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Polo Road Elementary

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-5

548^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 661 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 17% of South Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Polo Road Elementary in Columbia, SC, is a PK-5 school in the Richland 02 district serving 665 students from a diverse range of backgrounds, with nearly 70% of families qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

Over the past decade, Polo Road has seen a steady decline in overall performance, dropping from the 65th percentile statewide in 2015-2016 to the 17th percentile today. The most urgent concern is math proficiency in the upper grades: only 24.7% of 4th graders and 29.3% of 5th graders are proficient, which is roughly half the district average. For comparison, L. B. Nelson Elementary, just 2.77 miles away, posts 55.7% proficiency in 4th-grade math—more than double Polo Road’s rate. The school also struggles significantly with its low-income students, ranking in the 11th percentile statewide for this group, and with English Language Learners (19th percentile). However, it performs relatively better for its African American students, ranking in the 48th percentile. Chronic absenteeism is also trending upward, nearly doubling from 12.3% in 2021-2022 to 22.5% in 2024-2025, which is higher than the district average of 18.3%.

Importantly, the school’s challenges are not due to a lack of resources. Polo Road spends $15,464 per student—more than nearby Pontiac Elementary ($14,012) and Forest Lake Elementary ($14,520)—and maintains a favorable 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio. This suggests the issues are more about instructional strategies and interventions than funding. While Jackson Creek Elementary and Windsor Elementary also rank in the bottom 10th percentile, Polo Road’s sharp drop in upper-grade math is unique, pointing to a specific area for targeted improvement. The good news is that higher performance is achievable in the same district, making Polo Road a priority for focused support.

665

Students ?

13.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,464

Per pupil spending ?

69.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1250 Polo Road
Columbia, SC 29223

(803) 419-2226

District: Richland 02

Racial breakdown:

African American:

51.9%

Hispanic:

32.6%

Two or more races:

7.2%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 65th percentile in 2016 → 17th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Carolina average (40% vs 58% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (17th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 48 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school40%

District avg55%

South Carolina avg58%

548^th of 661

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 17%▼ down 48 pts since 2016

From top 35% (2016) to bottom 17% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

19^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	18.8	548 of 661	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	21.1	523 of 639	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.9	530 of 643	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	41.7	369 of 644	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.3	420 of 625	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	23.7	473 of 622	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	40.7	393 of 643	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.9	314 of 624	49.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	58.6	249 of 639	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2016	64.1	216 of 619	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2015	64.0	184 of 638	71.2%	★★★★☆
2014	67.2	201 of 630	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	61.2	246 of 599	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	58.9	266 of 594	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2011	56.5	276 of 597	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	53.9	291 of 589	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	54.2	284 of 580	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2008	70.0	155 of 577	73.1%	★★★★☆
2007	64.0	204 of 566	64.0%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	46.0	199 of 384	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	51.1	180 of 380	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	45.0	194 of 369	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	75.6	61 of 394	84.5%	★★★★☆
2022	64.6	106 of 393	73.0%	★★★★☆
2021	64.8	88 of 350	74.9%	★★★★☆
2019	84.7	34 of 421	91.9%	★★★★★
2018	87.3	25 of 412	93.9%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2018	68.3	32 of 161	80.1%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	21.1	85 of 106	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	30.9	74 of 104	28.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	27.3	59 of 79	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	41.3	38 of 72	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.4	58 of 84	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	17.1	77 of 84	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	24.2	82 of 104	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.1	61 of 82	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	15.3	534 of 599	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	21.9	476 of 580	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.5	464 of 568	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	47.3	306 of 580	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.9	397 of 573	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	28.9	399 of 554	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	41.8	360 of 588	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.4	296 of 570	48.1%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	31.3	119 of 159	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	31.0	112 of 156	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.3	88 of 114	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.2	73 of 115	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.6	79 of 115	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	20.4	76 of 86	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.3	78 of 116	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.5	70 of 104	32.7%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	17.7	565 of 634	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	21.9	516 of 612	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.4	519 of 602	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	42.5	355 of 608	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.9	453 of 600	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.0	459 of 580	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	37.5	396 of 600	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	52.5	267 of 588	54.6%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	23.0	460 of 591	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	19.7	480 of 585	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.4	485 of 571	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.6	384 of 582	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.9	393 of 579	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	17.0	464 of 561	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	38.5	379 of 590	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.2	300 of 571	47.5%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Disabled (2018)80th percentile+30 vs school

