Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Gray Collegiate Academy

Public, Charter Grades 6-12

7^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 235 South Carolina High Schools

Better than 97% of South Carolina high schools

Summary

Gray Collegiate Academy is a public charter high school in West Columbia, South Carolina, serving grades 6-12 with a total enrollment of 869 students. The school is part of the Charter Institute at Erskine district, which is ranked 40 out of 75 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Gray Collegiate Academy consistently outperforms the state and its district on standardized test scores, with over 90% proficiency rates in EOCEP exams for Algebra 1, English 1, English 2, and U.S. History in 2024-2025. The school also ranks very highly for its performance across different student subgroups, indicating strong academic outcomes regardless of demographic. Additionally, Gray Collegiate Academy has maintained high 4-year graduation rates, ranging from 82.2% to 100% over the past few years, outpacing the state average, and its dropout rates are low, between 1.8% to 2.4%.

Compared to nearby public high schools like Irmo High, Brookland-Cayce High, and Columbia High, Gray Collegiate Academy significantly outperforms them on academic measures such as test scores and graduation rates, despite being a public charter school. While the school has a higher student-teacher ratio compared to nearby schools, it is effectively serving students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and delivering strong academic outcomes.

935

Students ?

24.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,602

Per pupil spending ?

15%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3833 Leaphart Road
West Columbia, SC 29169

(803) 951-3321

District: Charter Institute at Erskine

Racial breakdown:

White:

71.3%

African American:

16.4%

Hispanic:

6.6%

See top rated South Carolina high schools

Compare Gray Collegiate Academy to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 83rd percentile in 2019 → 97th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the South Carolina average (85% vs 56% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 3% of South Carolina high schools

✓100% graduate in 4 years — above the South Carolina average (87%)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Large classes — about 25 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school85%

District avg50%

South Carolina avg56%

Middle school

12^th of 320

South Carolina public middle schools ?

Top 4%▲ up 2 pts since 2023

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

7^th of 235

South Carolina public high schools ?

Top 3%▲ up 14 pts since 2019

From top 17% (2019) to top 3% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of South Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 5High Schools in the Charter Institute at Erskine

40^th of 75Charter Institute at Erskine 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)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	96.7	12 of 320	96.3%	★★★★★
2024	95.8	16 of 325	95.1%	★★★★★
2023	93.3	19 of 325	94.2%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	96.3	10 of 295	96.6%	★★★★★
2024	96.5	13 of 294	95.6%	★★★★★
2023	79.8	52 of 299	82.6%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	68.8	54 of 173	68.8%	★★★★☆
2023	46.1	123 of 185	33.5%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	99.5	3 of 307	99.0%	★★★★★
2023	97.4	6 of 313	98.1%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	96.6	11 of 296	96.3%	★★★★★
2024	93.9	15 of 294	94.9%	★★★★★
2023	97.6	10 of 303	96.7%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	90.6	19 of 257	92.6%	★★★★★
2024	89.0	25 of 255	90.2%	★★★★★
2023	84.8	35 of 260	86.5%	★★★★☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	93.1	7 of 235	97.0%	★★★★★
2024	88.8	12 of 235	94.9%	★★★★★
2023	87.1	17 of 237	92.8%	★★★★★
2022	80.8	23 of 226	89.8%	★★★★★
2021	67.1	49 of 227	78.4%	★★★★☆
2019	65.2	38 of 225	83.1%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	99.4	2 of 194	99.0%	★★★★★
2024	95.3	5 of 194	97.4%	★★★★★
2023	87.6	15 of 199	92.5%	★★★★★
2022	89.7	9 of 190	95.3%	★★★★★
2021	62.8	46 of 178	74.2%	★★★★☆
2019	68.6	31 of 184	83.2%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	92.8	7 of 225	96.9%	★★★★★
2024	88.0	13 of 225	94.2%	★★★★★
2023	84.9	18 of 223	91.9%	★★★★★
2022	82.0	21 of 220	90.5%	★★★★★
2021	64.8	61 of 213	71.4%	★★★★☆
2019	69.3	32 of 213	85.0%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	64.8	65 of 153	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.9	74 of 157	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.4	23 of 156	85.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	94.3	5 of 226	97.8%	★★★★★
2024	90.0	12 of 229	94.8%	★★★★★
2023	93.5	8 of 226	96.5%	★★★★★
2022	82.3	19 of 220	91.4%	★★★★★
2021	70.3	37 of 213	82.6%	★★★★☆
2019	73.9	22 of 217	89.9%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	93.4	8 of 224	96.4%	★★★★★
2024	88.7	12 of 228	94.7%	★★★★★
2023	89.0	14 of 229	93.9%	★★★★★
2022	78.3	26 of 224	88.4%	★★★★☆
2021	66.5	48 of 215	77.7%	★★★★☆
2019	65.5	38 of 218	82.6%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	South Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	88.5	7 of 196	96.4%	★★★★★
2024	85.5	13 of 196	93.4%	★★★★★
2023	84.0	17 of 197	91.4%	★★★★★
2022	71.6	40 of 192	79.2%	★★★★☆
2021	64.7	54 of 189	71.4%	★★★★☆
2019	63.5	44 of 191	77.0%	★★★★☆

