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Dreher High

Q: Is Dreher High a good school?

Dreher High ranks 58 th of 248 South Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

58^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 248 South Carolina High Schools

Better than 77% of South Carolina high schools

Summary

Dreher High is a comprehensive public high school in Columbia, SC, serving 1,144 students in grades 9-12 within the Richland 01 school district.

Dreher is a strong academic performer, ranking 58th out of 245 high schools in South Carolina and earning a 4-star rating. This places it well ahead of nearby schools like A. C. Flora High (ranked 91st), Richland Northeast High (198th), and Eau Claire High (215th). The school's greatest strength is English Language Arts, with 89.83% of students scoring proficient on the English 2 exam—well above both district and state averages. Dreher also boasts a low dropout rate of just 1.1%, compared to 8.1% at C. A. Johnson High and 5.8% at Brookland-Cayce High. Its graduation rate of 85.4% is solid, though slightly below the state average.

While Dreher excels overall, there are areas for improvement. The school's chronic absenteeism rate of 23.8% is above the state average of 22.3%, and its gifted and talented students perform below the state median for that subgroup. Additionally, Hispanic and low-income students achieve at lower levels than their peers. The school spends $18,263 per student—more than A. C. Flora High ($16,591) but less than Eau Claire High ($23,182)—yet achieves better outcomes than schools with higher spending. For families, Dreher represents a high-quality option, particularly for students strong in English, though targeted support for specific student groups and improved attendance could make it even stronger.

1,144

Students ?

14.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,377

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3319 Millwood Avenue
Columbia, SC 29205

(803) 253-7000

District: Richland 01

Feeder schools for Dreher High:

Elementary:	A. C. Moore Elementary
	Meadowfield Elementary
	Rosewood Elementary
	South Kilbourne Elementary
Middle:	Hand Middle

Racial breakdown:

African American:

49.0%

White:

33.8%

Hispanic:

9.0%

See top rated South Carolina high schools

Compare Dreher High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 66th percentile in 2024 → 77th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the South Carolina average (75% vs 69% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 23% of South Carolina high schools

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 77th (2026) from a 66th-percentile low (2024)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school75%

District avg60%

South Carolina avg69%

58^th of 248

South Carolina public high schools ?

Top 23%▼ down 5 pts since 2016

From top 18% (2016) to top 23% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 7High Schools in the Richland 01

55^th 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
2026	72.2	58 of 248	76.6%	★★★★☆
2025	59.5	81 of 240	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.6	83 of 243	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.9	71 of 237	70.0%	★★★★☆
2022	60.2	66 of 226	70.8%	★★★★☆
2021	69.0	46 of 227	79.7%	★★★★☆
2019	59.4	55 of 225	75.6%	★★★★☆
2018	65.2	38 of 216	82.4%	★★★★☆
2017	63.9	38 of 223	83.0%	★★★★☆
2016	66.7	42 of 231	81.8%	★★★★☆
2015	65.6	46 of 232	80.2%	★★★★☆
2014	78.4	36 of 210	82.9%	★★★★☆
2013	81.9	28 of 203	86.2%	★★★★☆
2012	75.1	46 of 202	77.2%	★★★★☆
2011	73.8	49 of 199	75.4%	★★★★☆
2010	79.1	37 of 199	81.4%	★★★★☆
2009	59.8	84 of 188	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2008	67.8	63 of 185	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2007	52.8	123 of 191	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2006	61.0	83 of 191	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2005	58.7	102 of 187	45.5%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	68.5	52 of 200	74.0%	★★★★☆
2025	62.7	55 of 196	71.9%	★★★★☆
2024	70.2	42 of 197	78.7%	★★★★☆
2023	59.0	62 of 199	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.7	62 of 190	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	54.1	61 of 178	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	70.3	25 of 184	86.4%	★★★★☆
2018	76.1	19 of 183	89.6%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	51.8	52 of 136	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	52.0	59 of 140	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.3	54 of 147	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.4	66 of 141	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.0	56 of 139	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	51.0	61 of 143	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	87.7	8 of 137	94.2%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	74.9	48 of 229	79.0%	★★★★☆
2025	64.9	69 of 229	69.9%	★★★★☆
2024	57.0	87 of 231	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.7	62 of 223	72.2%	★★★★☆
2022	61.2	66 of 220	70.0%	★★★★☆
2021	67.0	55 of 213	74.2%	★★★★☆
2019	58.0	69 of 213	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.1	56 of 210	73.3%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	59.6	83 of 155	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	49.5	107 of 154	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	58.0	89 of 158	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	63.0	71 of 156	54.5%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	51.4	59 of 124	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	58.9	45 of 122	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	29.3	96 of 122	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	52.2	58 of 119	51.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	54.6	98 of 241	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	55.0	82 of 230	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.3	100 of 235	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.2	105 of 226	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.8	99 of 220	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	48.1	96 of 213	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	54.8	61 of 217	71.9%	★★★★☆
2018	58.8	56 of 214	73.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	64.6	74 of 233	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	53.5	93 of 228	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.4	84 of 234	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.7	87 of 229	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.7	76 of 224	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	68.1	45 of 215	79.1%	★★★★☆
2019	63.2	44 of 218	79.8%	★★★★☆
2018	68.7	28 of 213	86.9%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	45.2	34 of 57	40.4%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	87.5	14 of 203	93.1%	★★★★★
2025	79.5	22 of 200	89.0%	★★★★☆
2024	78.5	30 of 202	85.1%	★★★★☆
2023	86.4	13 of 197	93.4%	★★★★★
2022	79.2	23 of 192	88.0%	★★★★☆
2021	85.7	13 of 189	93.1%	★★★★★
2019	75.7	22 of 191	88.5%	★★★★☆
2018	80.1	11 of 185	94.1%	★★★★★

