Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 29204

Zip code 29204 in Columbia, SC is served by two middle schools—W. G. Sanders Middle and W. A. Perry Middle—both part of the Richland 01 district, which ranks in the bottom third of South Carolina districts. These schools serve grades 6-8 with a combined enrollment of 823 students, and they present very different academic profiles despite sharing the same district context.

W. G. Sanders Middle is the larger school (503 students) and the higher performer, ranking in the 21st percentile statewide. It beats the district average in most subjects, with 6th-grade ELA at 43.6% proficiency and math scores in the mid-20s. Its standout achievement is Algebra 1, where 100% of students scored proficient—well above the state average. However, Sanders shows a troubling 20-point drop in 8th-grade ELA from the prior year, and chronic absenteeism sits at 32.8%. By contrast, W. A. Perry Middle (320 students) ranks in the 8th percentile with a 0-star rating. Perry trails Sanders in nearly every subject—6th-grade math proficiency is just 14% versus 24.5% at Sanders—and its chronic absenteeism rate of 47% is more than double the state average. Despite this, Perry also excels in Algebra 1 with 90.48% proficiency.

The most striking finding is the spending paradox: Perry receives $30,818 per student—52% more than Sanders’ $20,208—yet performs worse on almost every metric. This suggests that funding alone isn’t solving Perry’s challenges, which appear heavily tied to attendance. Both schools struggle with math overall, scoring 10-20 points below state averages, yet their Algebra 1 success indicates that targeted, rigorous programming can produce exceptional results. For parents, Sanders offers stronger overall academics and better attendance, while Perry’s higher spending hasn’t translated into better outcomes. The Algebra 1 anomaly at both schools suggests that advanced coursework may be a bright spot worth exploring, but the chronic absenteeism crisis—especially at Perry—remains the biggest barrier to student success in this area.