Hand Middle

Set in Columbia, South Carolina, Hand Middle is a moderately sized 6-8 campus, part of Richland 01. It enrolls 755 students across grades 6 through 8. By comparison, South Carolina's public schools average about 622 students each, so Hand Middle sits 21% above that benchmark.

Hand Middle is one of 47 schools operated by Richland 01, a district that hosts 21,814 students overall.

In terms of who attends, Hand Middle logs that the largest single group is Black at 51%, but no single group is in the majority. Beyond that, the school logs 31% White, 11% Hispanic, 6% multiracial. Compared to Richland County overall, the school's racial mix sits in roughly the same range.

Looking at school resources, On paper, Hand Middle has 61 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 12.4:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.8:1, putting Hand Middle tighter than the state norm the norm.

In the area at large, census data for Richland County shows the typical household earns roughly $63,784 per year, 41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 12%. Hand Middle is one of 104 public schools in Richland County (combined enrollment of about 60,410 students).

The closest other public school is A. C. Moore Elementary, roughly 0.6 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

The campus sits in an urban setting.

Over the past 7-year window. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Hand Middle has contracted 11%, going from 849 students in 2018 to 755 in 2025. White enrollment moved from 37% to 31% across the same window.

On the community side, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around sports schedules, lunch menu changes, and school spirit week. Anyone with firsthand experience at this school can post or comment.