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)93rd percentile+16 vs school

Female (2026)79th percentile~ school

African American (2026)74th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2026)68th percentile-8 vs school

Disabled (2026)62nd percentile-15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)59th percentile-17 vs school

Hispanic (2026)52nd percentile-24 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)46th percentile-30 vs school

Multi-racial (2023)40th percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English 290%+6 vs state

Biology 1/Applied Biology 268%+7 vs state

U.S. History and the Constitution67%+5 vs state

5.0

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Wednesday, February 11, 2009

newsweek list of top high schools in usa. excellent academics and arts program. Close Quote

Schools Near Dreher 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)				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 (2026)
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	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
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	$18,377	$1,098	$857	$1,955	$13,868	$2,554	$16,422
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		$21,827	$819	$858	$1,677	$15,425	$4,726	$20,150
A. C. Flora High	Public	9-12	1 Falcon Drive	Columbia	29204	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 738-7300	1,328	85	15.6	100.0%	602 (45.3%)	523 (39.4%)	113 (8.5%)	24 (1.8%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	63 (4.7%)	62.6	92^nd of 248 public high schools	62.9%		43.5	129^th of 240 public high schools	46.3%	37		60.1	67.3	86.4	$17,292	$959	$860	$1,819	$12,824	$2,648	$15,472
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	$31,010	$1,312	$1,491	$2,802	$22,914	$5,294	$28,208
Samuel A. Heyward Career and Technology Center	Public	9-12	3560 Lynhaven Drive	Columbia	29204	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 735-3343	0	23	.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	$14,989	$315	$1,220	$1,535	$10,888	$2,566	$13,454
School Whitmore School	Public, Virtual, Charter	9-12	501 Commerce Drive NE	Columbia	29223	Richland County	School Public Charter School District	Yes	No	Yes	No	(803) 476-6416	431	15	28.7	54.2%	309 (71.7%)	81 (18.8%)	26 (6.0%)	8 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.6%)	23.6	200^th of 248 public high schools	19.4%		23.4	186^th of 240 public high schools	22.5%	14		38.6	44.9	78.5	$9,106	$195	$96	$291	$6,740	$2,074	$8,815
Eau Claire High	Public	9-12	4800 Monticello Road	Columbia	29203	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 735-7600	542	47	11.6	100.0%	7 (1.3%)	438 (80.8%)	72 (13.3%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	21 (3.9%)	18.1	217^th of 248 public high schools	12.5%		6.9	229^th of 240 public high schools	4.6%	12		39.2	45.5	72.7	$22,961	$1,801	$1,024	$2,825	$16,650	$3,486	$20,136
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)
Richland Northeast High	Public, Magnet	9-12	7500 Brookfield Road	Columbia	29223	Richland County	Richland 02	No	Yes	No	No	(803) 699-2800	1,340	101	13.3	67.9%	112 (8.4%)	857 (64.0%)	296 (22.1%)	19 (1.4%)	2 (0.1%)	4 (0.3%)	50 (3.7%)	24	199^th of 248 public high schools	19.8%		15.8	208^th of 240 public high schools	13.3%	9	65.3	39.9	39.1	73.2	$17,158	$676	$689	$1,365	$12,077	$3,716	$15,793

Frequently Asked Questions about Dreher High

What is the racial makeup of Dreher High?

Students at Dreher High are 49% African American, 34% White, 9% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

Is Dreher High a good school?

Dreher High ranks 58^th of 248 South Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into Dreher High?

Dreher High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : A. C. Moore Elementary
Elementary : Meadowfield Elementary
Elementary : Rosewood Elementary
Elementary : South Kilbourne Elementary
Middle : Hand Middle

How many students attend Dreher High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,144 students attended Dreher High.

What district is Dreher High in?

Richland 01

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Latest South Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 school spending dataNewOct 12, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 12, 2026

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

2024–25 school spending dataNov 3, 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.