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Killian Elementary

Q: Is Killian Elementary a good school?

Killian Elementary ranks 445 th of 661 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-5

445^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 661 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 33% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Killian Elementary is a public school in Columbia, SC, serving 699 students in grades PK–5 within the Richland 02 school district, where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Killian's most notable strength is its exceptional performance with African American students, ranking in the top quartile statewide (73rd percentile) — a remarkable achievement that outpaces even higher-performing nearby schools like Round Top Elementary and Lake Carolina Elementary Upper Campus. The school also shows encouraging progress in English Language Arts, with 3rd grade proficiency jumping from 43.7% to 52.3% and 5th grade rising to 56.6% in the latest year. Additionally, services for disabled students have improved dramatically, moving from the 20th percentile to the 54th percentile in just one year.

However, Killian faces significant challenges. Mathematics is a critical weakness, particularly in 5th grade, where proficiency has declined to just 30.1% — a 22% drop over four years and well below the state average of 49.1%. Chronic absenteeism affects 21.2% of students, far higher than nearby Round Top Elementary (8.4%) and North Springs Elementary (12.3%). The school spends $16,409 per student — more than most area schools — and maintains a favorable 11.5:1 student-teacher ratio, yet overall academic outcomes remain in the bottom third of the state. While Killian's overall ranking (32nd percentile) lags behind schools like Round Top (82nd percentile) and Lake Carolina Upper (73rd percentile), its success with specific student subgroups suggests effective strategies that could be replicated elsewhere.

699

Students ?

11.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,409

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2621 Clemson Road
Columbia, SC 29229

(803) 699-2981

District: Richland 02

Students who attend Killian Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Longleaf Middle
High:	Westwood High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

81.4%

Hispanic:

7.7%

Two or more races:

6.0%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

Compare Killian Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 36th percentile in 2016 → 33rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Carolina average (47% vs 58% meeting standards)

!Mathematics scores 14 pts below the South Carolina average

!Near the bottom of Richland 02's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school47%

District avg55%

South Carolina avg58%

445^th of 661

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 33%▼ down 3 pts since 2016

From bottom 36% (2016) to bottom 33% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

18^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	31.8	445 of 661	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	35.4	413 of 639	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.2	456 of 643	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	36.7	408 of 644	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.6	457 of 625	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.9	508 of 622	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	50.4	317 of 643	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.0	335 of 624	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2017	38.5	393 of 639	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	37.1	396 of 619	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	40.9	382 of 638	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2014	43.4	392 of 630	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	35.0	427 of 599	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	33.3	447 of 594	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	41.2	401 of 597	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2010	48.2	329 of 589	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	39.0	395 of 580	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2008	27.6	473 of 577	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	30.1	450 of 566	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	55.2	279 of 559	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2005	43.7	356 of 557	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2004	46.2	342 of 550	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2003	59.3	232 of 542	57.2%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	64.9	104 of 384	72.9%	★★★★☆
2025	65.5	105 of 380	72.4%	★★★★☆
2024	59.1	125 of 369	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	71.6	79 of 394	79.9%	★★★★☆
2022	68.5	87 of 393	77.9%	★★★★☆
2021	51.4	146 of 350	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	85.7	31 of 421	92.6%	★★★★★
2018	79.1	45 of 412	89.1%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	47.7	68 of 147	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	27.0	115 of 143	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.9	119 of 174	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.6	77 of 151	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	57.6	53 of 161	67.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	34.6	394 of 599	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	37.5	360 of 580	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	26.7	428 of 568	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.7	391 of 580	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.0	432 of 573	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	20.5	450 of 554	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	49.1	313 of 588	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.4	293 of 570	48.6%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	41.9	378 of 634	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	45.2	328 of 612	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.8	398 of 602	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.8	308 of 608	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.7	413 of 600	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	22.7	467 of 580	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	60.0	240 of 600	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.1	257 of 588	56.3%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	27.6	429 of 591	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	31.6	412 of 585	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.6	397 of 571	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.2	366 of 582	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	27.8	422 of 579	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	13.1	500 of 561	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	47.8	315 of 590	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.4	348 of 571	39.1%	★★☆☆☆

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)

African American (2026)73rd percentile+40 vs school

Disabled (2025)54th percentile+18 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)40th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2026)34th percentile~ school

Male (2026)27th percentile-5 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts56%-9 vs state

Science44%-7 vs state

Mathematics39%-14 vs state

3.0

4 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★2

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, August 28, 2017

I loved this school! My daughter started Killian and was having problems with her Math they help her my daughter is a A student! Close Quote

by a parent
Monday, August 21, 2017

My children haven't even start killian yet, and I was calling for the last 3 weeks to finishing registering them. I haven't received a call back yet. I call this morning I was asking. To speak to the school registrar and the assistant Secretary was rude and hung up the phone. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, November 8, 2013

Our son attended Killian for one day too long. We had incidences of bullying that were addressed to the assistant vice principal and the teacher herself, the children were talked to but later on continued to bully. The staff are not very welcoming, the teacher that my son had was non compassionate and didn't take care of my sons issues. I wanted a good parent teacher relationship but found her unapproachable. We are currently finding him a new school to attend where our son will be happier to attend and will excel unlike he has at Killian. Close Quote

Schools Near Killian 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)		EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 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 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	EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 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
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
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
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
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
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
Windsor Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	9800 Dunbarton Drive	Columbia	29223	Richland County	Richland 02	No	Yes	No	Yes	(803) 736-8723	579	52	11.2	100.0%	27 (4.7%)	358 (61.8%)	168 (29.0%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	20 (3.5%)	11.9	611^th of 661 public elementary schools	7.6%		11.2	592^nd of 639 public elementary schools	7.4%	19	37.1	45.7	43.5				34.2	20.2	22.0				35.1			$16,902	$1,736	$1,079	$2,815	$11,627	$2,460	$14,086
E. L. Wright Middle	Public, Magnet	K-8	2740 Alpine Road	Columbia	29223	Richland County	Richland 02	No	Yes	No	No	(803) 736-8740	1,275	87	14.5	58.3%	201 (15.8%)	735 (57.6%)	202 (15.8%)	71 (5.6%)	4 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	61 (4.8%)	43.4	371^st of 661 public elementary schools	43.9%		36.2	404^th of 639 public elementary schools	36.8%	33	88.7	97.8	97.4	41.9	52.8	52.9	72.8	72.7	84.6	26.7	29.4	33.2	81.8	40.8		$13,243	$801	$448	$1,249	$9,658	$2,336	$11,994
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
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Killian Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Killian Elementary?

Students at Killian Elementary are 81% African American, 8% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 3% White, 2% Asian.

How many students attend Killian Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 699 students attended Killian Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Killian Elementary attend?

Students who attend Killian Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Longleaf Middle
High : Westwood High

Is Killian Elementary a good school?

Killian Elementary ranks 445^th of 661 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Killian Elementary in?

Richland 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.