Best Schools in Columbus, Mississippi
15 schools · 8 Elementary · 2 Middle · 4 High · 1 Other
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.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
New Hope Middle School
Middle · Lowndes Co School Dist. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Columbus Middle School
Middle · Columbus Municipal School Dist. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
New Hope Elementary School
Elementary · Lowndes Co School Dist. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Columbus for 2026 are New Hope Middle School (6.9/10), Columbus Middle School (6.8/10), and New Hope Elementary School (6.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 12 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.
Schools
15
13 public · 2 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$163,400
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
15
13 public · 2 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$163,400
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 6.8/10 despite 100% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 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.
STAAR proficiency rose +12.4 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 (Top 10 of 12 rated schools; 15 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hope Middle School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Columbus Middle School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 3 | New Hope Elementary School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 4 | West Lowndes Elementary | 6.5 / 10 |
| 5 | West Lowndes High School | 5.8 / 10 |
| 6 | New Hope High School | 5.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Franklin Academy | 5.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Cook Elementary School | 4.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Fairview Elementary School | 3.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Columbus High School | 3.8 / 10 |
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
- 5.6/10
- Median household income
- $50,918
- Median home value
- $163,400
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 29%
- Avg commute
- 19 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 59%
20% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Columbus compares
Mississippi rank
#108 of 124
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.7
below Mississippi avg (6.3)
Median household income
$51k
97% of Mississippi median
Schools in this city
15
Columbus's public schools split across 3 districts
No single ISD owns Columbus. The public campuses divide among 3 districts.
The largest shares: Columbus Municipal School Dist (7), Lowndes Co School Dist (5), MS School For Math and Science (1).
Among 12 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.4 to 6.9 — the spread is inside Columbus, not a citywide average.
- Columbus Municipal School Dist7 public · 54%
- Lowndes Co School Dist5 public · 38%
- MS School For Math and Science1 public · 8%
About Schools in Columbus, Mississippi
Columbus, Mississippi is home to 15 schools, including 13 public schools and 2 private schools. The city's schools span 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools.
With an average rating of 5.6 out of 10, schools in Columbus show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Columbus is MS School for Math and Science with a composite score of 8.2/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Columbus is served by 3 school districts: MS SCHOOL FOR MATH AND SCIENCE, COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST, LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST. These districts collectively serve 8,666 students.
Columbus's community shows 29% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $50,918. The poverty rate in the area is 19.1%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,199 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.7 | ||
| 2 | 253 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.5 | ||
| 3 | 268 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.1 | ||
| 4 | 423 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.2 | ||
| 5 | 229 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.9 | ||
| 6 | 353 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.5 | ||
| 7 | 275 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.4 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Annunciation Catholic SchoolPrivate 215 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 612 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 |
| 2 | 580 students · 6th–8th | 6.8 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 241 students · 11th–12th | 8.2 |
| 2 | 216 students · 7th–12th | 5.8 |
| 3 | 818 students · 9th–12th | 5.4 |
| 4 | 937 students · 9th–12th | 3.8 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heritage AcademyPrivate 456 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in Columbus
Columbus, Mississippi · 15 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$50,918
Median Home Value
$163,400
Median Rent
$921/mo
Population
48,322
College Educated
29%
Homeownership
59%
Avg Commute
19 min
Poverty Rate
19.1%
Community Profile
Columbus has a median household income of $50,918. It is an area where 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $163,400, with a median rent of $921/month. The area has a poverty rate of 19.1%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Mississippi
- Elementary
- 8
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 4
- Other
- 1
Resources
Other Major Cities in Mississippi
Top metros statewide by school count.
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 rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Columbus, Mississippi
How many schools are in Columbus, Mississippi?
Columbus has 15 schools, including 13 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Columbus, Mississippi?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Columbus is 5.6 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, Mississippi?
The top-ranked school in Columbus on MySchoolScout is New Hope Middle School with a composite score of 6.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Columbus, Mississippi?
The top-ranked elementary school in Columbus on MySchoolScout is New Hope Elementary School with a composite score of 6.7/10.
What is the best middle school in Columbus, Mississippi?
The top-ranked middle school in Columbus on MySchoolScout is New Hope Middle School with a composite score of 6.9/10.
What is the best high school in Columbus, Mississippi?
The top-ranked high school in Columbus on MySchoolScout is West Lowndes High School with a composite score of 5.8/10.
How many school districts serve Columbus, Mississippi?
Columbus is served by 3 school districts: MS School for Math and Science, Columbus Municipal School Dist, Lowndes Co School Dist.
What is the education level in Columbus, Mississippi?
According to Census data, 29% of adults in Columbus have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Columbus, Mississippi?
The median household income in Columbus is approximately $50,918 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Columbus, Mississippi?
Yes, Columbus has 2 private schools alongside 13 public schools. The top-rated private school is Heritage Academy with a score of 7.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Columbus, Mississippi?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Columbus is 12.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Columbus, Mississippi?
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.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Mississippi Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.