About Our District

The legal name of the district is “School District Five of Lexington & Richland Counties.” School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties is commonly referred to as District Five. The school district was organized by action of the Lexington County Board of Education in 1951 and the Richland County Board of Education in 1952. The action of the Boards of Education consolidated several smaller school districts in the Counties. In addition to District Five, there are four other school districts in Lexington County and two other school districts in Richland County. District Five, as well as the other school districts in Lexington County, are fiscally independent. The Board of Trustees has the responsibility for setting the operational millage within the restrictions allowed by the State Legislature.

District Five encompasses a land area of approximately 196 square miles, approximately one-half of which is situated in each of Lexington and Richland Counties. The school district consists of the northern portion of Lexington County lying north of Lake Murray and the Saluda River and the northwestern portion of Richland County lying south of the Broad River. The School District is primarily a residential suburb located to the northwest of the city of Columbia, the capital city of South Carolina. Included in District Five are the towns of Irmo and Chapin. The school district has three attendance areas: Chapin, Dutch Fork, and Irmo. District Five operates a total of 13 elementary schools, two intermediate schools, three middle schools, four high schools, one Center for Advanced Technical Studies and one alternative school.

School District Five offers educational programs that challenge and stimulate thinking and problem solving and foster superior achievement. Our comprehensive educational program focuses on both academic and personal success for all students, from early childhood education through grade 12 and includes both adult and community education programs. A variety of programs are offered to meet the diverse needs of our students.