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L. B. Nelson Elementary

Q: Is L. B. Nelson Elementary a good school?

L. B. Nelson Elementary ranks 317 th of 661 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-5

317^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 661 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 52% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

L. B. Nelson Elementary is a PK-5 public school in Columbia, SC, serving 541 students within the Richland 02 school district, and currently holds a 3-star rating that places it in the middle of the pack statewide.

One of the most notable strengths at L. B. Nelson is its exceptional performance with African American students, where the school ranks in the 91st percentile statewide—a significant improvement over the past three years. The school also shines in 4th-grade science, with 60.2% of students scoring proficient, well above both the district (51.8%) and state (51.6%) averages. Families will also appreciate the favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.2:1 and the higher-than-average spending of $15,825 per student, which reflects a strong investment in resources. However, there is a clear split in academic performance: while English Language Arts scores are generally close to district and state averages, math performance is more volatile, particularly in 5th grade where only 38.4% of students are proficient—a notable drop from the previous year and well below the state average of 49.1%.

When compared to nearby schools, L. B. Nelson sits comfortably in the middle. It outperforms Polo Road Elementary, Jackson Creek Elementary, and Windsor Elementary, but trails behind Catawba Trail Elementary and the district's K-8 schools, which show dramatically higher test scores. One growing concern is chronic absenteeism, which has climbed to 25.4%—the highest in the school's recent history and above both district and state averages. Despite spending more per student than many peers, academic outcomes remain average, suggesting that the strategies working well for certain student groups could potentially be expanded to benefit all learners.

541

Students ?

12.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,130

Per pupil spending ?

65.1%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2023-24) ?

93%

Students (all grades) with required immunizations (2025-26)

225 North Brickyard Road
Columbia, SC 29223

(803) 736-8730

District: Richland 02

Racial breakdown:

African American:

70.2%

White:

10.4%

Hispanic:

10.2%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 53rd percentile in 2016 → 52nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the South Carolina median (52nd percentile)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school56%

District avg55%

South Carolina avg58%

317^th of 661

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 48%▬ steady since 2016

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^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	50.2	317 of 661	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	47.9	321 of 639	49.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.7	341 of 643	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.6	350 of 644	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	67.0	199 of 625	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.7	300 of 622	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.0	320 of 643	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.4	280 of 624	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	46.2	341 of 639	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2016	52.3	294 of 619	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2015	61.5	209 of 638	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2014	49.7	352 of 630	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	43.4	368 of 599	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	46.1	361 of 594	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2011	55.2	287 of 597	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2010	60.6	236 of 589	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	58.3	251 of 580	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2008	67.6	180 of 577	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	54.0	279 of 566	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2006	65.5	194 of 559	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2005	76.9	102 of 557	81.7%	★★★★☆
2004	79.2	92 of 550	83.3%	★★★★☆
2003	81.5	85 of 542	84.3%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	81.7	33 of 384	91.4%	★★★★★
2025	79.7	47 of 380	87.6%	★★★★☆
2024	72.1	68 of 369	81.6%	★★★★☆
2023	77.2	55 of 394	86.0%	★★★★☆
2022	93.1	16 of 393	95.9%	★★★★★
2021	81.0	30 of 350	91.4%	★★★★★
2019	72.9	81 of 421	80.8%	★★★★☆
2018	74.5	67 of 412	83.7%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	48.1	293 of 599	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	48.4	289 of 580	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.4	302 of 568	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.1	330 of 580	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	61.3	212 of 573	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.2	257 of 554	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	59.2	238 of 588	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.4	230 of 570	59.6%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	53.3	294 of 634	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	55.6	257 of 612	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.6	275 of 602	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	37.5	399 of 608	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	74.9	121 of 600	79.8%	★★★★☆
2021	51.4	271 of 580	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	48.8	324 of 600	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.3	362 of 588	38.4%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	48.9	296 of 591	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	43.9	332 of 585	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.2	318 of 571	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.0	322 of 582	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	66.6	188 of 579	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.1	320 of 561	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.6	372 of 590	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.7	324 of 571	43.3%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	55.4	222 of 472	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	84.1	60 of 457	86.9%	★★★★☆

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)91st percentile+39 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)54th percentile~ school

White (2019)53rd percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)51st percentile~ school

Male (2026)50th percentile~ school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science60%+9 vs state

English Language Arts59%-5 vs state

Mathematics50%-3 vs state

★

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Schools Near L. B. Nelson 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 Vaccination 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)	Vaccination (2025-26)		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/reduced lunch (2023-24)	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	Vaccination: Students (all grades) with required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	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
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			93%		$16,130	$807	$1,468	$2,274	$12,074	$1,782	$13,856
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	—	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			92%		$17,404	$841	$1,784	$2,625	$12,519	$2,259	$14,779
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			≥ 96%		$16,843	$572	$1,501	$2,072	$12,927	$1,844	$14,770
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		91%		$12,538	$251	$598	$850	$9,759	$1,929	$11,688
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	—	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			90%		$17,573	$1,675	$1,664	$3,339	$12,217	$2,016	$14,233
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		92%		$13,908	$326	$575	$900	$11,004	$2,003	$13,008
Polo Road Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1250 Polo Road	Columbia	29223	Richland County	Richland 02	No	Yes	No	No	(803) 419-2226	665	50	13.2	69.8%	39 (5.9%)	345 (51.9%)	217 (32.6%)	15 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	48 (7.2%)	18.8	548^th of 661 public elementary schools	17.1%		21.1	523^rd of 639 public elementary schools	18.2%	25	44.6	50.6	49.5				43.7	24.7	29.3				35.3			92%		$16,354	$613	$1,648	$2,261	$11,771	$2,322	$14,093
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			94%		$15,766	$897	$1,415	$2,312	$11,540	$1,914	$13,454
Pontiac Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	500 Spears Creek Church Road	Elgin	29045	Richland County	Richland 02	No	Yes	No	No	(803) 699-2700	880	64	13.7	56.8%	143 (16.3%)	503 (57.2%)	129 (14.7%)	32 (3.6%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	70 (8.0%)	39.1	405^th of 661 public elementary schools	38.7%		46.9	327^th of 639 public elementary schools	48.8%	78	56.7	65.1	56.0				37.4	46.3	39.3				49.7			96%		$14,962	$694	$1,456	$2,151	$11,036	$1,775	$12,811
Catawba Trail Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1080 Old National Highway	Elgin	29045	Richland County	Richland 02	No	No	No	No	(803) 699-3501	636	50	12.7	48.5%	108 (17.0%)	297 (46.7%)	177 (27.8%)	13 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (5.2%)	69.1	199^th of 661 public elementary schools	69.9%		74.3	165^th of 639 public elementary schools	74.2%	34	66.1	69.0	71.9				65.6	58.6	59.4				60.8			94%		$15,222	$932	$1,392	$2,324	$10,831	$2,067	$12,898

Frequently Asked Questions about L. B. Nelson Elementary

What district is L. B. Nelson Elementary in?

Richland 02

How many students attend L. B. Nelson Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 541 students attended L. B. Nelson Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of L. B. Nelson Elementary?

Students at L. B. Nelson Elementary are 70% African American, 10% White, 10% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

Is L. B. Nelson Elementary a good school?

L. B. Nelson Elementary ranks 317^th of 661 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate L. B. Nelson Elementary!

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Latest South Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 graduation rates (updated)NewNov 2, 2026

2024–25 through 2025–26 immunization ratesOct 20, 2026

2025–26 school spending dataOct 12, 2026

2025–26 attendance data & dropout ratesOct 12, 2026

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.