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Sandlapper Elementary

Q: Is Sandlapper Elementary a good school?

Sandlapper Elementary ranks 426 th of 661 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

426^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 661 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 36% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Sandlapper Elementary is a PK-5 school in Columbia, SC, serving 671 students within the Richland 02 school district, where about 63% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch and the school maintains a favorable 13:1 student-teacher ratio.

Sandlapper has a few notable bright spots. The school's chronic absenteeism rate of 12.8% is significantly better than both the district (18.3%) and state (22.3%) averages, suggesting strong family engagement and a positive school culture around attendance. Additionally, the school has demonstrated exceptional success with its African American students, ranking in the 74th percentile statewide this year and earning a 5-star rating for this group in 2023-2024. This is a genuine strength that sets Sandlapper apart from many schools in the region. However, there are areas of concern. The school has seen a widening gap between female students (56th percentile) and male students (22nd percentile), a 34-point difference that has grown significantly over the past three years. Performance among students from low-income backgrounds has also dropped sharply, from the 59th percentile in 2023-2024 to just the 28th percentile now. Math proficiency declines as students advance, with only 39.7% of 5th graders meeting standards compared to 47.3% of 3rd graders.

Compared to nearby schools, Sandlapper sits in the middle-to-lower tier. Round Top Elementary (82nd percentile) and Lake Carolina Elementary Upper Campus (73rd percentile) outperform Sandlapper significantly, while L.B. Nelson Elementary (52nd percentile) and Bridge Creek Elementary (42nd percentile) show similar overall rankings. Only Killian Elementary (32nd percentile) ranks lower among nearby schools. The school's overall ranking has declined to the 35th percentile this year, its lowest in a decade, after several years hovering near the 50th percentile. While the school is adequately resourced (spending $15,405 per student), the key takeaway for parents is that Sandlapper has proven strengths—particularly with African American students and attendance—but faces growing challenges in supporting male students, students in poverty, and math achievement as children progress through grade levels.

671

Students ?

13.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,405

Per pupil spending ?

63.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1001 Longtown Road
Columbia, SC 29229

(803) 691-4045

District: Richland 02

Students who attend Sandlapper Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Longleaf Middle
High:	Westwood High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

77.0%

Hispanic:

7.7%

White:

6.7%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

Compare Sandlapper Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 43rd percentile in 2016 → 36th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Carolina average (49% vs 58% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 7 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school49%

District avg55%

South Carolina avg58%

426^th of 661

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 36%▼ down 7 pts since 2016

From bottom 43% (2016) to bottom 36% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

16^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	35.6	426 of 661	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	44.7	343 of 639	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	51.0	305 of 643	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.0	308 of 644	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.2	257 of 625	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	36.7	393 of 622	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	52.9	305 of 643	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.5	279 of 624	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	49.9	314 of 639	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	43.8	354 of 619	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2015	47.7	335 of 638	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2014	58.8	272 of 630	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	65.3	199 of 599	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	59.6	257 of 594	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2011	66.9	191 of 597	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	74.1	127 of 589	78.4%	★★★★☆
2009	72.7	140 of 580	75.9%	★★★★☆
2008	70.1	153 of 577	73.5%	★★★★☆
2007	66.7	176 of 566	68.9%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	66.2	101 of 384	73.7%	★★★★☆
2025	75.6	65 of 380	82.9%	★★★★☆
2024	83.0	32 of 369	91.3%	★★★★★
2023	87.4	29 of 394	92.6%	★★★★★
2022	89.2	23 of 393	94.1%	★★★★★
2021	79.2	34 of 350	90.3%	★★★★★
2019	82.7	44 of 421	89.5%	★★★★☆
2018	84.7	30 of 412	92.7%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	27.2	122 of 156	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	12.7	137 of 143	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	29.8	117 of 174	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	26.8	92 of 122	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.9	116 of 189	38.6%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	53.2	267 of 599	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	52.5	272 of 580	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.3	249 of 568	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	49.5	292 of 580	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	59.5	226 of 573	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	28.1	405 of 554	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	55.3	270 of 588	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.2	263 of 570	53.9%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	30.6	457 of 634	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	45.2	327 of 612	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	58.0	246 of 602	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.1	262 of 608	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.0	217 of 600	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	45.7	318 of 580	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.2	264 of 600	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.0	243 of 588	58.7%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	23.3	459 of 591	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	35.7	381 of 585	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.2	321 of 571	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.4	288 of 582	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.7	282 of 579	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.2	329 of 561	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.5	336 of 590	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.9	292 of 571	48.9%	★★☆☆☆

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)74th percentile+38 vs school

Female (2026)55th percentile+20 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)28th percentile-8 vs school

Male (2026)22nd percentile-13 vs school

Disabled (2026)22nd percentile-14 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts55%-9 vs state

Science44%-7 vs state

Mathematics44%-9 vs state

★

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Schools Near Sandlapper 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
Langford Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	480 Langford Road	Blythewood	29016	Richland County	Richland 02	No	No	No	No	(803) 691-4091	631	42	15.1	49.8%	138 (21.9%)	371 (58.8%)	69 (10.9%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	42 (6.7%)	55.9	273^rd of 661 public elementary schools	58.7%		51.3	302^nd of 639 public elementary schools	52.7%	29	71.6	63.5	72.5				56.8	50.4	44.0				47.8		$13,786	$1,598	$1,005	$2,603	$9,419	$1,764	$11,183
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
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 Sandlapper Elementary

Is Sandlapper Elementary a good school?

Sandlapper Elementary ranks 426^th of 661 South Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Sandlapper Elementary in?

Richland 02

What schools do graduates of Sandlapper Elementary attend?

Students who attend Sandlapper Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Longleaf Middle
High : Westwood High

How many students attend Sandlapper Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 671 students attended Sandlapper Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Sandlapper Elementary?

Students at Sandlapper Elementary are 77% African American, 8% Hispanic, 7% White, 5% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

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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.