The top reported proficiency rate is 18% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Empowerment and Enrichment Academy
Empowerment and Enrichment Academy is an alternative school in Columbia, South Carolina, serving students in grades five through twelve. It is operated by the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, meaning it is a state-run school for youth who are in the juvenile justice system. This is not a school that families choose by neighborhood or enrollment lottery; admission is tied to custody or placement by the juvenile justice system.
The school is located at 5000 Broad River Road, in the Columbia area. As the state capital and home to the University of South Carolina and Fort Jackson, Columbia is a city with a mix of government, military, and university functions. A typical family looking for a residential public school would not be enrolling a child here through standard processes.
Academic performance data for Empowerment and Enrichment Academy is very limited, and what exists reflects the specialized nature of the student population. State assessment results are available only for grade eight in math and English language arts, and even there the tested group is small. In grade eight math, the proficiency rate was extremely low; in grade eight ELA, it was low as well. For all other grade levels and subjects, results are suppressed by the state, meaning the number of students tested was too small to report publicly. No data was available for science or social studies in recent years. For the most recent year, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades placed it in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Richland County. Again, this is a school serving a population that faces significant educational disruptions, so these numbers cannot be compared with those of a typical public school.
No graduation rate is reported, even though the school includes high school grades. Enrollment figures, racial and ethnic breakdowns, and economic disadvantage data are all listed as zero or missing. That likely reflects the fact that the school’s enrollment is tied to a temporary, institutional population rather than a stable residential attendance zone.
Because Empowerment and Enrichment Academy is operated by a state agency rather than a local school district, standard points of reference like district strategic plans, property tax issues, or school board elections do not apply here. For a parent trying to understand this school, the essential fact is its role: it provides education for youth who are in South Carolina’s juvenile justice custody. The academic data available is sparse and reflects that context.
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