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Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy

Q: Is Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy a good school?

Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy ranks in the bottom 0.0% of South Carolina middle schools.

Q: How many students attend Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 216 students attended Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy?

Students at Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy are 49% White, 41% African American, 5% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic.

Public, Charter Grades 2-8

341^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 341 South Carolina Middle Schools

Better than 0% of South Carolina middle schools

Summary

Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy is a small public charter school in Columbia, SC, serving 216 students in grades 2 through 8 within the School Public Charter School District.

This school faces significant academic challenges. Test scores are dramatically below state averages in every subject and grade level. For example, math proficiency is essentially nonexistent, with 0% of students in 4th, 6th, and 7th grades meeting state standards, and no grade has ever exceeded 10% proficiency over the past four years. English Language Arts proficiency ranges from just 6.3% to 22.6% across grades, compared to state averages of 56-65%. The school has ranked in the bottom 3% of all South Carolina middle schools for four consecutive years, and its ranking has actually declined—from 309th out of 320 schools in 2024-2025 to 335th out of 335 in 2025-2026. Nearby schools tell a very different story: Crayton Middle achieves 69.1% proficiency in 6th grade ELA, and Hand Middle reaches 62.4%, while Palmetto sits at just 14.3%.

There are some positive signs worth noting. The school maintains an excellent 9.3:1 student-teacher ratio—the lowest among all comparable schools in the area—and spends $16,348 per student, which is in line with peer institutions. Chronic absenteeism has improved to 15.2%, which is actually better than both the district (18.4%) and state (22.3%) averages, and far better than nearby W. A. Perry Middle (47%) and Heyward Gibbes Middle (44%). The school also showed a brief bright spot in 2023-2024 when its disabled students ranked in the 63rd percentile statewide. However, the persistent academic struggles—despite strong staffing and improving attendance—raise important questions about instructional effectiveness and whether the charter model is delivering the results families deserve. Parents considering this school should weigh these factors carefully and explore nearby options like Longleaf Middle or Dent Middle.

216

Students ?

9.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,353

Per pupil spending ?

34.3%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2023-24) ?

92%

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

6015 N Main Street
Columbia, SC 29224

(803) 900-0664

District: School Public Charter School District

Racial breakdown:

White:

49.1%

African American:

41.2%

Two or more races:

4.6%

See top rated South Carolina middle schools

Compare Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 3rd percentile in 2023 → <1st in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 9 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the South Carolina average (9% vs 54% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (<1st percentile)

!Science scores 47 pts below the South Carolina average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school9%

District avg51%

South Carolina avg54%

Elementary school

661^st of 661

South Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 1%▼ down 3 pts since 2023

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

341^st of 341

South Carolina public middle schools ?

Bottom 1%▼ down 3 pts since 2023

From bottom 3% (2023) to bottom 1% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 4Middle Schools in the School Public Charter School District

31^st of 75School Public Charter School District 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	0.8	661 of 661	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	2.3	639 of 639	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	2.2	643 of 643	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	6.7	627 of 644	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	21.6	135 of 156	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.2	119 of 147	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.6	123 of 143	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.6	141 of 174	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	38.0	96 of 151	36.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	6.8	561 of 580	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	0.4	634 of 634	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	1.6	612 of 612	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	2.9	608 of 608	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	0.9	591 of 591	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	2.2	584 of 585	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	0.5	571 of 571	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.6	536 of 582	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	10.7	532 of 579	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	1.1	462 of 463	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	1.3	454 of 455	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	1.4	341 of 341	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	8.5	311 of 321	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	8.8	314 of 322	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.1	315 of 325	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	28.2	157 of 192	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	52.6	66 of 177	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	31.2	138 of 187	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	66.4	33 of 183	82.0%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	6.8	294 of 299	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	2.9	313 of 313	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	1.6	310 of 310	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	9.4	286 of 303	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	19.5	232 of 292	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	1.7	260 of 260	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Disabled (2026)13th percentile+13 vs school

Female (2023)3rd percentile~ school

White (2023)<1st percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)<1st percentile~ school

Male (2026)<1st percentile~ school

Middle school

Disabled (2026)18th percentile+18 vs school

Female (2023)2nd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)<1st percentile-3 vs school

Male (2026)<1st percentile~ school

White (2023)<1st percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts16%-45 vs state

Science5%-47 vs state

Mathematics3%-45 vs state

★

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Schools Near Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy

