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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Richland County Public Middle Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 24 public middle schools serving 20,389 students in Richland County, SC.
The top-ranked public middle schools in Richland County, SC are Crayton Middle School, Pendergrass Fairwold School and Blythewood Middle School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Richland County, SC public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 28% (versus the South Carolina public middle school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 47% (versus the 46% statewide average). Middle schools in Richland County have an average ranking of 7/10, which is in the top 50% of South Carolina public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 67% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public middle school average of 52% (majority Black).

Best Public Middle Schools in Richland County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Crayton Middle School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
5000 Clemson Avenue
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 738-7224
Gr: 6-8 | 952 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #22.
Pendergrass Fairwold School
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
5935 Token Street
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-3435
Gr: K-12 | 46 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #33.
Blythewood Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2351 Longtown Road East
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 691-6850
Gr: 6-8 | 872 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #44.
Muller Road Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1031 Muller Road
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 691-6851
Gr: K-8 | 1,242 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #55.
Dutch Fork Middle School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1528 Old Tamah Road
Irmo, SC 29063
(803) 476-4800
Gr: 6-8 | 876 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #66.
Sc Connections Academy
Charter School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
201 Executive Center Drive Sui
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 212-4712
Gr: K-12 | 6,152 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #77.
Green Charter School Midlands
Charter School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
7820 Broad River Road
Irmo, SC 29063
(803) 563-5387
Gr: K-8 | 258 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #88.
E. L. Wright Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2740 Alpine Road
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 736-8740
Gr: K-8 | 1,275 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #99.
Summit Parkway Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
200 Summit Parkway
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-3580
Gr: K-8 | 1,229 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #1010.
Hand Middle School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2600 Wheat Street
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 343-2947
Gr: 6-8 | 755 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #1111.
Dent Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2721 Decker Boulevard
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 699-2750
Gr: 6-8 | 1,059 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #1212.
Kelly Mill Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1141 Kelly Mill Road
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 691-7210
Gr: 2-8 | 979 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #1313.
Longleaf Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1160 Longreen Parkway
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 691-4870
Gr: 6-8 | 796 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #1414.
W. G. Sanders Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
3455 Pine Belt Road
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 735-7575
Gr: 6-8 | 503 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #1515.
Clear Dot Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2015 Marion Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 567-3075
Gr: PK-11 | 474 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #1616.
Hopkins Middle School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1601 Clarkson Road
Hopkins, SC 29061
(803) 695-3331
Gr: 6-8 | 458 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #1717.
Southeast Middle School
(Math: 12% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
731 Horrell Hill Road
Hopkins, SC 29061
(803) 695-5700
Gr: 6-8 | 462 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #1818.
St. Andrews Middle School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1231 Bluefield Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 731-8910
Gr: 6-8 | 627 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #1919.
W. A. Perry Middle School
(Math: 7% | Reading: 22%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2600 Barhamville Road
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 256-6347
Gr: 6-8 | 320 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #2020.
Heyward Gibbes Middle School
(Math: 8% | Reading: 17%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
500 Summerlea Drive
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 343-2942
Gr: 6-8 | 252 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2121.
Palmetto Achievement Center For Excellence Academy
Charter School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
6015 N Main Street
Columbia, SC 29224
(803) 900-0664
Gr: 2-8 | 216 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #2222.
Alcorn Middle School
(Math: 4% | Reading: 18%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
5125 Fairfield Road
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-3439
Gr: 6-8 | 381 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2323.
The Palmetto Empowerment And Enrichment Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
5000 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-5952
Gr: 5-12
Rank: n/an/a
Carolus Online Academy
Charter School
101 Westpark Boulevard Suite C
Columbia, SC 29210
(866) 968-7512
Gr: K-12 | 1,786 students Student-teacher ratio: 28:1 Minority enrollment: 53%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public middle schools in Richland County, SC?
The top-ranked public middle schools in Richland County, SC include Crayton Middle School, Pendergrass Fairwold School and Blythewood Middle School.
How many public middle schools are located in Richland County?
25 public middle schools are located in Richland County.
What is the racial composition of students in Richland County?
Richland County public middle schools minority enrollment is 67% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public middle schools average of 52% (majority Black).
Which public middle schools in Richland County are often viewed compared to one another?

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