Best middle schools in Columbia (2025)
Schools classified as middle schools by NCES. Ranked by the Success Index (US) from official American data; 12 schools in Columbia, South Carolina. Rank positions shown on each profile are within United States and South Carolina.
- 183Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence AcademyColumbia · Charter Middle– · 216 students
- 265Crayton MiddleColumbia · Public Middle51% Math proficiency · 952 students
- 355CrossRoads IntermediateColumbia · Public Middle46% Math proficiency · 557 students
- 450Hand MiddleColumbia · Public Middle38% Math proficiency · 755 students
- 545Irmo MiddleColumbia · Public Middle33% Math proficiency · 992 students
- 643Dent MiddleColumbia · Public Middle34% Math proficiency · 1,059 students
- 740W. G. Sanders MiddleColumbia · Public Middle27% Math proficiency · 503 students
- 839Longleaf MiddleColumbia · Public Middle34% Math proficiency · 796 students
- 925St. Andrews MiddleColumbia · Public Middle14% Math proficiency · 627 students
- 1024W. A. Perry MiddleColumbia · Public Middle16% Math proficiency · 320 students
- 1122Alcorn MiddleColumbia · Public Middle16% Math proficiency · 381 students
- 1220Heyward Gibbes MiddleColumbia · Public Middle8% Math proficiency · 252 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (US) | Key result | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy Columbia · Middle · Grades 2–8 | Charter | 82.5 Top 10% | – | 216 |
| 2 | Crayton Middle Columbia · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 64.6 Top 50% | 51% Math proficiency | 952 |
| 3 | CrossRoads Intermediate Columbia · Middle · Grades 6–6 | Public | 54.9 Top 50% | 46% Math proficiency | 557 |
| 4 | Hand Middle Columbia · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 49.7 Top 50% | 38% Math proficiency | 755 |
| 5 | Irmo Middle Columbia · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 44.6 Lower 50% | 33% Math proficiency | 992 |
| 6 | Dent Middle Columbia · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 42.8 Lower 50% | 34% Math proficiency | 1,059 |
| 7 | W. G. Sanders Middle Columbia · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 40.0 Lower 50% | 27% Math proficiency | 503 |
| 8 | Longleaf Middle Columbia · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 39.2 Lower 50% | 34% Math proficiency | 796 |
| 9 | St. Andrews Middle Columbia · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 25.1 Lower 50% | 14% Math proficiency | 627 |
| 10 | W. A. Perry Middle Columbia · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 24.1 Lower 50% | 16% Math proficiency | 320 |
| 11 | Alcorn Middle Columbia · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 21.7 Lower 50% | 16% Math proficiency | 381 |
| 12 | Heyward Gibbes Middle Columbia · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 19.8 Lower 50% | 8% Math proficiency | 252 |
Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy in Columbia leads the 2025 list of middle schools in Columbia with a Success Index (US) of 82.5. Of the 12 schools shown, 11 are public, 1 are charter.
For the full picture see the wider South Carolina middle schools rankings, every school on the Columbia page, or the comparison tool to put a shortlist side by side.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best middle school in Columbia?
Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence Academy in Columbia, South Carolina ranks first among middle schools in Columbia with a Success Index (US) of 82.5 out of 100 (Enrollment: 216).
How are middle schools in Columbia ranked?
Each school's Success Index (US) combines 4 factors: math proficiency (30%), reading proficiency (30%), community advantage (fewer free/reduced-price lunch) (25%), students per teacher (15%). Each factor is a percentile against schools of the same type across United States. Schools with fewer than 60 students are excluded from rankings.
Are these 2025 rankings official?
No. They are computed by Success Tutoring from official American data (Urban Institute Education Data Portal (NCES CCD, EDFacts); NCES Common Core of Data). States set their own assessments and proficiency cut scores, so proficiency rates are most comparable within a state. Use the state rankings for like-for-like comparisons.