Summary:
Zip code 29206 in Columbia, SC is served by 5 schools—3 elementary schools and 2 middle schools—spanning two districts, Richland 01 and Richland 02, with no high schools in the immediate area.
Families in this zip code will find a dramatic split in school quality depending on their district assignment. The Richland 01 schools are the clear standouts. Brockman Elementary is the top performer, ranking #18 in the state with 91.9% of 3rd graders proficient in ELA and 94% of 4th graders proficient in science—far exceeding state averages. It also has an incredibly low 1.9% chronic absenteeism rate. Satchel Ford Elementary is another excellent choice, ranking #63 statewide with 5th grade ELA proficiency at 87.9%. Crayton Middle rounds out the top tier, ranking #47 and consistently outperforming its district across all subjects. In contrast, the Richland 02 schools are more average. Forest Lake Elementary ranks in the 55th percentile, while Dent Middle ranks in the 44th percentile, with math proficiency particularly low at just 30.9% for 6th graders—a 25-point gap compared to Crayton's 6th grade math scores.
One notable finding is that Brockman Elementary spends nearly double per student ($29,849) compared to other schools in the area, which correlates with its exceptional outcomes. However, Crayton Middle achieves strong results with significantly less funding, suggesting factors beyond money drive success. Both middle schools show near-perfect Algebra 1 scores, indicating only advanced students take that course. Chronic absenteeism is a clear differentiator—the top-performing schools have the lowest rates, while Forest Lake Elementary exceeds the state average at 23.1%. For parents, the district boundary is the single most important factor in determining school quality in this area.
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