African American (2026)48th percentile+31 vs school

Hispanic (2026)25th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2026)22nd percentile+5 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)20th percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)11th percentile-6 vs school

Female (2026)11th percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts48%-16 vs state

Science35%-16 vs state

Mathematics33%-20 vs state

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Schools Near Polo Road 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
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			$15,464	$1,280	$1,131	$2,411	$11,315	$1,738	$13,053
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
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
L. W. Conder Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	8040 Hunt Club Road	Columbia	29223	Richland County	Richland 02	No	Yes	No	Yes	(803) 736-8720	489	44	11.1	100.0%	18 (3.7%)	259 (53.0%)	186 (38.0%)	5 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.7%)	15.6	584^th of 661 public elementary schools	11.6%		15.7	560^th of 639 public elementary schools	12.4%	24	38.7	49.2	49.3				30.7	37.0	27.9				27.7			$18,312	$1,946	$926	$2,872	$12,763	$2,677	$15,440
Jackson Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7150 Trenholm Road Extension	Columbia	29223	Richland County	Richland 02	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 790-3800	551	50	10.9	100.0%	4 (0.7%)	426 (77.3%)	79 (14.3%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	36 (6.5%)	13.3	604^th of 661 public elementary schools	8.6%		11.3	588^th of 639 public elementary schools	8.0%	16	48.6	35.7	38.0				46.6	24.3	22.5				28.6			$15,730	$1,991	$706	$2,697	$10,820	$2,213	$13,033
Joseph Keels Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	7500 Springcrest Drive	Columbia	29223	Richland County	Richland 02	No	Yes	No	Yes	(803) 736-8754	465	43	10.9	100.0%	7 (1.5%)	384 (82.6%)	44 (9.5%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.1%)	35.6	427^th of 661 public elementary schools	35.4%		30.1	450^th of 639 public elementary schools	29.6%	23	46.7	56.1	54.3				51.7	42.4	42.9				47.9			$17,949	$1,969	$1,001	$2,969	$12,353	$2,628	$14,980
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
Forest Lake Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	6801 Brookfield Road	Columbia	29206	Richland County	Richland 02	No	Yes	No	No	(803) 782-0470	652	49	13.2	61.0%	113 (17.3%)	363 (55.7%)	117 (17.9%)	20 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	38 (5.8%)	52.4	296^th of 661 public elementary schools	55.2%		56	271^st of 639 public elementary schools	57.6%	25	54.3	76.4	59.4				54.3	50.5	47.7				58.3			$14,520	$1,089	$725	$1,813	$10,351	$2,357	$12,707
Satchel Ford Elementary	Public	K-5	5901 Satchel Ford Road	Columbia	29206	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 738-7209	721	48	15.1	100.0%	499 (69.2%)	151 (20.9%)	34 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (5.1%)	88.5	63^rd of 661 public elementary schools	90.5%		88.2	61^st of 639 public elementary schools	90.5%	2	75.8	83.6	87.9				70.3	72.4	81.9				74.6			$16,843	$2,148	$1,176	$3,325	$11,759	$1,759	$13,518
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Polo Road Elementary

What district is Polo Road Elementary in?

Richland 02

What is the racial makeup of Polo Road Elementary?

Students at Polo Road Elementary are 52% African American, 33% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 6% White, 2% Asian.

Is Polo Road Elementary a good school?

Polo Road Elementary ranks in the bottom 17.1% of South Carolina elementary schools.

How many students attend Polo Road Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 665 students attended Polo Road Elementary.

Rate Polo Road 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.