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Forest Heights Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

529^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 640 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 17% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Forest Heights Elementary is a public elementary school in Columbia, South Carolina, serving 433 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Richland 01 school district, which is ranked 52 out of 75 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Forest Heights Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom half of South Carolina elementary schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger for most of the past decade, indicating it is performing significantly below the state average. The school's chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 22.5% to 31.1% over the past few years, are among the highest in the district and a key area of concern. Academically, the school's performance on state assessments is lower than the district and state averages across all grade levels and subject areas, particularly in mathematics, where only 19.3% of 5th graders were proficient or better in the 2024-2025 school year.

While Forest Heights Elementary is the lowest-performing school in the immediate vicinity, the nearby schools in the Richland 01 district also struggle with low academic performance and high chronic absenteeism rates. This suggests that the challenges faced by Forest Heights Elementary may be systemic issues within the district, rather than solely school-specific. Addressing the root causes of chronic absenteeism and implementing targeted interventions for underperforming student groups could be crucial steps in improving overall student outcomes at Forest Heights Elementary.

435

Students ?

12.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,567

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2500 Blue Ridge Terrace
Columbia, SC 29203

(803) 691-3780

District: Richland 01

Students who attend Forest Heights Elementary usually attend:

High:

Eau Claire High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

72.2%

Hispanic:

17.7%

Two or more races:

6.0%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

Compare Forest Heights Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 7th percentile in 2015 → 17th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 10 percentile points since 2015

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Carolina average (38% vs 56% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (17th percentile)

!Mathematics scores 20 pts below the South Carolina average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school38%

District avg48%

South Carolina avg56%

529^th of 640

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 17%▲ up 10 pts since 2015

From bottom 7% (2015) to bottom 17% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

18^th of 27Elementary Schools in the Richland 01

52^nd of 75Richland 01 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	20.5	529 of 640	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.3	503 of 638	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.6	579 of 644	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.5	549 of 625	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	8.2	596 of 622	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	11.0	593 of 643	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	7.7	607 of 624	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	11.4	597 of 639	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	16.1	557 of 619	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	15.0	592 of 638	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	32.3	467 of 630	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	25.8	496 of 599	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	10.2	560 of 594	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	13.4	555 of 597	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	17.5	535 of 589	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	23.7	494 of 580	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	9.6	554 of 577	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	18.7	503 of 566	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	22.0	480 of 559	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	38.8	383 of 557	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2004	25.6	450 of 550	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	22.6	458 of 542	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	37.7	248 of 381	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.9	209 of 369	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.2	329 of 394	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	32.7	279 of 393	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.7	320 of 350	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	30.8	327 of 421	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.9	377 of 412	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	31.4	400 of 581	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	17.8	489 of 565	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	9.5	547 of 580	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	11.1	524 of 573	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	12.1	502 of 554	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	13.5	529 of 588	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	9.8	541 of 570	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	25.5	488 of 613	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.9	429 of 599	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.0	526 of 608	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.8	503 of 600	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	9.6	561 of 580	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	14.4	551 of 600	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	9.9	570 of 588	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	13.7	520 of 586	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.1	430 of 568	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.2	500 of 582	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.4	499 of 579	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	7.0	541 of 561	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	9.1	559 of 590	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	6.9	561 of 571	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

African American (2025)35th percentile+18 vs school

Female (2025)31st percentile+14 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)20th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2025)11th percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts46%-16 vs state

Mathematics32%-20 vs state

Science29%-20 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★2

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3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, March 12, 2012

This school is one of the best schools on this side of town. They have made AYP 2 years in a row, they have USC students coming for their internships, and the staff is very passionate about their children learning. I am glad my child goes here!! Close Quote

Schools Near Forest Heights Elementary

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 Mathematics 3rd Grade	SC READY Mathematics 4th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 5th Grade	SC READY Science 4th 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
Forest Heights Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2500 Blue Ridge Terrace	Columbia	29203	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 691-3780	435	36	12.0		18 (4.1%)	314 (72.2%)	77 (17.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (6.0%)	20.5	529^th of 640 public elementary schools	17.3%		22.3	503^rd of 638 public elementary schools	21.2%	26	49.1	52.7	36.5	53.7	27.7	19.3	29.0	$20,567	$2,644	$1,341	$3,985	$14,101	$2,481	$16,582
Carolina School for Inquiry	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	7405-A Fairfield Road	Columbia	29203	Richland County	Richland 01	Yes	No	No	Yes	(803) 691-1250	114	12	9.5		4 (3.5%)	104 (91.2%)	2 (1.8%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.6%)								(n/a)								$24,883	$1,226	$1,465	$2,691	$15,290	$6,903	$22,192
J. P. Thomas Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6001 Weston Avenue	Columbia	29203	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 735-3430	346	28	12.3		14 (4.0%)	298 (86.1%)	11 (3.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	20 (5.8%)	17.3	545^th of 640 public elementary schools	14.8%		20.9	515^th of 638 public elementary schools	19.3%	30	45.0	32.6	54.7	44.3	18.3	29.6	14.2	$24,815	$3,835	$1,532	$5,366	$16,819	$2,629	$19,448
Arden Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1300 Ashley Street	Columbia	29203	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 735-3400	216	19	11.3		2 (0.9%)	126 (58.3%)	73 (33.8%)	4 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (5.1%)	21.3	521^st of 640 public elementary schools	18.6%		18.4	539^th of 638 public elementary schools	15.5%	18	45.0	41.9	47.0	47.5	38.7	23.5	32.3	$24,750	$2,750	$1,452	$4,202	$17,462	$3,087	$20,548
A. J. Lewis Greenview Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	726 Easter Street	Columbia	29203	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 735-3417	358	24	15.2		1 (0.3%)	325 (90.8%)	25 (7.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.0%)	16.6	553^rd of 640 public elementary schools	13.6%		17.3	541^st of 638 public elementary schools	15.2%	12	50.0	54.3	41.5	35.5	32.6	7.7	23.9	$22,558	$2,904	$1,712	$4,616	$14,919	$3,024	$17,943
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
Burton Pack Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	111 Garden Drive	Columbia	29204	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 691-5550	255	26	9.8		1 (0.4%)	227 (89.0%)	13 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.5%)	6.1	628^th of 640 public elementary schools	1.9%		4.4	634^th of 638 public elementary schools	0.6%	6	38.4	28.9	38.9	20.6	18.4	19.5	18.4	$21,148	$2,039	$1,747	$3,786	$14,686	$2,677	$17,363
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
Pine Grove Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	111 Huffstetler Drive	Columbia	29210	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 214-2380	501	39	12.8		37 (7.4%)	369 (73.7%)	55 (11.0%)	8 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (6.2%)	13.2	577^th of 640 public elementary schools	9.8%		11.8	579^th of 638 public elementary schools	9.2%	2	36.7	42.3	42.6	25.0	31.0	26.3	32.4	$20,151	$2,457	$1,457	$3,913	$13,954	$2,284	$16,237
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Forest Heights Elementary

What district is Forest Heights Elementary in?

Richland 01

Is Forest Heights Elementary a good school?

Forest Heights Elementary ranks in the bottom 17.3% of South Carolina elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Forest Heights Elementary attend?

Students who attend Forest Heights Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Eau Claire High

How many students attend Forest Heights Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 435 students attended Forest Heights Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Forest Heights Elementary?

Students at Forest Heights Elementary are 72% African American, 18% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 4% White.

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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.