Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Columbia Public Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 39 public preschools serving 17,919 students in Columbia, SC.
The top-ranked public preschools in Columbia, SC are Brockman Elementary School, Brennen Elementary School and Forest Lake Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Columbia, SC public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 36% (versus the South Carolina public pre school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 39% (versus the 48% statewide average). Pre schools in Columbia have an average ranking of 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of South Carolina public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 88% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public preschool average of 55% (majority Black).

Best Public Preschools in Columbia, SC (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Brockman Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
2245 Montclair Drive
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 790-6743
Gr: PK-5 | 297 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #22.
Brennen Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4438 Devereaux Road
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 738-7204
Gr: PK-5 | 805 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #33.
Forest Lake Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
6801 Brookfield Road
Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 782-0470
Gr: PK-5 | 652 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #44.
Harbison West Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
257 Crossbow Drive
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 476-3800
Gr: PK-5 | 510 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #55.
North Springs Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1300 Clemson Road
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 736-3183
Gr: PK-5 | 659 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #66.
L. B. Nelson Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
225 North Brickyard Road
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 736-8730
Gr: PK-5 | 541 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #77.
Sandlapper Elementary School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1001 Longtown Road
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 691-4045
Gr: PK-5 | 671 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #88.
Logan Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
815 Elmwood Avenue
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 343-2915
Gr: PK-5 | 237 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #99.
Nursery Road Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
6706 Nursery Road
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 476-4300
Gr: PK-5 | 471 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #1010.
A. C. Moore Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
333 Etiwan Avenue
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 343-2910
Gr: PK-5 | 244 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #1111.
Rice Creek Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
4751 Hard Scrabble Road
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-2900
Gr: PK-5 | 718 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #1212.
Leaphart Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
120 Piney Grove Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 476-4700
Gr: PK-5 | 483 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #1313.
Meadowfield Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
525 Galway Lane
Columbia, SC 29209
(803) 738-5549
Gr: PK-5 | 615 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #1414.
Polo Road Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1250 Polo Road
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 419-2226
Gr: PK-5 | 665 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #1515.
Joseph Keels Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
7500 Springcrest Drive
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 736-8754
Gr: PK-5 | 465 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1616.
Killian Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2621 Clemson Road
Columbia, SC 29229
(803) 699-2981
Gr: PK-5 | 699 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #1717.
Jackson Creek Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
7150 Trenholm Road Extension
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 790-3800
Gr: PK-5 | 551 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1818.
Annie Burnside Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
7300 Patterson Road
Columbia, SC 29209
(803) 783-5530
Gr: PK-5 | 306 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
Bradley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
3032 Pinebelt Road
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 738-7200
Gr: PK-5 | 392 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
Carver-lyon Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2100 Waverly Street
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 343-2900
Gr: PK-5 | 417 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #2121.
South Kilbourne Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1400 South Kilbourne Road
Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 738-7215
Gr: PK-5 | 234 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #2222.
Windsor Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
9800 Dunbarton Drive
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 736-8723
Gr: PK-5 | 579 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #2323.
Seven Oaks Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2800 Ashland Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 476-8500
Gr: PK-5 | 522 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #2424.
Mill Creek Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
925 Universal Drive
Columbia, SC 29209
(803) 783-5553
Gr: PK-5 | 353 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2525.
Carolina School For Inquiry
Charter School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
7405-a Fairfield Road
Columbia, SC 29202
(803) 691-1250
Gr: PK-6 | 114 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2626.
H. B. Rhame Elementary School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1300 Arrowwood Drive
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 731-8900
Gr: PK-5 | 418 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #2727.
Edward E. Taylor Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
200 Mcrae Street
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 343-2974
Gr: PK-5 | 217 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
Rank: #2828.
L. W. Conder Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
8040 Hunt Club Road
Columbia, SC 29223
(803) 736-8720
Gr: PK-5 | 489 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #2929.
Caughman Road Elementary School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
7725 Caughman Road
Columbia, SC 29209
(803) 783-5534
Gr: PK-5 | 715 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #3030.
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: #3131.
Sandel Elementary School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2700 Seminole Road
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 731-8906
Gr: PK-5 | 479 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #3232.
Forest Heights Elementary School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2500 Blue Ridge Terrace
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 691-3780
Gr: PK-5 | 435 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #33 - 3433. - 34.
A. J. Lewis Greenview Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
726 Easter Street
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-3417
Gr: PK-5 | 358 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
Rank: #33 - 3433. - 34.
Arden Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1300 Ashley Street
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 735-3400
Gr: PK-5 | 216 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #3535.
Watkins-nance Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2525 Barhamville Road
Columbia, SC 29204
(803) 733-4321
Gr: PK-5 | 499 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Show 4 more public schools in Columbia, SC (out of 39 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public preschools in Columbia, SC?
The top-ranked public preschools in Columbia, SC include Brockman Elementary School, Brennen Elementary School and Forest Lake Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Columbia?
39 public preschools are located in Columbia.
What is the racial composition of students in Columbia?
Columbia public preschools minority enrollment is 88% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the South Carolina public preschools average of 55% (majority Black).
Which public preschools in Columbia are often viewed compared to one another?

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