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Rice Creek Elementary

Q: Is Rice Creek Elementary a good school?

Rice Creek Elementary ranks 406 th of 661 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-5

406^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 661 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 39% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Rice Creek Elementary is a PK-5 school in Columbia, SC, serving 718 students within the Richland 02 school district, where about 61% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Rice Creek's most notable strength is its exceptional performance with African American students, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 77th percentile statewide for this group—a consistent pattern over the past three years. The school also shows a clear "upper grade" strength pattern in English Language Arts: while 3rd grade proficiency (45.8%) trails the district, 4th and 5th grade proficiency (65.7% and 67.6%) actually exceed district averages, suggesting students make strong reading gains between 3rd and 5th grade. However, mathematics is a significant concern, particularly in 5th grade where only 33.6% of students are proficient compared to the 49.1% state average—a gap that has persisted for several years. Chronic absenteeism (17.7%) is below the state average (22.3%) but notably higher than nearby high-performing schools like Round Top Elementary (8.4%) and Lake Carolina Elementary Upper Campus (5.9%).

Compared to neighbors, Rice Creek outperforms Killian Elementary in most subjects but trails significantly behind Bookman Road Elementary, Round Top, and Lake Carolina Upper. The school achieves its results with lower per-student spending ($13,843) than most nearby schools, and maintains a competitive 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio. The school's ranking has been volatile over the past decade, ranging from the 69th percentile (2017-2018) to the 37th percentile (2022-2023), with a recent decline to the 38th percentile for 2025-2026. While the school has clear models of success within its own district to study, its consistent strength with African American students and upper-grade reading growth suggest effective practices that could be expanded to improve math outcomes and overall consistency.

718

Students ?

13.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,843

Per pupil spending ?

60.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4751 Hard Scrabble Road
Columbia, SC 29229

(803) 699-2900

District: Richland 02

Students who attend Rice Creek Elementary usually attend:

High:

Ridge View High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

74.9%

Two or more races:

9.1%

Hispanic:

7.9%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

Compare Rice Creek Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 54th percentile in 2016 → 39th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Carolina average (50% vs 58% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 15 percentile points since 2016

!Mathematics scores 11 pts below the South Carolina average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school50%

District avg55%

South Carolina avg58%

406^th of 661

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 39%▼ down 16 pts since 2016

From top 46% (2016) to bottom 39% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

15^th of 22Elementary Schools in the Richland 02

36^th of 75Richland 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	38.8	406 of 661	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	49.2	312 of 639	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.6	312 of 643	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	37.9	403 of 644	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.3	333 of 625	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.9	373 of 622	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	60.1	254 of 643	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.8	194 of 624	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	64.6	205 of 639	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	53.8	283 of 619	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2015	54.0	273 of 638	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2014	63.1	236 of 630	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2013	64.1	216 of 599	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	59.4	261 of 594	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	74.4	132 of 597	77.9%	★★★★☆
2010	74.2	125 of 589	78.8%	★★★★☆
2009	71.7	147 of 580	74.7%	★★★★☆
2008	70.0	157 of 577	72.8%	★★★★☆
2007	71.7	144 of 566	74.6%	★★★★☆
2006	75.4	115 of 559	79.4%	★★★★☆
2005	80.7	77 of 557	86.2%	★★★★☆
2004	77.8	103 of 550	81.3%	★★★★☆
2003	82.7	75 of 542	86.2%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	68.1	89 of 384	76.8%	★★★★☆
2025	74.8	69 of 380	81.8%	★★★★☆
2024	80.7	40 of 369	89.2%	★★★★☆
2023	68.2	92 of 394	76.6%	★★★★☆
2022	80.5	53 of 393	86.5%	★★★★☆
2021	87.0	20 of 350	94.3%	★★★★★
2019	90.4	14 of 421	96.7%	★★★★★
2018	94.0	13 of 412	96.8%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	38.1	372 of 599	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	48.3	290 of 580	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.4	244 of 568	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.0	332 of 580	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.2	283 of 573	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	40.4	335 of 554	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	63.2	208 of 588	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	67.0	170 of 570	70.2%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	40.3	388 of 634	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	52.2	284 of 612	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.3	269 of 602	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	36.0	408 of 608	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.5	323 of 600	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	50.7	278 of 580	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.1	189 of 600	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	75.9	115 of 588	80.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	37.2	385 of 591	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	47.6	306 of 585	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.0	339 of 571	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.2	402 of 582	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.3	345 of 579	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	37.0	362 of 561	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.2	282 of 590	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.6	215 of 571	62.3%	★★★☆☆

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 (2026)77th percentile+38 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)39th percentile~ school

Female (2026)38th percentile~ school

Male (2026)35th percentile-4 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts59%-5 vs state

Science47%-5 vs state

Mathematics43%-11 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, May 18, 2011

The staff cares about the students. Somehow they are able to remember each student and each parent. They are always helpful to both you and your child. I only wish I could take the staff with me when I move Close Quote

