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Saluda River Academy for the Arts

Q: Is Saluda River Academy for the Arts a good school?

Saluda River Academy for the Arts ranks 375 th of 640 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-5

375^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 640 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 41% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Saluda River Academy for the Arts is a public magnet elementary school in West Columbia, South Carolina, serving 390 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. The school is part of the Lexington 02 school district, which is ranked 56 out of 75 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Saluda River Academy for the Arts consistently outperforms the Lexington 02 district and the state average in English Language Arts and Mathematics test scores across all grade levels. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, 60.3% of 4th-grade students at Saluda River Academy were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 51% for the Lexington 02 district and 63.5% for the state. However, the school has a relatively high chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 22.1% to 28.2% over the past few years, which is higher than the state average.

When compared to other nearby schools in the Lexington 02 district, Saluda River Academy for the Arts generally outperforms Springdale Elementary and Riverbank Elementary in terms of test scores, particularly in ELA. The school's access to additional resources and funding, with a per-student spending of $16,326 in 2023-2024 and a low student-teacher ratio of 12.1, may be a contributing factor to its academic success. However, the school's uneven performance among student subgroups is an area that warrants further investigation and targeted interventions.

400

Students ?

12.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,850

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1520 Duke Avenue
West Columbia, SC 29169

(803) 739-4095

District: Lexington 02

Students who attend Saluda River Academy for the Arts usually attend:

Middle:	Northside Middle
High:	Brookland-Cayce High

Racial breakdown:

White:

38.5%

African American:

29.3%

Hispanic:

20.5%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

Compare Saluda River Academy for the Arts to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 50th percentile in 2015 → 41st in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Carolina average (49% vs 56% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 9 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school49%

District avg42%

South Carolina avg56%

375^th of 640

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 41%▼ down 9 pts since 2015

From top 50% (2015) to bottom 41% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 6Elementary Schools in the Lexington 02

56^th of 75Lexington 02 among South Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	40.3	375 of 640	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.8	384 of 638	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.6	358 of 644	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	44.2	347 of 625	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	54.8	269 of 622	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	38.7	407 of 643	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.4	318 of 624	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	52.7	298 of 639	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2016	43.6	356 of 619	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	49.0	319 of 638	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2014	45.5	378 of 630	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	49.7	335 of 599	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	39.5	402 of 594	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2011	60.3	248 of 597	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2010	67.2	181 of 589	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2009	58.4	250 of 580	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	52.5	304 of 577	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2007	64.9	190 of 566	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2006	63.5	220 of 559	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2005	60.0	242 of 557	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2004	66.5	179 of 550	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2003	74.7	125 of 542	76.9%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	28.5	340 of 421	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	54.6	166 of 412	59.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	44.1	320 of 581	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.1	328 of 565	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.9	294 of 580	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	53.1	262 of 573	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	66.3	173 of 554	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.3	300 of 588	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	56.1	253 of 570	55.6%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	36.1	409 of 613	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.6	374 of 599	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.9	324 of 608	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.4	324 of 600	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	63.9	196 of 580	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	40.9	375 of 600	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.8	271 of 588	53.9%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	34.3	391 of 586	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.6	376 of 568	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.6	380 of 582	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.9	347 of 579	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	28.1	436 of 590	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	42.8	328 of 571	42.6%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	56.1	212 of 460	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.4	214 of 441	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	40.2	301 of 472	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.2	303 of 457	33.7%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

White (2025)54th percentile+13 vs school

Female (2025)45th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)33rd percentile-8 vs school

Male (2025)33rd percentile-8 vs school

African American (2019)19th percentile-17 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts58%-4 vs state

Science44%-5 vs state

Mathematics42%-10 vs state

5.0

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Schools Near Saluda River Academy for the Arts

