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2009-0610-006-ColumbiaHeights-TheHeightsPhoto: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0
C
Schools in Columbia Heights · Columbia Heights Public School District

Columbia Heights’s public schools score below 74% of Minnesota districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 16% of Columbia Heights’s students scored proficient, below the Minnesota average (45%). The grade covers the public school district serving Columbia Heights, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Minnesota, not nationally.

#265of 274 Minnesota townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Minnesota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 90% 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
26%
▼ 25 pts vs MN 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
16%
▼ 29 pts vs MN 45%
2021–22
Graduate on time
92%
▲ 9 pts vs MN 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.6K
▼ 9% vs MN $17.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
16.6
MN 14.8 · larger classes
Schools in town
9
2,394 students on the public path
In brief

Columbia Heights’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1364 Minnesota towns with household incomes within a quarter of Columbia Heights’s, its schools beat 6%, lower than their 26% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 26% of tested students were proficient in reading and 16% in math, against 51% and 45% statewide; 90% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

92% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,590 per student, against $17,091 across Minnesota (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Columbia Academy, then Columbia Heights Senior High. Enrollment is up 12% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Prodeo Columbia Heights Primary, Prodeo Columbia Heights Elementary, Prodeo Columbia Heights Middle, Bultum Academy, Immaculate Conception School (private) and Little Voyageurs Montessori School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Columbia Heights’s grade

D Test scoresB Graduation

C: better than 26% of Minnesota school districts, #265 of 274 Minnesota towns. Graduation is above the Minnesota average; test scores are below it.

Minnesota school districts we grade (502)Better than 26%
Lower resultsHigher results
Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (1364)Better than 6%
C−CA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,446 test results and a graduating class of 261 could put Columbia Heights anywhere from C− to C. The tests are from spring 2022, when 90% of Columbia Heights’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,431 in math, 1,460 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–5Highland ElementaryColumbia Heights Public School DistrictD
6–8Columbia AcademyColumbia Heights Public School DistrictD
9–12Columbia Heights Senior HighColumbia Heights Public School DistrictC

Columbia Heights’s public schools are run by Columbia Heights Public School District, which also serves Fridley and Hilltop. 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 Heights Public School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 10 schools · 3,516 students, up 12% since 2020–21 · 16.6 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$15,590MN $17,091 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading26%
State average 51.1% · 1460 students tested
Math16%
State average 44.8% · 1431 students tested

Columbia Heights vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Columbia HeightsCColumbia Heights Public
FridleyC+Fridley Public PK–12 · Columbia Heights Public PK–12 · Spring Lake Park PK–12

Every school in Columbia Heights

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

District schools in Columbia Heightsby address
Highland Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
D
534 students16:1Rate it →
Columbia Heights Senior High
High · Grades 9–12
C
1,141 students19:1Rate it →
Also serving Columbia Heightsin other towns
Columbia Academy
Middle · Grades 6–8
D
719 students17:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Early Childhood
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
Special Education
74 students11:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Prodeo Columbia Heights Middle
Middle · Grades 5–8
D
Charter
291 students13:1Rate it →
Bultum Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Charter
249 students13:1Rate it →
Prodeo Columbia Heights Elementary
Elementary · Grades 2–4
D−
Charter
227 students8:1Rate it →
Prodeo Columbia Heights Primary
Elementary · Grades PK–1
Charter
218 students10:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Immaculate Conception School
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Catholic
169 students19:1Rate it →
Little Voyageurs Montessori School
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
36 students18:1Rate it →

Left off: 3 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Anchor, Columbia Heights Transition Program and Virtual Heights Secondary).

Questions about Columbia Heights’s schools

Are Columbia Heights’s schools good?

On Minnesota’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Columbia Heights children attend score below 74% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #265 of 274 Minnesota towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 6%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Columbia Heights in?

Columbia Heights Public School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 3,516 students in 10 schools (2024–25).

Where do Columbia Heights kids go to high school?

Columbia Heights Senior High, with 1,141 students; its own test results earn a C.

What is Columbia Heights’s graduation rate?

92% of the class of 2023 in Columbia Heights Public School District graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.

How much does Columbia Heights spend per student?

$15,590 in Columbia Heights Public School District (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Columbia Heights?

Yes: Immaculate Conception School (Catholic, grades K–8, 169 students) and Little Voyageurs Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 36 students). Columbia Heights also has 4 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Columbia Heights families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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

School data: state test results (2021–22, 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 Minnesota. Stars are from neighbors.