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)

Middle school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)99th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2025)97th percentile~ school

Male (2025)96th percentile~ school

White (2025)93rd percentile-4 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)69th percentile-27 vs school

High school

African American (2025)99th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)98th percentile~ school

Female (2025)97th percentile~ school

Male (2025)96th percentile~ school

White (2025)96th percentile~ school

Gifted and Talented (2025)58th percentile-40 vs school

By subject vs South Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 299%+25 vs state

English 299%+12 vs state

English Language Arts91%+35 vs state

U.S. History and the Constitution91%+30 vs state

English 191%+29 vs state

Science71%+23 vs state

Mathematics66%+31 vs state

5.0

1 rating

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

Rate Gray Collegiate Academy

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Gray Collegiate Academy

Load more schools when map is moved

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 (2025)				Ranking (2024)				SC READY English Language Arts (2025)			SC READY Mathematics (2025)			SC READY Science (2025)	EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 (2025)	EOCEP English 1 (2025)	EOCEP U.S. History and the Constitution (2025)	EOCEP English 2 (2025)	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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SC READY English Language Arts 6th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 7th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 8th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 6th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 7th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 8th Grade	SC READY Science 6th Grade	EOCEP Algebra 1/Mathematics for the Technologies 2 End of Course	EOCEP English 1 End of Course	EOCEP U.S. History and the Constitution End of Course	EOCEP English 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
Gray Collegiate Academy	Public, Charter	6-12	3833 Leaphart Road	West Columbia	29169	Lexington County	Charter Institute at Erskine	Yes	No	No	No	(803) 951-3321	935	38	24.9		667 (71.3%)	153 (16.4%)	62 (6.6%)	5 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (5.1%)	93.1	7^th of 235 public high schools	97.0%		88.8	12^th of 235 public high schools	94.9%	5	93.2	89.9	91.2	73.8	69.7	54.9	70.9	99.0	91.0	91.4	98.7	$9,602	$1,106	$181	$1,286	$5,154	$3,162	$8,316
River Bluff High	Public	9-12	320 Corley Mill Road	Lexington	29072	Lexington County	Lexington 01	No	No	No	No	(803) 821-0700	2,117	131	16.1		1,422 (67.2%)	230 (10.9%)	188 (8.9%)	180 (8.5%)	2 (0.1%)	6 (0.3%)	89 (4.2%)	76.9	33^rd of 235 public high schools	86.0%		80.2	25^th of 235 public high schools	89.4%	8								78.1	72.4	77.3	95.0	$14,256	$557	$367	$924	$11,421	$1,911	$13,332
Midlands Middle College	Public, Charter	10-12	1260 Lexington Drive	West Columbia	29170	Lexington County	School Public Charter School District	Yes	No	No	No	(803) 822-3333	115	7	17.4		68 (59.1%)	25 (21.7%)	15 (13.0%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (5.2%)								(n/a)										51.0		$9,542	$123	$144	$267	$8,185	$1,090	$9,275
