Richland County Schools & Education
Richland County, South Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
44/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
67.3%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
67.3%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 84.2%
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,146
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,165
School Score
44/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 33/100
State Score Position
#9
of 46 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Richland County
Measured School Summary
Richland County has midrange measured school signals (score: 44/100) with a graduation rate of 67.3%, which warrants review in official state and district records.
Funding Context
Richland County spends $10,146 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 34% above the South Carolina average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 16.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 42% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Richland County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
103 public schools and 4 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
44/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #9 of 46 South Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
67.3%
16.9 pts below the state average
Funding context
$10,146
$2,981 above the state average
School coverage
103
4 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Richland County has 103 public schools across 4 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Richland County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Mixed school landscape
Richland County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.
State position
#9
of 46 South Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 11 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Richland 02
Elementary to high school visible
28,510 students
32 listed schools in this county slice.
Richland 01
Elementary to high school visible
22,037 students
48 listed schools in this county slice.
Lexington 05
Elementary to high school visible
8,075 students
11 listed schools in this county slice.
Dept of Juvenile Justice
High school only in this slice
422 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Richland 01 is the largest listed district slice, with 48 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Richland County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Richland County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Richland County, South Carolina
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
South Carolina's Educational Powerhouse
Richland County is a massive educational hub, home to 103 public schools serving over 60,600 students across four districts. The infrastructure is expansive, featuring 59 elementary schools, 16 middle schools, 24 high schools, and specialized alternative centers. This scale offers a breadth of resources and specialized programs unmatched in smaller counties.
A Multi-District System with Diverse Choices
Four districts operate in the county, with Richland 02 serving the largest share of students (28,510) across its 32 schools. Families have significant choice, with seven charter schools and seven alternative schools integrated into the public system. This variety allows for specialized educational paths, from traditional large-scale high schools to niche alternative programs.
Large-Scale Urban and Suburban Learning
Education in Richland is primarily suburban and urban, with 49 schools in suburbs and 34 in city locales. The average school size is 612 students, but the largest high schools, like Spring Valley and Blythewood High, each serve over 2,000 students. This environment offers a true 'big school' experience with extensive athletic, arts, and academic opportunities.
School Overview
Total Schools
103
in Richland County
Reported Enrollment
60,619
103 schools reporting
School Districts
4
districts
Charter Schools
7
7% of total
School Level Breakdown
4 School Districts in Richland County
103 Public Schools in Richland County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 16 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 103 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Valley High | Profile | Richland 02 | Columbia, 29229Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,187 |
| Blythewood High | Profile | Richland 02 | Blythewood, 29016Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,094 |
| Dutch Fork High | Profile | Lexington 05 | Irmo, 29063Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,726 |
| Ridge View High | Profile | Richland 02 | Columbia, 29229Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,711 |
| Westwood High | Profile | Richland 02 | Blythewood, 29016Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,684 |
| Richland Northeast High | Profile | Richland 02 | Columbia, 29223Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,359 |
| E. L. Wright Middle | Profile | Richland 02 | Columbia, 29223Suburb: Large | KG–8 | Primary | 1,354 |
| A. C. Flora High | Profile | Richland 01 | Columbia, 29204Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,352 |
| Muller Road Middle | Profile | Richland 02 | Blythewood, 29016Rural: Fringe | KG–8 | Primary | 1,246 |
| Lower Richland High | Profile | Richland 01 | Hopkins, 29061Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,244 |
| Summit Parkway Middle | Profile | Richland 02 | Columbia, 29229Suburb: Large | KG–8 | Primary | 1,154 |
| Dreher High | Profile | Richland 01 | Columbia, 29205City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,150 |
| Spring Hill High | Profile | Lexington 05 | Chapin, 29036Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,089 |
| Kelly Mill Middle | Profile | Richland 02 | Blythewood, 29016Suburb: Large | 2–8 | Middle | 1,058 |
| Dent Middle | Profile | Richland 02 | Columbia, 29206Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,018 |
| Chapin Middle | Profile | Lexington 05 | Chapin, 29036Rural: Fringe | 7–8 | Middle | 991 |
| Dutch Fork Middle | Record | Lexington 05 | Irmo, 29063Rural: Fringe | 7–8 | Middle | 921 |
| Crayton Middle | Record | Richland 01 | Columbia, 29206Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 905 |
| Lake Murray Elementary | Record | Lexington 05 | Chapin, 29036Suburb: Large | KG–4 | Primary | 809 |
| Brennen Elementary | Record | Richland 01 | Columbia, 29205City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 806 |
Spring Valley High
Richland 02
Columbia, 29229 / Suburb: Large
Blythewood High
Richland 02
Blythewood, 29016 / Suburb: Large
Dutch Fork High
Lexington 05
Irmo, 29063 / Rural: Fringe
Ridge View High
Richland 02
Columbia, 29229 / Suburb: Large
Westwood High
Richland 02
Blythewood, 29016 / Rural: Fringe
Richland Northeast High
Richland 02
Columbia, 29223 / Suburb: Large
E. L. Wright Middle
Richland 02
Columbia, 29223 / Suburb: Large
A. C. Flora High
Richland 01
Columbia, 29204 / Suburb: Large
Muller Road Middle
Richland 02
Blythewood, 29016 / Rural: Fringe
Lower Richland High
Richland 01
Hopkins, 29061 / Suburb: Large
Summit Parkway Middle
Richland 02
Columbia, 29229 / Suburb: Large
Dreher High
Richland 01
Columbia, 29205 / City: Midsize
Spring Hill High
Lexington 05
Chapin, 29036 / Rural: Fringe
Kelly Mill Middle
Richland 02
Blythewood, 29016 / Suburb: Large
Dent Middle
Richland 02
Columbia, 29206 / Suburb: Large
Chapin Middle
Lexington 05
Chapin, 29036 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$10,146
State avg $7,165
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Richland County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which South Carolina counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in South Carolina?
How should I read the school score in Richland County?
What is the graduation rate in Richland County?
How much does Richland County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Richland County, South Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Richland County, South Carolina?
Richland County is a massive educational hub, home to 103 public schools serving over 60,600 students across four districts. The infrastructure is expansive, featuring 59 elementary schools, 16 middle schools, 24 high schools, and specialized alternative centers. This scale offers a breadth of resources and specialized programs unmatched in smaller counties.
What are the major school districts in Richland County, South Carolina?
Four districts operate in the county, with Richland 02 serving the largest share of students (28,510) across its 32 schools. Families have significant choice, with seven charter schools and seven alternative schools integrated into the public system. This variety allows for specialized educational paths, from traditional large-scale high schools to niche alternative programs.
What is the school experience like in Richland County?
Education in Richland is primarily suburban and urban, with 49 schools in suburbs and 34 in city locales. The average school size is 612 students, but the largest high schools, like Spring Valley and Blythewood High, each serve over 2,000 students. This environment offers a true 'big school' experience with extensive athletic, arts, and academic opportunities.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.