Average
#1278 of 2,466 schools in NJ
Columbia High School
High School · South Orange-maplewood School District · Maplewood, NJ
A South Orange-maplewood School District high school where students score 5 points below what's typical for similar communities.
17 PARKER AVE, Maplewood, NJ 07040
- Math 39% vs NJ 44% (2025)
- Reading 69% vs NJ 50% (2025)
- 86.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Columbia High School score 54% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 59%).
2025 NJSLA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NJ average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 8 points since 2021, reaching 54% in 2025.
Show all 16 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 48% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 71% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 33 test records from NJ state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
16.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Columbia High School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the New York map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 74Very Walkable
- Bike 47Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Low18/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$167,428
Median home value
$684,600
Median rent
$2,184/mo
College educated
69.4%
Homeownership
76.9%
Poverty rate
3.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 07040; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark Sch of Data Science and Information TechnologyEnrollment path unverified | 5.2 | 9–11 | 1.5 mi | 301 | Compare → |
| Stem Innovation Academy of the OrangesEnrollment path unverified | 7.5 | 9–12 | 1.5 mi | 168 | Compare → |
| Irvington High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.3 | 9–12 | 1.7 mi | 1,752 | Compare → |
| Union High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.9 | 9–12 | 2.4 mi | 2,363 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
South Orange-maplewood School District
- Schools in district
- 10
- Rank in district
- #8 of 10
- District spending per student
- $25,104NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 3.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Columbia High School is listed in South Orange-Maplewood School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Columbia High School
Columbia High School is a public high school in Maplewood, NJ, part of South Orange-maplewood School District, serving approximately 1,933 students in grades 9th-12th with a 13:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,278 of 2,466 schools in NJ. State assessment records show 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Columbia High School
What grades does Columbia High School serve?
Columbia High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Columbia High School?
Columbia High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,933 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Columbia High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Columbia High School is 13:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Columbia High School rank in NJ?
Columbia High School ranks #1,278 of 2,466 schools in NJ.
What is Columbia High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Columbia High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Columbia High School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Columbia High School has 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Columbia High School a charter school?
No, Columbia High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Columbia High School a Title I school?
No, Columbia High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Columbia High School?
16.7% of students at Columbia High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,933
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 149
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Essex County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 27.6%
- Phone
- (973) 762-5600
- 4-Year Graduation
- 86.0%
- Area population (ZIP 07040)
- 25,406
- Area average commute
- 39 min
- Area median age
- 38.7
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NJSLA · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 NJSLA. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NJSLA · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 NJSLA. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- State assessments · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 07040; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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