Columbia High

Columbia High is a public high school in Columbia, SC, serving 681 students in grades 9-12 within the Richland 01 school district, where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

While the school's overall state ranking is low (206th out of 245 South Carolina high schools), there are some encouraging signs. Most notably, English 2 proficiency has more than doubled in two years, jumping from 33% to nearly 77%—now just a few points below the state average. The school has also made real progress on attendance: chronic absenteeism has dropped from 59% to 41% over two years, though that rate is still nearly double the state average. Graduation rates sit at 78.6%, below the state's 86.7%, and the dropout rate of 6.3% is triple the state average—a concerning trend that has worsened over the past three years. On a positive note, the school's performance with its African American students has improved significantly, earning a 2-star rating in that subgroup, which is better than the school's overall 1-star rating.

Compared to nearby schools, the picture is mixed. Columbia High spends a substantial $21,575 per student—about 50% more than Irmo High ($15,789) and River Bluff High ($14,256)—yet those suburban schools achieve significantly higher test scores and graduation rates (River Bluff's is 94%). Within its own district, Columbia High outperforms C. A. Johnson High and Eau Claire High on attendance and overall ranking. One area of concern is the declining performance of students with disabilities, which has dropped from a 2-star to a 0-star rating over three years. While the school faces significant challenges, the recent improvements in English scores, attendance, and African American student achievement suggest that some interventions are beginning to take hold.