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Anoka Cnty Minnesota Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Columbus HighlightedPhoto: 123dieinafire · Public domain
B
Schools in Columbus · Forest Lake Public School District

Columbus’s public schools outscore 64% of Minnesota districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Columbus, 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.

#152of 274 Minnesota townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Minnesota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% 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
51%
▼ 0 pts vs MN 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
47%
▲ 2 pts vs MN 45%
2021–22
Graduate on time
89%
▲ 6 pts vs MN 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.3K
▼ 11% vs MN $17.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
19.5
MN 14.8 · larger classes
Schools in town
1
3,162 students on the public path
In brief

Columbus’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 922 Minnesota towns with household incomes within a quarter of Columbus’s, its schools beat 48%, lower than their 64% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in math, below in reading

Reading proficiency is 51% and math 47% in spring 2022, against 51% and 45% statewide; 89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,260 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 7 the district’s path is Forest Lake Area Middle School, then Forest Lake Area High School. See the path ↓

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 Columbus’s grade

B Test scoresB Graduation

B: better than 64% of Minnesota school districts, #152 of 274 Minnesota towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Minnesota average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Minnesota school districts we grade (502)Better than 64%
Lower resultsHigher results
Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (922)Better than 48%
BB+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,949 test results and a graduating class of 523 could put Columbus anywhere from B to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Columbus’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,914 in math, 2,984 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–6Columbus ElementaryForest Lake Public School DistrictA
7–8Forest Lake Area Middle Schoolin Forest LakeB−
9–12Forest Lake Area High Schoolin Forest LakeB+

Columbus’s public schools are run by Forest Lake Public School District, which also serves Forest Lake, Hugo, Lino Lakes and Linwood and others. 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.

Forest Lake Public School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 14 schools · 5,776 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 19.5 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$15,260MN $17,091 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading51%
State average 51.1% · 2984 students tested
Math47%
State average 44.8% · 2914 students tested

Columbus vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ColumbusBForest Lake Public
East BethelBSt. Francis Area Schools
Forest LakeBForest Lake Public
Lino LakesA−Centennial Public PK–12 · Forest Lake Public PK–12
WyomingB+Forest Lake Public PK–12 · Chisago Lakes PK–12
LinwoodBForest Lake Public
Ham LakeB+Anoka-Hennepin Public

4 of the 6 neighbors share Forest Lake Public with Columbus, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Columbus

3 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 Columbusby address
Columbus Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Forest Lake
A
441 students20:1Rate it →
Also serving Columbusin other towns
Forest Lake Area Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Forest Lake
B−
916 students19:1Rate it →
Forest Lake Area High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Forest Lake
B+
1,805 students24:1Rate it →

Questions about Columbus’s schools

Are Columbus’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Minnesota: the public schools Columbus children attend outscore 64% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #152 of 274 Minnesota towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 48%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Columbus in?

Forest Lake Public School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 5,776 students in 14 schools (2024–25).

Where do Columbus kids go to high school?

Forest Lake Area High School in Forest Lake, with 1,805 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Columbus’s graduation rate?

89% of the class of 2023 in Forest Lake Public School District graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.

How much does Columbus spend per student?

$15,260 in Forest Lake Public School District (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Columbus families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Columbus → 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.