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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 344 th of 649 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-5

344^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 649 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 47% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Saluda River Academy for the Arts is a small elementary school in West Columbia, SC, serving roughly 400 students in grades PK-5 within the Lexington 02 school district.

This arts-focused school stands out for its personalized approach: it spends about $17,850 per student and maintains a low student-teacher ratio of 12.9:1, both well above district norms. Academically, Saluda River consistently outperforms its district peers in nearly every subject and grade level. For example, 4th-grade ELA proficiency reached 67.8% compared to the district's 54%, and 5th-grade math showed a strong recovery to 47.6% after a dip in prior years. Science is a particular bright spot, with 4th-grade proficiency (52.5%) essentially matching the state average. However, the school trails state averages in most other subjects, and math in the middle grades remains a weakness. Chronic absenteeism affects about 1 in 5 students (20.6%), though this has improved from 24.3% two years ago. The school's overall performance has been remarkably stable, hovering in the 40th–50th percentile range (2 stars) for the past decade.

For families comparing options, the most striking contrast is with East Point Academy, a public charter school just 0.37 miles away. East Point ranks in the 77th–83rd percentile (4 stars), achieves 80–90% proficiency in elementary ELA and math, and has a chronic absenteeism rate of just 7.2%—all while spending $6,000 less per student. Within its own district, Saluda River is a relatively strong choice, outperforming Cayce Elementary (8th percentile) and Riverbank Elementary (40th percentile), though Springdale Elementary (61st percentile) edges it out. One concern is the Gifted and Talented subgroup, which ranks in the bottom 7th percentile statewide, suggesting the school's highest-achieving students may not be adequately challenged. For families seeking an arts environment with small classes and personalized attention, Saluda River is a solid, stable choice within Lexington 02—but not a top-tier performer by state standards.

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: Improving — 42nd percentile in 2016 → 47th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 5 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school53%

District avg46%

South Carolina avg58%

344^th of 649

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 47%▲ up 5 pts since 2016

From bottom 42% (2016) to bottom 47% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 6Elementary Schools in the Lexington 02

53^rd 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
2026	45.5	344 of 649	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	42.0	340 of 589	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
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%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	12.7	85 of 91	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	36.8	413 of 624	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	47.1	306 of 583	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	51.5	236 of 454	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
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 (2026)48th percentile~ school

Male (2026)48th percentile~ school

Female (2026)42nd percentile-5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)34th percentile-13 vs school

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

Gifted and Talented (2026)7th percentile-40 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts61%-4 vs state

Science52%~ state avg

Mathematics46%-7 vs state

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Schools Near Saluda River Academy for the Arts

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SC READY English Language Arts (2026)						SC READY Mathematics (2026)						SC READY Science (2026)		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 (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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%)	45.5	344^th of 649 public elementary schools	47.0%		40.3	375^th of 640 public elementary schools	41.4%	31	52.2	67.8	63.4				49.2	41.7	47.6				52.5		$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%)	76	147^th of 649 public elementary schools	77.3%		81.1	106^th of 640 public elementary schools	83.4%	41	84.3	90.5	70.6	55.9	85.5	73.6	79.1	81.0	51.8	28.8	55.3	63.1	80.0	36.2	$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%)	41.2	387^th of 649 public elementary schools	40.4%		29.1	458^th of 640 public elementary schools	28.4%	71	48.6	63.0	54.7				54.8	50.7	43.1				46.3		$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%)	23.1	508^th of 649 public elementary schools	21.7%		28.6	461^st of 640 public elementary schools	28.0%	47	57.3	55.0	42.6				48.5	34.4	24.6				27.9		$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%)	54.6	276^th of 649 public elementary schools	57.5%		41.3	364^th of 640 public elementary schools	43.1%	88	61.8	71.4	64.0				50.0	53.6	40.0				64.2		$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%)	2.8	646^th of 649 public elementary schools	0.5%		17.4	544^th of 640 public elementary schools	15.0%	102	32.5	20.0	37.0				21.0	5.0	14.8				5.0		$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%)	12.9	594^th of 649 public elementary schools	8.5%		13.6	574^th of 640 public elementary schools	10.3%	20	33.4	46.9	44.8				27.0	26.6	34.3				28.1		$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%)	58.4	255^th of 649 public elementary schools	60.7%		63.4	235^th of 640 public elementary schools	63.3%	20	61.6	55.3	73.5				53.8	60.0	56.6				52.3		$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%)	19.2	534^th of 649 public elementary schools	17.7%		17.1	549^th of 640 public elementary schools	14.2%	15	52.0	53.3	41.7				41.3	36.4	21.9				31.2		$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%)	15.7	570^th of 649 public elementary schools	12.2%		9.3	609^th of 640 public elementary schools	4.8%	39	56.0	46.2	36.0				52.0	23.0	16.0				15.4		$29,885	$5,348	$1,789	$7,137	$19,560	$3,189	$22,749

Frequently Asked Questions about Saluda River Academy for the Arts

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

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 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.

Is Saluda River Academy for the Arts a good school?

Saluda River Academy for the Arts ranks 344^th of 649 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Saluda River Academy for the Arts in?

Lexington 02

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Latest South Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 EOCEP & SC READY test scoresNewAug 10, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataNov 3, 2025

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 3, 2025

2024–25 EOCEP & SC READY test scoresSep 2, 2025

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.