Top Rankings
Columbus School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Nebraska for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 9 public schools serving 4,145 students in Columbus School District. This district's average testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Nebraska.
51±¬ÁÏs in Columbus School District have an average math proficiency score of 38% (versus the Nebraska public school average of 46%), and reading proficiency score of 40% (versus the 47% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 56% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Nebraska public school average of 38% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NE)
# Schools
9 Schools
1,100 Schools
# Students
4,145 Students
328,496 Students
# Teachers
258 Teachers
24,032 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Columbus School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 245 school districts in Nebraska (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 84% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#203 out of 246 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
38%
46%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
40%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
59%
62%
Graduation Rate
84%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.55
0.57
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
1%
3%
% Hispanic
50%
22%
% Black
2%
7%
% White
44%
62%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $13,419 in this school district is less than the state median of $15,464. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,192 is less than the state median of $16,776. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$56 MM
$5,080 MM
Spending
$51 MM
$5,511 MM
Revenue / Student
$13,419
$15,464
Spending / Student
$12,192
$16,776
Best Columbus School District 51±¬ÁÏs (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Columbus High School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
3434 Discoverer Drive
Columbus, NE 68602
(402) 563-7050
Columbus, NE 68602
(402) 563-7050
Grades: 9-12
| 1,295 students
Rank: #22.
Centennial Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
500 Centennial St
Columbus, NE 68602
(402) 563-8180
Columbus, NE 68602
(402) 563-8180
Grades: PK-4
| 347 students
Rank: #33.
West Park Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
4100 Adamy St
Columbus, NE 68602
(402) 563-7075
Columbus, NE 68602
(402) 563-7075
Grades: PK-4
| 231 students
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Lost Creek Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3772 33rd Ave
Columbus, NE 68602
(402) 563-7045
Columbus, NE 68602
(402) 563-7045
Grades: PK-4
| 313 students
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
North Park Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2200 31st St
Columbus, NE 68602
(402) 563-7070
Columbus, NE 68602
(402) 563-7070
Grades: PK-4
| 299 students
Rank: #66.
Columbus Middle School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2200 26th St
Columbus, NE 68602
(402) 563-7060
Columbus, NE 68602
(402) 563-7060
Grades: 5-8
| 1,207 students
Rank: #77.
Emerson Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2410 20th St
Columbus, NE 68602
(402) 563-7030
Columbus, NE 68602
(402) 563-7030
Grades: PK-4
| 275 students
Rank: n/an/a
2410 16th Street
Columbus, NE 68602
(402) 563-7000
Columbus, NE 68602
(402) 563-7000
Grades: PK
| 178 students
Rank: n/an/a
2508 27th Street
Columbus, NE 68602
(402) 563-7000
Columbus, NE 68602
(402) 563-7000
Grades: PK
| n/a students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Columbus School District?
Columbus School District manages 9 public schools serving 4,145 students.
What is the rank of Columbus School District?
Columbus School District is ranked #199 out of 245 school districts in Nebraska (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Nebraska school districts for: Most diverse schools (Top 1%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Columbus School District?
50% of Columbus School District students are Hispanic, 44% of students are White, 2% of students are Black, 2% of students are Two or more races, 1% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Columbus School District?
Columbus School District has a student/teacher ratio of 16:1, which is higher than the Nebraska state average of 14:1.
What is Columbus School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $12,192 is less than the state median of $16,776. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Recent Articles
Parents’ Guide to Special Education
Special education law is not easy to decipher, with several regulations that govern special education services for disabled students. In this article, learn about the core components of the laws, rights, and individual education plans that can help create the best public school environment for your child.
Surveillance Cameras: Violation of Rights or Improved Security?
A school district in Virginia has given the green light to schools that want to install surveillance cameras in common areas like cafeterias and hallways. We’ll look at whether this is a violation of student privacy or the best way to keep order in schools.
Teachers in 19 States Allowed to Physically Punish Students
As of 2014, nineteen states still allow corporal punishment – spanking and paddling the most common choices – in their public schools. However, some argue that not only are these punishments physically harmful, they also are disproportionately administered to students of color. As a result, House democrats have taken up the issue in a new bill that would ban all forms of corporal punishment nationwide.
