Columbus Public Schools School District
School District · Columbus, Nebraska
Avg Rating
4.6
out of 10
Schools
8
5 elem, 1 mid, 1 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,835
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
Avg Rating
4.6
out of 10
Schools
8
5 elem, 1 mid, 1 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,835
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
Evaluating Columbus Public Schools?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Columbus Public Schools as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Centennial Elementary School
Columbus · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Columbus High School
Columbus · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
West Park Elementary
Columbus · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Nebraska rank
#228 of 242
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-1.7
below Nebraska avg
Per-pupil spending
$12,835
$4,529 vs Nebraska median
District size
4,145 students
Much larger than Nebraska median
The short answer
Columbus Public Schools ranks #228 of 242 Nebraska districts by overall school rating. Columbus Public Schools's schools with real test data average 4.6/10 across 7 schools. Its top-rated schools are Centennial Elementary School (6.2/10), Columbus High School (4.9/10), and West Park Elementary (4.8/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Top-Rated Schools in Columbus Public Schools
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (7 of 8). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Centennial Elementary School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Columbus High School | 4.9 / 10 |
| 3 | West Park Elementary | 4.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Lost Creek Elementary Sch | 4.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Columbus Middle School | 4.3 / 10 |
| 6 | North Park Elementary | 3.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Emerson Elementary School | 3.3 / 10 |
See all 8 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Columbus Public Schools
Columbus Public Schools is a Columbus, Nebraska school district serving 8 schools. The district educates 4,145 students with a student-teacher ratio of 16.2:1. The district invests $12,835 per student annually.
With an average rating of 4.6/10, Columbus Public Schools demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Centennial Elementary School, which has a composite score of 6.2/10.
In standardized testing, Columbus Public Schools students show an average math proficiency of 63.0% and ELA proficiency of 62.8%.
The district includes 5 elementary schools , 1 middle school , and 1 high school.
District Map
Schools in Columbus Public Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Columbus Public Schools with test data.
Schools in Columbus Public Schools
8 schools Elementary Schools 5
Middle Schools 1
High Schools 1
Other Schools 1
District Details
- State
- Nebraska
- City
- Columbus
- Total Enrollment
- 4,145
- Teachers (FTE)
- 256
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.1%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Columbus Public Schools?
Columbus Public Schools has 8 schools in total — 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Columbus Public Schools?
The average composite rating for Columbus Public Schools is 4.6/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Columbus Public Schools?
Columbus Public Schools spends $12,835 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Columbus Public Schools?
The average student-teacher ratio in Columbus Public Schools is 16.2:1.
What is the top-rated school in Columbus Public Schools?
Centennial Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Columbus Public Schools with a composite score of 6.2/10.
What are the test scores in Columbus Public Schools?
Across schools in Columbus Public Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 63.0% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 62.8%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Columbus Public Schools compare to other districts in Nebraska?
Columbus Public Schools has an average school rating of 4.6/10 across 8 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Nebraska by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 4.6/10
- Math Proficiency
- 63.0%
- ELA Proficiency
- 62.8%
Resources
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 rateOther School Districts in NE
Compare Columbus Public Schools with neighboring districts in the state.
- Omaha Public Schools (112)
- Lincoln Public Schools (78)
- Millard Public Schools (36)
- Grand Island Public Schools (23)
- Papillion La Vista Community Schools (22)
- Bellevue Public Schools (21)
- Elkhorn Public Schools (20)
- Kearney Public Schools (15)
- Fremont Public Schools (14)
- Westside Community Schools (14)
- North Platte Public Schools (12)
- Norfolk Public Schools (12)
- Gretna Public Schools (11)
- Educational Service Unit 03 (9)
- Bennington Public Schools (8)
- Hastings Public Schools (8)
- Lexington Public Schools (8)
- Ralston Public Schools (8)
- Schuyler Community Schools (8)
- Scottsbluff Public Schools (8)
- So Sioux City Community Schs (8)
- Educational Service Unit 13 (8)
- Crete Public Schools (6)
- Gering Public Schools (6)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Nebraska Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.