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				SC READY English Language Arts (2025)						SC READY Mathematics (2025)						SC READY Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SC READY English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 4th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 5th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 6th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 7th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 8th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 3rd Grade	SC READY Mathematics 4th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 5th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 6th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 7th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 8th Grade	SC READY Science 4th Grade	SC READY Science 6th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Saluda River Academy for the Arts	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1520 Duke Avenue	West Columbia	29169	Lexington County	Lexington 02	No	Yes	No	Yes	(803) 739-4095	400	31	12.9		154 (38.5%)	117 (29.3%)	82 (20.5%)	13 (3.3%)	5 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.3%)	40.3	375^th of 640 public elementary schools	41.4%		39.8	384^th of 638 public elementary schools	39.8%	9	54.7	60.3	60.0				50.0	43.8	32.1				44.4		$17,850	$1,160	$1,321	$2,480	$12,881	$2,489	$15,370
East Point Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	Elementary Campus	West Columbia	29169	Lexington County	School Public Charter School District	Yes	No	No	Yes	(803) 926-5180	724	55	13.1		316 (43.6%)	224 (30.9%)	51 (7.0%)	37 (5.1%)	6 (0.8%)	2 (0.3%)	88 (12.2%)	81.1	106^th of 640 public elementary schools	83.4%		75.9	148^th of 638 public elementary schools	76.8%	42	80.7	79.5	70.6	85.3	84.1	87.7	82.8	68.6	27.9	50.0	46.6	49.0	65.0	70.7	$11,901	$363	$134	$497	$8,516	$2,888	$11,404
Riverbank Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	160 Cougar Drive	West Columbia	29169	Lexington County	Lexington 02	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 936-3400	996	80	12.4		199 (20.0%)	265 (26.6%)	469 (47.1%)	12 (1.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (5.0%)	29.1	458^th of 640 public elementary schools	28.4%		26.9	466^th of 638 public elementary schools	27.0%	8	44.4	58.2	44.8				42.5	44.6	30.0				44.5		$16,252	$589	$1,504	$2,092	$11,947	$2,213	$14,160
H. B. Rhame Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1300 Arrowwood Drive	Columbia	29210	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 731-8900	418	30	13.9		15 (3.6%)	362 (86.6%)	19 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.3%)	28.6	461^st of 640 public elementary schools	28.0%		15.9	546^th of 638 public elementary schools	14.4%	85	53.3	53.7	49.2				45.3	38.9	17.9				44.5		$18,610	$2,239	$1,277	$3,516	$12,849	$2,245	$15,094
Logan Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	815 Elmwood Avenue	Columbia	29201	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 343-2915	237	22	10.7		71 (30.0%)	142 (59.9%)	8 (3.4%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.9%)	41.3	364^th of 640 public elementary schools	43.1%		57.3	270^th of 638 public elementary schools	57.7%	94	70.3	48.2	62.0				51.8	31.0	48.2				34.4		$29,701	$2,725	$1,346	$4,070	$22,102	$3,528	$25,630
Edward E. Taylor Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	200 McRae Street	Columbia	29203	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 343-2974	217	19	11.4		0 (0.0%)	188 (86.6%)	18 (8.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (5.1%)	17.4	544^th of 640 public elementary schools	15.0%		9.8	606^th of 638 public elementary schools	5.0%	62		34.4	56.6					18.8	36.7				18.8		$26,586	$3,770	$1,701	$5,471	$17,926	$3,188	$21,115
Sandel Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2700 Seminole Road	Columbia	29210	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 731-8906	479	36	13.3		7 (1.5%)	375 (78.3%)	59 (12.3%)	17 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.4%)	13.6	574^th of 640 public elementary schools	10.3%		22.7	500^th of 638 public elementary schools	21.6%	74	35.7	45.5	39.7				27.4	28.6	28.8				33.8		$18,452	$1,797	$1,495	$3,292	$12,749	$2,411	$15,160
Springdale Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	361 Wattling Road	West Columbia	29170	Lexington County	Lexington 02	No	No	No	No	(803) 739-4175	443	31	14.2		238 (53.7%)	83 (18.7%)	80 (18.1%)	6 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (7.9%)	63.4	235^th of 640 public elementary schools	63.3%		60.2	245^th of 638 public elementary schools	61.6%	10	62.8	63.8	70.9				67.2	55.5	46.8				54.2		$15,586	$853	$1,223	$2,076	$10,850	$2,660	$13,510
Seven Oaks Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	2800 Ashland Road	Columbia	29210	Lexington County	Lexington 05	No	Yes	No	Yes	(803) 476-8500	522	56	9.3		66 (12.6%)	329 (63.0%)	47 (9.0%)	43 (8.2%)	1 (0.2%)	5 (1.0%)	31 (5.9%)	17.1	549^th of 640 public elementary schools	14.2%		21.1	512^th of 638 public elementary schools	19.7%	37	31.0	52.3	43.9				29.8	35.7	25.6				34.5		$18,362	$1,567	$860	$2,427	$14,251	$1,684	$15,935
Hyatt Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4200 Main Street	Columbia	29203	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 735-3421	317	27	11.7		9 (2.8%)	280 (88.3%)	12 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.0%)	9.3	609^th of 640 public elementary schools	4.8%		6.3	624^th of 638 public elementary schools	2.2%	15	33.4	40.6	45.9				27.1	25.1	21.6				18.8		$29,885	$5,348	$1,789	$7,137	$19,560	$3,189	$22,749

Frequently Asked Questions about Saluda River Academy for the Arts

Is Saluda River Academy for the Arts a good school?

Saluda River Academy for the Arts ranks 375^th of 640 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Saluda River Academy for the Arts?

In the 2024-25 school year, 400 students attended Saluda River Academy for the Arts.

What district is Saluda River Academy for the Arts in?

Lexington 02

What schools do graduates of Saluda River Academy for the Arts attend?

Students who attend Saluda River Academy for the Arts usually go on to attend:

Middle : Northside Middle
High : Brookland-Cayce High

What is the racial makeup of Saluda River Academy for the Arts?

Students at Saluda River Academy for the Arts are 39% White, 29% African American, 21% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 3% Asian, 1% American Indian.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the South Carolina Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.