6.0 avg / 10

Best Schools in Columbus, Mississippi

15 schools · 8 Elementary · 2 Middle · 4 High · 1 Other

Last updated: May 2026

Public: 13

Private: 2

Districts: 3

Avg Rating: 6.0/10

Estimated Scores: 20%

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 6.0/10
Median household income: $50,918
Median home value: $163,400
Bachelor's degree or higher: 29%
Avg commute: 19 min
Owner-occupied homes: 59%

How Columbus compares

Mississippi rank

#80 of 120

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.2

below Mississippi avg (6.3)

Median household income

$51k

98% of Mississippi median

Schools in this city

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 6.0 out of 10, schools in Columbus show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which measures academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

The highest-performing school in Columbus is MS School for Math and Science with a composite score of 8.6/10, 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.

Filter by Level: All Levels (15) Elementary (8) Middle (2) High (4)

Filter by Type: All Types (15) Public (13) Private (2)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (15) Academics (15) Growth (12) Diversity (12) Resources (13)

Filter by ZIP: 39702 (7) 39701 (5) 39705 (3)

Elementary Schools

8 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	COOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 423 students · Pre-K–5th	423	Pre-K–5th	7.3
2	SALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 275 students · Pre-K–5th	275	Pre-K–5th	6.9
3	WEST LOWNDES ELEMENTARY 253 students · Pre-K–6th	253	Pre-K–6th	6.3
4	FRANKLIN ACADEMY 268 students · Pre-K–5th	268	Pre-K–5th	6.2
5	STOKES BEARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 353 students · Pre-K–5th	353	Pre-K–5th	5.5
6	NEW HOPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1,199 students · Pre-K–5th	1,199	Pre-K–5th	5.5
7	FAIRVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 229 students · Pre-K–5th	229	Pre-K–5th	5.2
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	ANNUNCIATION CATHOLIC SCHOOL Private 215 students · Pre-K–8th	215	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated

Middle Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	NEW HOPE MIDDLE SCHOOL 612 students · 6th–8th	612	6th–8th	5.7
2	COLUMBUS MIDDLE SCHOOL 580 students · 6th–8th	580	6th–8th	5.5

High Schools

4 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	MS SCHOOL FOR MATH AND SCIENCE 241 students · 11th–12th	241	11th–12th	8.6
2	WEST LOWNDES HIGH SCHOOL 216 students · 7th–12th	216	7th–12th	5.5
3	NEW HOPE HIGH SCHOOL 818 students · 9th–12th	818	9th–12th	4.8
4	COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL 937 students · 9th–12th	937	9th–12th	4.4

Other Schools

1 school

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	HERITAGE ACADEMY Private 423 students · Pre-K–12th	423	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.

Quick Facts

State: Mississippi
Total Schools: 15
Elementary: 8
Middle: 2
High: 4
Districts: 3
Avg Rating: 6.0/10

Resources

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

School Districts (3)

MS SCHOOL FOR MATH AND SCIENCE

1 school · 241 students

COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST

9 schools · 3,065 students

LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST

10 schools · 5,360 students

Nearby Cities

Steens (1 school)

6 mi

Caledonia (3 schools)

14 mi

Hamilton (1 school)

17 mi

West Point (7 schools)

Starkville (6 schools)

24 mi

Amory (2 schools)

34 mi

Other Major Cities in Mississippi

Top metros statewide by school count.

Jackson 67 schools Gulfport 25 schools Hattiesburg 23 schools Greenville 20 schools

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Frequently 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 6.0 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

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

The top-ranked school in Columbus on MySchoolScout is MS School for Math and Science with a composite score of 8.6/10.

What is the best elementary school in Columbus, Mississippi?

The top-ranked elementary school in Columbus on MySchoolScout is Cook Elementary School with a composite score of 7.3/10.

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 5.7/10.

What is the best high school in Columbus, Mississippi?

The top-ranked high school in Columbus on MySchoolScout is MS School for Math and Science with a composite score of 8.6/10.

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 Annunciation Catholic School with a score of 7.0/10.

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

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Columbus is 13.0:1. 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 based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.