5.1 avg / 10

Best Schools in Columbus, Georgia

58 schools · 35 Elementary · 10 Middle · 10 High · 3 Other

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 49

Private: 9

Districts: 1

Avg Rating: 5.1/10

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Columbus?

Use this page to compare every school in Columbus by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Explore the map How we rate schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Elementary · Muscogee County. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

High · Muscogee County. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Columbus for 2026 are Britt David Elementary Computer Magnet Academy (9.3/10), Columbus High School (9.0/10), and Rainey Mccullers School of the Arts (8.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 50 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Best value · beats the odds

Downtown Elementary Magnet Academy

Rates 7.4/10 despite 100% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.3 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Columbus schools.

Most improved · 2022 → 2024

Columbus High School

STAAR proficiency rose +10.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Columbus schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.

Top-Rated Schools in Columbus

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (50 of 58). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	Britt David Elementary Computer Magnet Academy	9.3 / 10	Elementary	+1.3	98th
2	Columbus High School	9.0 / 10	High	+1.2	95th
3	Rainey Mccullers School of the Arts	8.9 / 10	High	+2.3	94th
4	Truth Spring Academy	7.7 / 10	Elementary	—	89th
5	North Columbus Elementary	7.5 / 10	Elementary	+1.3	71th
6	Wynnbrook Christian School	7.5 / 10	Elementary	—	85th
7	Downtown Elementary Magnet Academy	7.4 / 10	Elementary	+3.3	69th
8	Richards Middle School	7.3 / 10	Middle	+2.2	67th
9	Blackmon Road Middle School	7.0 / 10	Middle	+1.0	62th
10	Hannan Elementary	6.8 / 10	Elementary	+2.5	58th

See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 5.1/10
Median household income: $51,031
Median home value: $169,767
Bachelor's degree or higher: 28%
Avg commute: 20 min
Owner-occupied homes: 44%

How Columbus compares

Georgia rank

#210 of 240

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-1.2

below Georgia avg (6.3)

Median household income

$51k

73% of Georgia median

Schools in this city

55

Education Snapshot

Columbus, Georgia

Columbus, Georgia runs 58 schools — 35 elementary, 10 middle, 10 high, and 3 other or combined — under a single district serving roughly 29,618 students. The city's average MySchoolScout composite rating of 5.1/10, measured across 55 scored schools, trails the Georgia state average of 6.3/10 by 1.2 points, placing Columbus's school landscape clearly below the statewide norm. Median household income is $54,781, which runs 31% below the Georgia median of $79,605, and 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. With the entire system under one district, families share the same administrative umbrella; parents who want to compare across multiple districts have no local option. Individual school ratings within those 58 campuses range widely — the 5.1 city composite includes schools that clear the state benchmark and others that drag the average down.

About Schools in Columbus, Georgia

Columbus, Georgia has 49 ranked public schools spanning elementary through high school, giving families a wide field to evaluate. The city's average school score is 5.3 out of 10, which reflects a broad performance range rather than a concentrated cluster of high achievers. Only 5 schools — 10% of the total — score 7 or higher, so standout options exist but require deliberate searching.

At the top of the city's rankings sits Rainey McCullers School of the Arts, a high school scoring 8.8 out of 10, the highest mark in Columbus. Columbus High School follows at 8.1, making it the city's strongest traditional high school option. Both scores place these campuses well above the city average and signal consistent academic performance. At the elementary level, Reese Road Leadership Academy (7.3) and Britt David Elementary Computer Magnet Academy (7.1) outperform most of their Columbus peers, with Richards Middle School (7.0) rounding out the top tier at the middle school level. Parents who need a full K-12 pipeline have credible options across all grade bands, though the competition for seats at specialized programs like Rainey McCullers and Britt David may be a factor.

The gap between the city's top schools and its average is significant. A score of 8.8 at the top versus a citywide average of 5.3 means roughly three and a half rating points separate the best and typical Columbus school experience. Families researching this market should treat school assignment boundaries and magnet eligibility as priority questions early in their housing or enrollment process.

Practically, parents new to Columbus should identify whether their address falls within a high-performing attendance zone or opens access to a magnet program. Rainey McCullers and Britt David both operate as specialized schools, meaning proximity alone may not guarantee enrollment. Checking application timelines and eligibility criteria for these schools early gives families more options. For those without access to top-tier assignments, exploring open enrollment policies across Muscogee County School District can expand the available choices beyond neighborhood defaults.

Filter by Level: All Levels (58) Elementary (35) Middle (10) High (10)

Filter by Type: All Types (58) Public (49) Private (9)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (58) Academics (49) Growth (49) Diversity (49) Resources (49)

Filter by ZIP: 31907 (17) 31904 (11) 31906 (10) 31909 (10) 31903 (7) 31901 (3)

Elementary Schools

35 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Britt David Elementary Computer Magnet Academy 510 students · Kindergarten–5th	510	Kindergarten–5th	9.3
2	North Columbus Elementary 746 students · Pre-K–5th	746	Pre-K–5th	7.5
3	Downtown Elementary Magnet Academy 347 students · Pre-K–5th	347	Pre-K–5th	7.4
4	Hannan Elementary 361 students · Kindergarten–5th	361	Kindergarten–5th	6.8
5	Dorothy Height Elementary School 432 students · Pre-K–5th	432	Pre-K–5th	6.7
6	Clubview Elementary School 579 students · Pre-K–5th	579	Pre-K–5th	6.6
7	Eagle Ridge Academy 674 students · Pre-K–5th	674	Pre-K–5th	6.5
8	Gentian Elementary School 446 students · Kindergarten–5th	446	Kindergarten–5th	6.4
9	Wynnton Elementary School 359 students · Kindergarten–5th	359	Kindergarten–5th	6.3
10	Blanchard Elementary School 470 students · Pre-K–5th	470	Pre-K–5th	5.3

Show all 35 elementary schools in Columbus

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.

