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Airport High

Q: Is Airport High a good school?

Airport High ranks 159 th of 248 South Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

159^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 248 South Carolina High Schools

Better than 36% of South Carolina high schools

Summary

Airport High in West Columbia, SC, serves approximately 1,272 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Lexington 02 school district. The school has a 2-star rating and serves a predominantly low-income population, with 85% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch.

Airport High has several notable strengths that stand out despite overall challenges. The school has achieved remarkable success with English Language Learner (ELL) students, jumping from the 32nd percentile statewide to the 88th percentile in just two years—a dramatic improvement that ranks 7th out of 59 schools. The school also consistently outperforms its district on the English 2 exam, with 78.3% proficiency in the most recent year. Additionally, Airport High outperforms its district sibling Brookland-Cayce High on most metrics, including graduation rate (78.8% vs. 71.9%) and Algebra 1 proficiency (40% vs. 31.4%), despite having a higher student-to-teacher ratio. The school also shows quiet strength in serving disabled students, ranking in the 51st percentile.

However, the school faces significant challenges that parents should understand. Chronic absenteeism is the most pressing issue, with 33.6% of students chronically absent—roughly 50% higher than the district average and significantly above the state average. This likely contributes to the graduation rate of 78.8%, which remains below the state average of 86.7%, and a dropout rate double the state average. The school also struggles with its Gifted and Talented students, who rank in the 18th percentile statewide, suggesting limited advanced course offerings. When compared to nearby high performers like Gray Collegiate Academy (96th percentile, 100% graduation) and River Bluff High (86th percentile), Airport High's overall performance lags, though it spends more per student than Gray Collegiate. The school's ELL turnaround demonstrates that targeted interventions can work, offering a model for addressing other areas of need.

1,272

Students ?

17.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,078

Per pupil spending ?

85.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1315 Boston Avenue
West Columbia, SC 29170

(803) 822-5600

District: Lexington 02

Feeder schools for Airport High:

Elementary:	Congaree Elementary
	Herbert A. Wood Elementary
	Springdale Elementary
Middle:	Pine Ridge Middle
	R. H. Fulmer Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

35.6%

African American:

34.6%

Hispanic:

24.2%

See top rated South Carolina high schools

Compare Airport High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 48th percentile in 2016 → 36th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Carolina average (63% vs 69% meeting standards)

!Graduation rate below the South Carolina average (79% vs 87%)

!High chronic absenteeism (34% vs 22% South Carolina)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school63%

District avg63%

South Carolina avg69%

159^th of 248

South Carolina public high schools ?

Bottom 36%▼ down 12 pts since 2016

From bottom 48% (2016) to bottom 36% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 2High Schools in the Lexington 02

