Summary:
Zip code 29205 in Columbia, SC is home to four elementary schools—Brennen Elementary, Rosewood Elementary, A. C. Moore Elementary, and South Kilbourne Elementary—all part of the Richland 01 school district, serving grades PK or K through 5th with enrollments ranging from 234 to 805 students.
There is a clear performance hierarchy among these schools. Brennen Elementary and Rosewood Elementary are the standout performers, both ranking in the 90th percentile statewide with 5-star and 4-star ratings respectively. They also boast the lowest chronic absenteeism rates (8.3% and 10.4%) and strong proficiency across all subjects. In contrast, South Kilbourne Elementary struggles significantly, ranking in the 16th percentile with a 1-star rating, the highest absenteeism rate (29.3%), and proficiency scores 30-40 points lower than its neighborhood counterparts. A. C. Moore Elementary sits in the middle, ranking in the 69th percentile with a 3-star rating.
One of the most striking findings is the spending paradox: A. C. Moore Elementary spends $27,702 per student—64% more than Brennen Elementary—yet Brennen outperforms it by roughly 16-17 percentage points in ELA and Math. This suggests higher spending doesn't guarantee better results. The data also reveals a strong connection between attendance and achievement, with the 21-point gap in chronic absenteeism between Brennen and South Kilbourne mirroring the 32-43 point gaps in proficiency. Encouragingly, all four schools have improved their state rankings over the past two years, with Rosewood Elementary showing the most dramatic turnaround, jumping 65 positions to reach the 90th percentile. However, South Kilbourne Elementary faces a particular crisis in math and science, with proficiency rates as low as 23-33%, indicating a need for targeted intervention.
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