Schools Near Rice Creek Elementary

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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 (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 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
Rice Creek Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	4751 Hard Scrabble Road	Columbia	29229	Richland County	Richland 02	No	Yes	No	No	(803) 699-2900	718	55	13.1	60.9%	38 (5.3%)	538 (74.9%)	57 (7.9%)	18 (2.5%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (9.1%)	38.8	406^th of 661 public elementary schools	38.6%		49.2	312^th of 639 public elementary schools	51.2%	94	56.5	59.3	61.4				46.3	47.8	33.6				46.9		$13,843	$1,518	$632	$2,150	$9,812	$1,881	$11,693
Sandlapper Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1001 Longtown Road	Columbia	29229	Richland County	Richland 02	No	No	No	No	(803) 691-4045	671	51	13.2	63.4%	45 (6.7%)	517 (77.0%)	52 (7.7%)	21 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	35 (5.2%)	35.6	426^th of 661 public elementary schools	35.6%		44.7	343^rd of 639 public elementary schools	46.3%	83	53.9	53.5	57.5				47.3	46.6	39.7				44.5		$15,405	$1,485	$1,222	$2,707	$10,657	$2,041	$12,698
Killian Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	2621 Clemson Road	Columbia	29229	Richland County	Richland 02	No	Yes	No	Yes	(803) 699-2981	699	60	11.5	100.0%	21 (3.0%)	569 (81.4%)	54 (7.7%)	11 (1.6%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (6.0%)	31.8	445^th of 661 public elementary schools	32.7%		35.4	413^th of 639 public elementary schools	35.4%	32	52.3	57.6	56.6				43.9	44.4	30.1				44.3		$16,409	$2,523	$948	$3,470	$10,547	$2,392	$12,939
North Springs Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1300 Clemson Road	Columbia	29229	Richland County	Richland 02	No	Yes	No	No	(803) 736-3183	659	53	12.4	62.9%	52 (7.9%)	486 (73.7%)	64 (9.7%)	9 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	38 (5.8%)	40.6	397^th of 661 public elementary schools	39.9%		37.3	395^th of 639 public elementary schools	38.2%	2	59.6	63.4	59.1				55.3	39.8	35.4				45.1		$16,072	$1,643	$1,136	$2,780	$11,109	$2,183	$13,292
Summit Parkway Middle	Public, Magnet	K-8	200 Summit Parkway	Columbia	29229	Richland County	Richland 02	No	Yes	No	No	(803) 699-3580	1,229	84	14.5	52.0%	193 (15.7%)	731 (59.5%)	163 (13.3%)	40 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	96 (7.8%)	49	323^rd of 661 public elementary schools	51.1%		31.9	435^th of 639 public elementary schools	31.9%	112	69.8	90.0	86.5	50.4	51.3	47.0	58.1	72.5	81.1	35.8	21.8	32.7	62.5	40.4	$12,925	$888	$320	$1,208	$9,472	$2,245	$11,717
Lake Carolina Elementary Lower Campus	Public	PK, KG-2	1151 Kelly Mill Road	Blythewood	29016	Richland County	Richland 02	No	No	No	No	(803) 714-1300	531	39	13.5	41.9%	145 (27.3%)	248 (46.7%)	68 (12.8%)	12 (2.3%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (10.5%)								(n/a)															$17,870	$1,999	$958	$2,957	$12,263	$2,650	$14,913
Lake Carolina Elementary Upper Campus	Public	3-5	1261 Kelly Mill Road	Blythewood	29016	Richland County	Richland 02	No	No	No	No	(803) 691-3360	523	37	14.2	32.9%	139 (26.6%)	275 (52.6%)	55 (10.5%)	15 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	37 (7.1%)	71.5	181^st of 661 public elementary schools	72.6%		76.1	151^st of 639 public elementary schools	76.4%	30	69.4	72.8	72.5				63.4	57.0	58.2				64.1		$14,706	$1,380	$693	$2,072	$10,684	$1,950	$12,634
Bridge Creek Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	121 Bombing Range Road	Elgin	29045	Kershaw County	Richland 02	No	Yes	No	No	(803) 462-3900	564	47	12.1	60.1%	63 (11.2%)	374 (66.3%)	77 (13.7%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	42 (7.4%)	41.9	386^th of 661 public elementary schools	41.6%		43.6	352^nd of 639 public elementary schools	44.9%	34	50.0	68.4	58.7				53.4	48.7	44.4				39.5		$15,344	$1,391	$802	$2,192	$11,303	$1,848	$13,151
Round Top Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	449 Rimer Pond Road	Blythewood	29016	Richland County	Richland 02	No	No	No	No	(803) 691-8676	581	46	12.5	35.7%	188 (32.4%)	269 (46.3%)	58 (10.0%)	28 (4.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (6.4%)	81.4	116^th of 661 public elementary schools	82.5%		85.8	80^th of 639 public elementary schools	87.5%	36	83.1	73.0	79.1				74.2	58.0	64.3				68.0		$14,463	$1,514	$547	$2,062	$10,165	$2,237	$12,402
L. B. Nelson Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	225 North Brickyard Road	Columbia	29223	Richland County	Richland 02	No	Yes	No	No	(803) 736-8730	541	44	12.2	65.1%	56 (10.4%)	380 (70.2%)	55 (10.2%)	11 (2.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (7.0%)	50.2	317^th of 661 public elementary schools	52.0%		47.9	321^st of 639 public elementary schools	49.8%	4	53.1	62.5	60.3				56.3	55.7	38.4				60.2		$15,825	$1,669	$976	$2,645	$10,966	$2,213	$13,179

Frequently Asked Questions about Rice Creek Elementary

What district is Rice Creek Elementary in?

Richland 02

What schools do graduates of Rice Creek Elementary attend?

Students who attend Rice Creek Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Ridge View High

How many students attend Rice Creek Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 718 students attended Rice Creek Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Rice Creek Elementary?

Students at Rice Creek Elementary are 75% African American, 9% Two or more races, 8% Hispanic, 5% White, 3% Asian.

Is Rice Creek Elementary a good school?

Rice Creek Elementary ranks 406^th of 661 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Rice Creek Elementary!

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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.