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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	Directly certified (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
Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy	Public, Charter	2-8	6015 N Main Street	Columbia	29224	Richland County	School Public Charter School District	Yes	No	No	No	(803) 900-0664	216	23	9.3	—	106 (49.1%)	89 (41.2%)	9 (4.2%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.6%)	1.4	341^st of 341 public middle schools	0.0%		8.5	311^th of 321 public middle schools	3.1%	30	6.3	22.6	19.6	14.3	15.4		9.7	0.0	4.3	0.0	0.0		0.0	8.6		92%		$15,353	$898	$347	$1,245	$10,204	$3,904	$14,108
Alcorn Middle	Public	6-8	5125 Fairfield Road	Columbia	29203	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 735-3439	381	31	12.4	87.5%	11 (2.9%)	295 (77.4%)	55 (14.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.0%)	4	340^th of 341 public middle schools	0.3%		6.4	318^th of 321 public middle schools	0.9%	22				25.1	17.8	29.8				10.8	9.2	9.8		14.4		88%		$23,403	$1,712	$1,267	$2,979	$17,017	$3,407	$20,424
W. G. Sanders Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	3455 Pine Belt Road	Columbia	29204	Richland County	Richland 01	No	Yes	No	No	(803) 735-7575	503	54	9.3	70.6%	59 (11.7%)	376 (74.8%)	46 (9.1%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (3.8%)	22.5	266^th of 341 public middle schools	22.0%		31.9	222^nd of 321 public middle schools	30.8%	44				43.6	50.3	36.0				24.5	28.6	26.0		31.4		89%		$22,347	$1,142	$900	$2,043	$16,913	$3,391	$20,304
W. A. Perry Middle	Public	6-8	2600 Barhamville Road	Columbia	29204	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 256-6347	320	32	10.0	91.6%	2 (0.6%)	289 (90.3%)	11 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (5.6%)	12.9	313^th of 341 public middle schools	8.2%		13.4	290^th of 321 public middle schools	9.7%	23				26.6	47.7	46.5				14.0	14.4	17.0		18.5		91%		$29,511	$2,633	$2,389	$5,022	$20,032	$4,457	$24,489
Heyward Gibbes Middle	Public	6-8	500 Summerlea Drive	Columbia	29203	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 343-2942	252	26	9.8	91.3%	4 (1.6%)	227 (90.1%)	13 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.2%)	15.3	305^th of 341 public middle schools	10.6%		11.9	297^th of 321 public middle schools	7.5%	8				32.4	46.5	37.2				17.3	11.3	30.8		27.5		82%		$30,469	$2,207	$1,672	$3,879	$21,210	$5,380	$26,590
Dent Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	2721 Decker Boulevard	Columbia	29206	Richland County	Richland 02	No	Yes	No	No	(803) 699-2750	1,059	83	12.7	60.3%	185 (17.5%)	566 (53.4%)	186 (17.6%)	67 (6.3%)	5 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (4.4%)	42.1	190^th of 341 public middle schools	44.3%		40.7	185^th of 321 public middle schools	42.4%	5				50.2	54.5	55.8				30.9	40.6	35.5		43.0		93%		$14,664	$241	$637	$878	$11,277	$2,509	$13,786
Crayton Middle	Public	6-8	5000 Clemson Avenue	Columbia	29206	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 738-7224	952	68	14.0	41.1%	469 (49.3%)	330 (34.7%)	70 (7.4%)	17 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	64 (6.7%)	82.2	49^th of 341 public middle schools	85.6%		82.3	50^th of 321 public middle schools	84.4%	1				69.1	76.1	66.1				56.0	60.7	57.2		65.0		92%		$17,699	$927	$890	$1,816	$13,454	$2,429	$15,883
Hand Middle	Public	6-8	2600 Wheat Street	Columbia	29205	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 343-2947	755	61	12.3	59.4%	232 (30.7%)	388 (51.4%)	82 (10.9%)	7 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	44 (5.8%)	52.2	148^th of 341 public middle schools	56.6%		49.1	149^th of 321 public middle schools	53.6%	1				62.4	64.3	56.3				39.1	33.5	40.1		44.6		89%		$19,077	$863	$907	$1,769	$14,710	$2,598	$17,307
St. Andrews Middle	Public	6-8	1231 Bluefield Road	Columbia	29210	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 731-8910	627	58	10.8	81.7%	17 (2.7%)	523 (83.4%)	46 (7.3%)	11 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	29 (4.6%)	9.5	323^rd of 341 public middle schools	5.3%		9.7	307^th of 321 public middle schools	4.4%	16				32.6	36.7	35.2				13.3	16.4	18.5		23.5		83%		$20,789	$1,517	$1,247	$2,764	$15,290	$2,734	$18,025
Northside Middle	Public	6-8	157 Cougar Drive	West Columbia	29169	Lexington County	Lexington 02	No	No	No	No	(803) 739-4190	528	43	12.2	65.1%	124 (23.5%)	129 (24.4%)	240 (45.5%)	10 (1.9%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (4.4%)	26.1	255^th of 341 public middle schools	25.2%		29.1	234^th of 321 public middle schools	27.1%	21				38.7	45.6	52.8				17.8	17.3	38.2		41.8		≥ 96%		$19,874	$469	$4,651	$5,120	$12,570	$2,185	$14,755

Frequently Asked Questions about Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy

Is Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy a good school?

Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy ranks in the bottom 0.0% of South Carolina middle schools.

What is the racial makeup of Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy?

Students at Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy are 49% White, 41% African American, 5% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic.

What district is Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy in?

School Public Charter School District

How many students attend Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 216 students attended Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy.

Rate Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy!

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Latest South Carolina data All new data »

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

2025–26 school spending dataOct 12, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 12, 2026

2025–26 EOCEP & SC READY test scoresAug 10, 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.