Very Concerned About SC schools. (Columbia, Irmo: house, neighborhoods, YMCA)

[amyscarberry]

We are moving to the Columbia area in April 2008. We are military (so we don't have a choice where we go.), but we are looking forward to the move as that our "hometown" is not too far away. I am very concerned with what I have found on the internet about the school systems "report card". Most of the school districts in SC received a below average on most if not all categories. From what I have found so far, it seems that Lexington schools seem to be the best. Is this true? If not could definitely use some advise. Also, it seems to be that areas with the best schools are also the best communities to live in. Is Lexington a nice place to live?

[waccamatt]

IMO, the schools in Richland District 2 are just as good and that area is very close to Fort Jackson. There are some poor schools in South Carolina, but unfortunately most of them are in poor rural areas. I'm sure you'll get a lot of responses.

[Brandon Hoffman]

Lex/ Richland 5 is a blue ribbon district. That is the Irmo/ Chapin area. Richland 2 was named the best in the midlands last year and is convenient to Ft. Jackson. Lexington 1 is a good district. I think their HS was named top in the greater Columbia area last year if I remember right. They have big schools in Lex 1. Most are very happy with Richland 2 or Lexington/ Richland 5. If you're at Ft. Jackson, NE Columbia (Richland 2) will be the most convenient location.

[corruption]

Are there any proposed plans in the works to help remedy this situation? I mean, I hope they're not sitting idle saying "Oh our schools suck! Oh well!"

[Brandon Hoffman]

Originally Posted by corruption

Are there any proposed plans in the works to help remedy this situation? I mean, I hope they're not sitting idle saying "Oh our schools suck! Oh well!"

The schools aren't bad like the reports make out. SC encourages every student to take the SAT so it drags down our averages. Almost every other state only has college bound kids take the SAT.

[hapscat]

lower state drags a lot of it down .

[sandlapper]

Lexington/Richland District 5 has always been a good district, and as Wacamatt said Richland District 2 is excellent as well. If I were to move to Columbia now with a faimily I would probablly go with

1. Richland 2

2. Lex/Rich 5

In that order.

There are a couple of schools in Richalnd District 1 that are good as well (Dreher and AC Flora) that if you were interested in living in the city limits I would suggest you go for as well. Good luck.

[Reneewhitehe]

Originally Posted by amyscarberry

We are moving to the Columbia area in April 2008. We are military (so we don't have a choice where we go.), but we are looking forward to the move as that our "hometown" is not too far away. I am very concerned with what I have found on the internet about the school systems "report card". Most of the school districts in SC received a below average on most if not all categories. From what I have found so far, it seems that Lexington schools seem to be the best. Is this true? If not could definitely use some advise. Also, it seems to be that areas with the best schools are also the best communities to live in. Is Lexington a nice place to live?

The very finest school district you can find is Richland Two School District. This is to the NE of Columbia. My son's school has lots of Nationally Board Certified teachers, a National Blue Ribbon School and has received lots of other awards. The schools are very, very nice. The standards are excellent and teachers who work for this district will tell you in a heart beat that they love Richland 2! I have a son in elementary school and I have been a substitute teacher in the system and have been in a good number of the schools. Richland 2 competes at the national level and you cannot go wrong in this school system! Even the buildings - whether new or old - are very, very nice and kept up and are just beautiful even. The teachers are top notch. Our principle e-mails the parents almost daily with reminders and updates about what is going on.

Look in Lake Carolina. It is a community of neighborhoods that has been voted best in Columbia for a number of years now. There is an elementary and middle school there. There are neighborhoods in all different price ranges. And even a town center with shops, restaurants, doctors office, wine store, pet groomer, printing business....etc. etc.! There are great activities provided and even a brand new YMCA there! Once a week, a farmers market sets up in the Town Center area. Be sure to check out Lake Carolina. And yes, I do live in one of the neighborhoods and it is great. Very safe, beautifully landscaped, pools, playgrounds, street lights and of course ...a lake! Hope this helps! Oh, there are plenty of military families who live out here - so you would fit right in!

[amyscarberry]

Originally Posted by Reneewhitehe

The very finest school district you can find is Richland Two School District. This is to the NE of Columbia. My son's school has lots of Nationally Board Certified teachers, a National Blue Ribbon School and has received lots of other awards. The schools are very, very nice. The standards are excellent and teachers who work for this district will tell you in a heart beat that they love Richland 2! I have a son in elementary school and I have been a substitute teacher in the system and have been in a good number of the schools. Richland 2 competes at the national level and you cannot go wrong in this school system! Even the buildings - whether new or old - are very, very nice and kept up and are just beautiful even. The teachers are top notch. Our principle e-mails the parents almost daily with reminders and updates about what is going on.

Look in Lake Carolina. It is a community of neighborhoods that has been voted best in Columbia for a number of years now. There is an elementary and middle school there. There are neighborhoods in all different price ranges. And even a town center with shops, restaurants, doctors office, wine store, pet groomer, printing business....etc. etc.! There are great activities provided and even a brand new YMCA there! Once a week, a farmers market sets up in the Town Center area. Be sure to check out Lake Carolina. And yes, I do live in one of the neighborhoods and it is great. Very safe, beautifully landscaped, pools, playgrounds, street lights and of course ...a lake! Hope this helps! Oh, there are plenty of military families who live out here - so you would fit right in!

What do you know about Dutch Fork Schools?

[Wildflower-222]

Hi - We're a military family who just moved to Columbia this summer. First, if you will be working out of Fort Jackson, you probably don't want to live in the Irmo or Lexington areas, because of the daily commute/traffic. I would recommend the NE Columbia area or Forest Acres. The NE Columbia area has a good reputation (Richland 2) for public schools, although some are better than others. Lake Carolina, Bookman Rd, & Polo Rd (Elementary) all come recommended by friends. In Forest Acres we have several friends with kids attending Satchel Ford Elementary and like it very much. High Schools in both these areas are also well thought of (Spring Valley & AC Flora). I also have friends who recommend the Catholic schools St John Neumann, St Joseph, and Cardinal Newmann HS.

However, when we came house hunting in Columbia, we only had a week or so to find a place, and didn't know the area well or the reputations of the various schools. We resolved this problem by sending our kids to a small private school, Timmerman, which is in Forest Acres not far from Ft Jackson. We have been very pleased - you will find many military families there also. In fact, on the webpage there is an essay written by a "military brat" about the school which won the Governor's Writing Award. If you want, just give the school a call and ask for Mrs Jordan, the school principal.