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Downtown Columbia, ILPhoto: Paul Sableman · CC BY 2.0
A
Schools in Columbia · Columbia Community Unit School District 4

Columbia’s public schools outscore 87% of Illinois districts

In Columbia, 42% of tested students are proficient in math, above the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the public school district serving Columbia, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Illinois, not nationally.

#98of 768 Illinois townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Illinois state tests taken in spring 2021, when nearly all of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
41%
▲ 11 pts vs IL 30%
2020–21
Math proficiency
42%
▲ 16 pts vs IL 26%
2020–21
Graduate on time
95–100%
▲ 7–12 pts vs IL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.3K
▼ 34% vs IL $21.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.2
IL 13.6 · larger classes
Schools in town
5
1,904 students on the public path
In brief

Columbia’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 925 Illinois towns with household incomes within a quarter of Columbia’s, its schools beat 93%, higher than their 87% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 41% and math 42% in spring 2021, against 30% and 26% statewide; 95–100% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $14,280 per student, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one elementary, one middle and one high school

From grade 2 the district’s path is Parkview Elementary School, then Columbia Middle School, then Columbia High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Immaculate Conception (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Columbia’s grade

A− Test scoresA Graduation

A: better than 87% of Illinois school districts, #98 of 768 Illinois towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Illinois average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Illinois school districts we grade (887)Better than 87%
Lower resultsHigher results
Illinois towns with similar household incomes (925)Better than 93%
A−AA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,011 test results and a graduating class of 167 could put Columbia anywhere from A− to A. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Columbia’s students in the tested grades sat them (991 in math, 1,031 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Columbia, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–1Eagleview Elementary SchoolColumbia Community Unit School District 4No scores
2–4Parkview Elementary SchoolColumbia Community Unit School District 4A
5–8Columbia Middle SchoolColumbia Community Unit School District 4A−
9–12Columbia High SchoolColumbia Community Unit School District 4A

Columbia’s public schools are run by Columbia Community Unit School District 4, which also serves Sugar Loaf. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Columbia Community Unit School District 4Grades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,904 students, down 1% since 2020–21 · 15.2 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$14,280IL $21,567 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2020–21

Well above the state in reading

Reading41%
State average 29.9% · 1031 students tested
Math42%
State average 25.8% · 991 students tested

Columbia vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Columbia’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ColumbiaAColumbia Community Unit School District 4
DupoC−Dupo Community Unit School District 196

Every school in Columbia

5 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Illinois’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Columbiaby address
Eagleview Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–1
259 students12:1Rate it →
Parkview Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 2–4
A
427 students15:1Rate it →
Columbia Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8
A−
612 students16:1Rate it →
Columbia High School
High · Grades 9–12
A
606 students16:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Immaculate Conception
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
400 students18:1Rate it →

Questions about Columbia’s schools

Are Columbia’s schools good?

By Illinois’s own tests, yes: the public schools Columbia children attend outscore 87% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #98 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 93%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Columbia in?

Columbia Community Unit School District 4, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,904 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Columbia kids go to high school?

Columbia High School, with 606 students; its own test results earn an A.

What is Columbia’s graduation rate?

95–100% of the class of 2023 in Columbia Community Unit School District 4 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.

How much does Columbia spend per student?

$14,280 in Columbia Community Unit School District 4 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Columbia?

Yes: Immaculate Conception (Catholic, grades PK–8, 400 students).

Parents talk

What Columbia families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Columbia → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2020–21, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Illinois. Stars are from neighbors.