52^nd 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	35.8	159 of 248	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.2	155 of 240	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.6	170 of 243	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.6	144 of 237	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.2	148 of 226	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.4	125 of 227	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.1	111 of 225	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	38.0	111 of 216	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	31.9	134 of 223	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	41.8	121 of 231	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	46.5	100 of 232	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2014	45.3	120 of 210	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	42.3	124 of 203	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	38.3	138 of 202	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	42.9	122 of 199	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2010	62.8	76 of 199	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2009	58.6	85 of 188	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2008	63.6	80 of 185	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	66.1	62 of 191	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	59.1	94 of 191	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2005	61.1	93 of 187	50.3%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	37.0	133 of 200	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.6	131 of 196	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.6	120 of 197	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.5	108 of 199	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.4	88 of 190	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.5	68 of 178	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.1	80 of 184	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.6	79 of 183	56.8%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	46.7	66 of 136	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	38.5	87 of 140	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.2	76 of 147	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.7	63 of 141	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	26.0	104 of 139	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	59.7	33 of 115	71.3%	★★★★☆
2019	66.2	39 of 143	72.7%	★★★★☆
2018	58.1	51 of 137	62.8%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	82.6	7 of 59	88.1%	★★★★☆
2025	45.6	38 of 70	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.3	48 of 71	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.5	29 of 68	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	34.2	43 of 61	29.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	29.9	36 of 46	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	4.3	64 of 64	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	39.7	146 of 229	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	23.2	179 of 229	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.4	180 of 231	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.6	151 of 223	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.8	141 of 220	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.9	122 of 213	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.7	114 of 213	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.9	130 of 210	38.1%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	39.5	127 of 155	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	49.6	106 of 154	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.7	130 of 158	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	52.8	98 of 156	37.2%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	38.6	79 of 124	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	41.5	78 of 122	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.7	93 of 122	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	45.9	66 of 119	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	21.8	92 of 108	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	36.4	64 of 93	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.3	66 of 86	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.6	66 of 80	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	34.8	166 of 241	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.0	142 of 230	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.9	145 of 235	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.9	120 of 226	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.4	137 of 220	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.9	97 of 213	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	47.5	82 of 217	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	42.0	112 of 214	47.7%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	30.2	165 of 233	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	40.0	132 of 228	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.6	144 of 234	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.7	130 of 229	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	29.3	155 of 224	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.7	124 of 215	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.7	110 of 218	49.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	40.7	108 of 213	49.3%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	22.2	49 of 57	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.7	44 of 48	8.3%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	38.2	138 of 203	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	30.9	148 of 200	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.8	165 of 202	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.9	153 of 197	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.9	148 of 192	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	41.9	106 of 189	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.3	103 of 191	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.8	128 of 185	30.8%	★★☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2026)88th percentile+52 vs school

Disabled (2026)51st percentile+16 vs school

Hispanic (2026)36th percentile~ school

Female (2026)36th percentile~ school

African American (2026)34th percentile~ school

White (2026)32nd percentile-4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)31st percentile-5 vs school

Male (2026)29th percentile-7 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)18th percentile-18 vs school

Multi-racial (2023)14th percentile-25 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English 278%-5 vs state

