Grades 9–12 · Cayce

B⁺

1,212 students12:1Rate it →

Charter schoolsfree, open by application

East Point Academy

Elementary · Grades PK–8 · 1043 Chris Drive

B⁺

Charter

724 students13:1Rate it →

Online schools based in West Columbianot counted as local schools

South Carolina Virtual Charter School

Grades K–12

B⁺

CharterOnline

2,180 students17:1Rate it →

Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade

Grace Christian School

Grades PK–12

Private · Religious

245 students15:1Rate it →

Glenforest School

Grades K–12

Private · Special education

68 students5:1Rate it →

Hope Christian Academy

Grades 4–12

Private · Religious

13 students4:1Rate it →

Questions about West Columbia’s schools

Are West Columbia’s schools good?

On South Carolina’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools West Columbia children attend score below 74% of South Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #150 of 169 South Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 20%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is West Columbia in?

Lexington School District 2, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 8,465 students in 12 schools (2024–25).

Where do West Columbia kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Airport High and Brookland-Cayce High.

What is West Columbia’s graduation rate?

74% of the class of 2023 in Lexington School District 2 graduated in four years, against 84% across South Carolina.

How much does West Columbia spend per student?

$15,713 in Lexington School District 2 (FY2024), against $15,090 across South Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in West Columbia?

Yes: Grace Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 245 students), Glenforest School (special education, grades K–12, 68 students) and Hope Christian Academy (religious, grades 4–12, 13 students). West Columbia also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What West Columbia families are saying about school.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near West Columbia → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within South Carolina. Stars are from neighbors.