Middle Schools

10 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Richards Middle School 809 students · 6th–8th	809	6th–8th	7.3
2	Blackmon Road Middle School 534 students · 6th–8th	534	6th–8th	7.0
3	Veterans Memorial Middle School 658 students · 6th–8th	658	6th–8th	5.0
4	Double Churches Middle School 442 students · 6th–8th	442	6th–8th	4.3
5	Fort Middle School 484 students · 6th–8th	484	6th–8th	3.0
6	Baker Middle School 547 students · 6th–8th	547	6th–8th	2.8
7	East Columbus Magnet Academy 413 students · 6th–8th	413	6th–8th	2.7
8	Rothschild Leadership Academy School 540 students · 6th–8th	540	6th–8th	2.2
9	Arnold Middle School 625 students · 6th–8th	625	6th–8th	2.0
10	Eddy Middle School 437 students · 6th–8th	437	6th–8th	2.0

High Schools

10 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Columbus High School 1,131 students · 9th–12th	1,131	9th–12th	9.0
2	Rainey Mccullers School of the Arts 347 students · 6th–12th	347	6th–12th	8.9
3	Northside High School 1,417 students · 9th–12th	1,417	9th–12th	6.7
4	Shaw High School 1,220 students · 9th–12th	1,220	9th–12th	5.2
5	Hardaway High School 1,097 students · 9th–12th	1,097	9th–12th	5.1
6	Carver High School 903 students · 9th–12th	903	9th–12th	5.0
7	Jordan Vocational High School 969 students · 9th–12th	969	9th–12th	3.9
8	Spencer High School 1,004 students · 9th–12th	1,004	9th–12th	3.8
9	Kendrick High School 903 students · 9th–12th	903	9th–12th	2.9
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	Hallie Turner Private School Private 28 students · 8th–12th	28	8th–12th	—

Other Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Grace Christian School Private 144 students · Pre-K–12th	144	Pre-K–12th	6.7
2	St Anne-pacelli Catholic School Private 672 students · Pre-K–12th	672	Pre-K–12th	5.8
3	Calvary Christian School Private 669 students · Pre-K–12th	669	Pre-K–12th	5.2

Schools in Columbus

Columbus, Georgia · 58 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 6 ZIP codes

Median Income

$51,031

Median Home Value

$169,767

Median Rent

$1,008/mo

Population

181,152

College Educated

28%

Homeownership

44%

Avg Commute

20 min

Poverty Rate

22.8%

Community Profile

Columbus has a median household income of $51,031. It is an area where 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $169,767, with a median rent of $1,008/month. The area has a poverty rate of 22.8%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: Georgia
Elementary: 35
Middle: 10
High: 10
Other: 3

Resources

🔍 Google "Columbus schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Columbus 📊 Niche Columbus Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School District

Muscogee County

53 schools · 29,698 students

Nearby Cities

Waverly Hall (1 school)

19 mi

Buena Vista (2 schools)

26 mi

Talbotton (1 school)

27 mi

West Point (1 school)

30 mi

Warm Springs (1 school)

Manchester (3 schools)

32 mi

Preston (2 schools)

38 mi

Other Major Cities in Georgia

Top metros statewide by school count.

Atlanta 216 schools Marietta 80 schools Savannah 73 schools Decatur 59 schools Macon 56 schools

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Columbus, Georgia

How many schools are in Columbus, Georgia?

Columbus has 58 schools, including 49 public and 9 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Columbus, Georgia?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Columbus is 5.1 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

What is the top-ranked school in Columbus, Georgia?

The top-ranked school in Columbus on MySchoolScout is Britt David Elementary Computer Magnet Academy with a composite score of 9.3/10.

What is the best elementary school in Columbus, Georgia?

The top-ranked elementary school in Columbus on MySchoolScout is Britt David Elementary Computer Magnet Academy with a composite score of 9.3/10.

What is the best middle school in Columbus, Georgia?

The top-ranked middle school in Columbus on MySchoolScout is Richards Middle School with a composite score of 7.3/10.

What is the best high school in Columbus, Georgia?

The top-ranked high school in Columbus on MySchoolScout is Columbus High School with a composite score of 9.0/10.

How many school districts serve Columbus, Georgia?

Columbus is served by 1 school district: Muscogee County.

What is the education level in Columbus, Georgia?

According to Census data, 28% of adults in Columbus have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Columbus, Georgia?

The median household income in Columbus is approximately $51,031 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Columbus, Georgia?

Yes, Columbus has 9 private schools alongside 49 public schools. The top-rated private school is Truth Spring Academy with a score of 7.7/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Columbus, Georgia?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Columbus is 14.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Columbus, Georgia?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.