Biology 1/Applied Biology 272%+11 vs state

U.S. History and the Constitution42%-20 vs state

Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 240%-25 vs state

★

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Schools Near Airport High

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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)	EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (2026)	EOCEP Biology 1/Applied Biology 2 (2026)	EOCEP U.S. History and the Constitution (2026)	EOCEP English 2 (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 (2024)	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 6th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 7th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 8th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 6th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 7th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 8th Grade	SC READY Science 6th Grade	EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 End of Course	EOCEP Biology 1/Applied Biology 2 End of Course	EOCEP U.S. History and the Constitution End of Course	EOCEP English 2 End of Course	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
Airport High	Public	9-12	1315 Boston Avenue	West Columbia	29170	Lexington County	Lexington 02	No	No	No	No	(803) 822-5600	1,272	73	17.4	85.1%	453 (35.6%)	440 (34.6%)	308 (24.2%)	16 (1.3%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	52 (4.1%)	35.8	159^th of 248 public high schools	35.9%		34.2	155^th of 240 public high schools	35.4%	4								40.0	72.1	42.1	78.3	$14,078	$558	$957	$1,515	$10,180	$2,383	$12,563
Midlands Middle College	Public, Charter	10-12	1260 Lexington Drive	West Columbia	29170	Lexington County	School Public Charter School District	Yes	No	No	No	(803) 822-3333	115	7	17.4	42.5%	68 (59.1%)	25 (21.7%)	15 (13.0%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (5.2%)	30.8	176^th of 248 public high schools	29.0%					(n/a)										54.8	72.7	$9,542	$123	$144	$267	$8,185	$1,090	$9,275
Lexington Two Innovation Center	Public	9-12	509 Bulldog Boulevard	Cayce	29033	Lexington County	Lexington 02	No	No	No	No	(803) 936-5550	0	22	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Brookland-Cayce High	Public	9-12	1300 State Street	Cayce	29033	Lexington County	Lexington 02	No	No	No	No	(803) 791-5000	1,212	99	12.2	100.0%	310 (25.6%)	392 (32.3%)	405 (33.4%)	48 (4.0%)	5 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	51 (4.2%)	31.8	172^nd of 248 public high schools	30.6%		22.8	188^th of 240 public high schools	21.7%	16								31.4	78.5	42.3	76.1	$13,658	$381	$982	$1,363	$9,694	$2,601	$12,295
Gray Collegiate Academy	Public, Charter	6-12	3833 Leaphart Road	West Columbia	29169	Lexington County	Charter Institute at Erskine	Yes	No	No	No	(803) 951-3321	935	38	24.9	15.0%	667 (71.3%)	153 (16.4%)	62 (6.6%)	5 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (5.1%)	94.3	11^th of 248 public high schools	95.6%		93.1	7^th of 240 public high schools	97.1%	4	75.2	88.8	91.3	59.6	71.7	88.0	65.1		86.2	86.2	99.5	$9,602	$1,106	$181	$1,286	$5,154	$3,162	$8,316
River Bluff High	Public	9-12	320 Corley Mill Road	Lexington	29072	Lexington County	Lexington 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 821-0700	2,117	131	16.1	26.3%	1,422 (67.2%)	230 (10.9%)	188 (8.9%)	180 (8.5%)	2 (0.1%)	6 (0.3%)	89 (4.2%)	83.8	34^th of 248 public high schools	86.3%		76.9	33^rd of 240 public high schools	86.3%	1									73.7	75.2	94.4	$14,256	$557	$367	$924	$11,421	$1,911	$13,332
Columbia High	Public	9-12	1701 Westchester Drive	Columbia	29210	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 731-8950	681	54	12.6	100.0%	18 (2.6%)	579 (85.0%)	45 (6.6%)	15 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	23 (3.4%)	21.8	207^th of 248 public high schools	16.5%		12	218^th of 240 public high schools	9.2%	11									36.4	46.8	76.8	$21,575	$1,744	$2,088	$3,832	$14,838	$2,905	$17,743
C. A. Johnson High	Public	9-12	2219 Barhamville Road	Columbia	29204	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 253-7092	344	38	9.0	100.0%	2 (0.6%)	319 (92.7%)	12 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.2%)	18.1	219^th of 248 public high schools	11.7%		26.5	180^th of 240 public high schools	25.0%	39									38.0	40.0	75.8	$29,536	$1,508	$1,904	$3,412	$21,293	$4,831	$26,124
Dreher High	Public	9-12	3319 Millwood Avenue	Columbia	29205	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 253-7000	1,144	78	14.7	100.0%	387 (33.8%)	560 (49.0%)	103 (9.0%)	20 (1.7%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	71 (6.2%)	72.2	58^th of 248 public high schools	76.6%		59.5	81^st of 240 public high schools	66.3%	23									67.6	67.2	89.8	$18,263	$1,246	$1,102	$2,347	$13,403	$2,512	$15,916
Richland One Charter Middle College	Public, Charter	11-12	316 South Beltline Boulevard R	Columbia	29205	Richland County	Richland 01	Yes	No	No	No	(803) 738-7114	106	5	23.5	100.0%	14 (13.2%)	78 (73.6%)	5 (4.7%)	3 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (5.7%)								(n/a)										61.7		$19,050	$1,095	$1,068	$2,163	$13,550	$3,338	$16,887

Frequently Asked Questions about Airport High

Is Airport High a good school?

Airport High ranks 159^th of 248 South Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into Airport High?

Airport High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Congaree Elementary
Elementary : Herbert A. Wood Elementary
Elementary : Springdale Elementary
Middle : Pine Ridge Middle
Middle : R. H. Fulmer Middle

What is the racial makeup of Airport High?

Students at Airport High are 36% White, 35% African American, 24% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

How many students attend Airport High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,272 students attended Airport High.

What district is Airport High in?

Lexington 02

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Latest South Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 EOCEP & SC READY test scoresAug 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.