Forest Lake Elementary

652 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

Forest Lake Elementary, located in the Forest Acres area of Columbia, South Carolina, is a public school serving students in Richland School District Two. The school is known for its commitment to fostering a nurturing learning environment that emphasizes both academic achievement and the development of the whole child. With a diverse student population, the school utilizes a variety of instructional strategies to meet individual needs, often incorporating technology and hands-on learning opportunities to keep students engaged in their educational journey.

Beyond its core academic curriculum, Forest Lake Elementary places a strong emphasis on community involvement and character education. The school benefits from an active parent-teacher organization and community partnerships that support extracurricular programs, arts integration, and initiatives aimed at building school spirit. By prioritizing a collaborative atmosphere between faculty, families, and the surrounding Columbia neighborhood, Forest Lake strives to provide a stable, supportive foundation for its elementary-aged students as they prepare for middle school and beyond.

652

Total Students

49.3

Full-Time Teachers

13.2

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Forest Lake Elementary
Demographic	Student Count
White	113
Hispanic	117
Black	363
Asian	20
Two or More	38
Pacific Islander	1

Black
363 (55.7%)
Hispanic
117 (17.9%)
White
113 (17.3%)
Two or More
38 (5.8%)
Asian
20 (3.1%)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.2%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Richland 02
Phone:	(803)782-0470
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	652
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	49.3
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	13.2
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 41

Kindergarten 78

Grade 1 98

Grade 2 114

Grade 3 108

Grade 4 105

Grade 5 108