Richland 02

Columbia, South Carolina — 32 schools

28,510
Total Enrollment
32
Schools
$18,376
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Richland 02 operates 32 public schools serving 28,510 students, placing it in the mid-size range in South Carolina. The school portfolio breaks down into 19 other, 5 high, 5 elementary, 3 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 28,841 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Richland County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $18,376 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 42.0% local, 47.7% state, and 10.3% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $72,112 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 52/100, ranked #35 of 73 in South Carolina against a state average of 51 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 5 of 32 schools offering Advanced Placement (85 AP courses district-wide), a 512.8:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 20.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 63.1% African American, 14.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% White across the district's schools.

Richland 02 school enrollment varies 4.8× across entities

Richland 02 school enrollment ranges from 465 students (lowest) to 2,230 students (highest), a spread of 1,765 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Richland 02 has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 68.9% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Richland 02 student-counselor ratio is 513:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Richland 02 chronic absenteeism rate is 20.1% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Richland 02 is typically wider than the Richland 02-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

10.3%
Federal
47.7%
State
42.0%
Local

Funding Equity

52
Equity Score
35 / 73
State Rank
51
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Richland County county, where this district is located.

$1,032
Studio/mo
$1,164
1 BR/mo
$1,276
2 BR/mo
$1,623
3 BR/mo
$1,911
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$72,112
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 32 schools in Richland 02.

White 14.1%
Hispanic or Latino 14.2%
African American 63.1%
Asian 2.3%
Multiracial 6.1%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

5 / 32
Schools with AP
85 AP courses total
512.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
20.1%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Richland 02

School Enrollment
Spring Valley High
2,230
Blythewood High
2,164
Westwood High
1,743
Ridge View High
1,631
Richland Northeast High
1,340
E. L. Wright Middle
1,275
Muller Road Middle
1,242
Summit Parkway Middle
1,229
Dent Middle
1,059
Kelly Mill Middle
979
Pontiac Elementary
880
Blythewood Middle
872
Longleaf Middle
796
Rice Creek Elementary
718
Bethel-Hanberry Elementary
711
Killian Elementary
699
Sandlapper Elementary
671
Polo Road Elementary
665
North Springs Elementary
659
Forest Lake Elementary
652
Catawba Trail Elementary
636
Langford Elementary
631
Round Top Elementary
581
Windsor Elementary
579
Bridge Creek Elementary
564
Jackson Creek Elementary
551
L. B. Nelson Elementary
541
Bookman Road Elementary
535
Lake Carolina Elementary Lower Campus
531
Lake Carolina Elementary Upper Campus
523
L. W. Conder Elementary
489
Joseph Keels Elementary
465

Nearby Districts in South Carolina

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Greenville 01
77,978 students · 92 schools · $13,261/pupil
Compare vs Richland 02 →
Charleston 01
49,929 students · 82 schools · $20,688/pupil
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Horry 01
47,357 students · 57 schools · $14,530/pupil
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Berkeley 01
37,932 students · 46 schools · $13,148/pupil
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Lexington 01
28,031 students · 31 schools · $16,643/pupil
Compare vs Richland 02 →

Compare Richland 02

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Greenville 01 →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Richland 02?

Richland 02 has 32 schools, including 5 high, 5 elementary, 3 middle, 19 other. Total enrollment is 28,510 students.

How much does Richland 02 spend per student?

Richland 02 spends $18,376 per student. The district has an equity score of 52/100, ranking #35 in South Carolina.

What is the average teacher salary in Richland 02?

The average teacher salary in Richland 02 is $72,112 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Richland 02?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Richland County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Richland 02?

Richland 02 students are 63.1% African American, 14.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% White, 2.3% Asian, averaged across 32 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Richland 02?

Richland 02 has an equity score of 52/100, ranking #35 out of 73 districts in South Carolina. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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