Dutch Fork Elementary School has a rich history dating back 85 years ago, when St. Peter's Baptist Church on Broad River Road donated two acres of land for the establishment of a school for black children. Several groups, including the Julius Rosenwald Fund, Richland County and black communities in the area, funded the original structure, consisting of a two-room wooden building.

In 1953, the school’s name was changed to Richlex to reflect the consolidation of five area schools in both Richland and Lexington counties. The school became Irmo Junior High in 1968, serving both black and white students in grades seven through nine. By 1971, the school became Dutch Fork Elementary School after a district-wide reorganization in Lexington/Richland 5. Throughout this time, the school increased in numbers and had undergone several additions and renovations. Now, the school has more than 500 students and serves grades kindergarten through fifth grade.