Crayton Middle, Columbia SC - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Crayton Middle

Crayton Middle serves grades six through eight in Columbia, South Carolina, as part of Richland 01. It is a regular public school, not a magnet or charter. The school sits in a city that functions as the state capital, home to the University of South Carolina’s flagship campus and Fort Jackson, the large Army training installation. That combination shapes the community: a mix of government employees, university faculty and students, military personnel, and families working in healthcare and other sectors. The school’s attendance zone draws from specific residential neighborhoods in the city.

On state assessments, Crayton Middle’s performance in English language arts stands out. Across sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, a majority of students scored proficient or above. The strongest results are in seventh grade, where the share reaching proficiency is higher than in the other two grades. In math, proficiency rates are lower, with a noticeable drop from sixth to eighth grade: sixth grade shows a modest majority proficient, seventh grade falls slightly, and eighth grade falls further. Science results, available for sixth grade only, show a majority meeting proficiency as well. Social studies data comes from an older assessment cycle and predates recent cut-score changes, so a current picture in that subject is not available. South Carolina made adjustments to its cut scores for ELA and science in recent years, which makes direct year-over-year comparisons uncertain. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages results across tested subjects and grades, places it among the highest in the county when measured against other district-level averages in Richland County.

The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial black population and smaller shares of Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial students. Every student at Crayton Middle qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, which likely reflects a district-wide community eligibility program rather than individual household poverty. Parents may want to confirm the specifics with the school. Information on students with disabilities and English learners was not provided. The school’s enrollment is large for a middle school and is distributed roughly evenly across the three grades.

Columbia’s housing market has seen home values climb above the state average, though they remain moderate by national standards. Rents have also risen, reflecting steady demand in a metro area anchored by stable employers: state government, the university, Fort Jackson, and the healthcare sector. The city’s unusually wide streets and original grid plan create a downtown core that is walkable near the State House and the university, but Crayton Middle’s location in a residential part of the city means that most families drive to school and to daily errands.

No recent district-level changes or initiatives were reported for Richland 01, so parents looking for information on program offerings, advanced coursework, arts, athletics, or student support services will need to contact the school directly. The school’s website or a visit would be the best way to learn about clubs, electives, tutoring, and any enrichment opportunities.

Overall, Crayton Middle provides a solid academic environment, with literacy outcomes that are clearly a strength. Math results are more uneven and decline through the middle grades, a pattern a parent may want to explore further with the school. Set in a capital city with a mix of university, government, and military influence, it serves a diverse student body within a district that did not report any major changes. Families considering this school should weigh the strong reading and writing performance against the more modest math trajectory and investigate the specific programs that matter most to their child.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 655%

School 55% · District 27% · ▲ 28 pts above district

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 34 pts above county median

Grade 754%

School 54% · District 23% · ▲ 31 pts above district

▲ 26 pts above state median · ▲ 31 pts above county median

Grade 847%

School 47% · District 23% · ▲ 24 pts above district

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 667%

School 67% · District 47% · ▲ 20 pts above district

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 22 pts above county median

Grade 770%

School 70% · District 47% · ▲ 23 pts above district

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

Grade 866%

School 66% · District 45% · ▲ 21 pts above district

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

Science

Grade 662%

School 62% · District 35% · ▲ 28 pts above district

▲ 19 pts above state median · ▲ 27 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 767%

School 67% · District 55% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

This schoolRichland 01, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income42%Higher-income90%48 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income40%Higher-income91%51 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income44%Higher-income87%43 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income28%Higher-income80%52 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income17%Higher-income81%64 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income19%Higher-income74%55 pp gap