Columbia High	Public	9-12	1701 Westchester Drive	Columbia	29210	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 731-8950	681	54	12.6		18 (2.6%)	579 (85.0%)	45 (6.6%)	15 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	23 (3.4%)	12	215^th of 235 public high schools	8.5%		20.1	194^th of 235 public high schools	17.4%	21								60.1	37.8	31.7	75.7	$21,575	$1,744	$2,088	$3,832	$14,838	$2,905	$17,743
Airport High	Public	9-12	1315 Boston Avenue	West Columbia	29170	Lexington County	Lexington 02	No	No	No	No	(803) 822-5600	1,272	73	17.4		453 (35.6%)	440 (34.6%)	308 (24.2%)	16 (1.3%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	52 (4.1%)	34.2	153^rd of 235 public high schools	34.9%		29.6	165^th of 235 public high schools	29.8%	12								52.2	48.6	56.9	85.4	$14,078	$558	$957	$1,515	$10,180	$2,383	$12,563
Irmo High	Public, Magnet	9-12	6671 St. Andrews Road	Columbia	29212	Lexington County	Lexington 05	No	Yes	No	No	(803) 476-5000	1,272	107	11.9		297 (23.3%)	732 (57.5%)	100 (7.9%)	47 (3.7%)	2 (0.2%)	11 (0.9%)	83 (6.5%)	37.6	145^th of 235 public high schools	38.3%		40.5	131^st of 235 public high schools	44.3%	14								52.6	53.1	56.3	87.2	$15,789	$746	$450	$1,196	$12,543	$2,050	$14,593
Empowerment and Enrichment Academy	Public	5-12	5000 Broad River Road	Columbia	29212	Richland County	Dept of Juvenile Justice	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 896-9114	0	4	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0.3	235^th of 235 public high schools	0.0%					(n/a)			17.6			0.0		11.1	16.1	0.0	57.1
The Palmetto Empowerment and Enrichment Academy	Public	5-12	5000 Broad River Road	Columbia	29210	Richland County	Dept of Juvenile Justice	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 896-5952	0	7	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Brookland-Cayce High	Public	9-12	1300 State Street	Cayce	29033	Lexington County	Lexington 02	No	No	No	No	(803) 791-5000	1,212	99	12.2		310 (25.6%)	392 (32.3%)	405 (33.4%)	48 (4.0%)	5 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	51 (4.2%)	22.8	185^th of 235 public high schools	21.3%		20.5	191^st of 235 public high schools	18.7%	6								49.0	46.4	43.8	84.2	$13,658	$381	$982	$1,363	$9,694	$2,601	$12,295
Sara Babb High	Public	9-12	4450 Broad River Road	Columbia	29210	Richland County	Dept Of Correction N04	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 896-2714	8	4	2.0		1 (12.5%)	6 (75.0%)	1 (12.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Gray Collegiate Academy

Is Gray Collegiate Academy a good school?

Yes! Gray Collegiate Academy is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 7^th of 235 South Carolina high schools.

What district is Gray Collegiate Academy in?

Charter Institute at Erskine

How many students attend Gray Collegiate Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 935 students attended Gray Collegiate Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Gray Collegiate Academy?

Students at Gray Collegiate Academy are 71% White, 16% African American, 7% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races.

Rate Gray Collegiate Academy!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

SCSouth Carolina High School Rankings

SCSouth Carolina District Rankings

Schools in West Columbia, SC

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Gray Collegiate Academy!

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.