Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Columbus

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Stillwater County Courthouse, Columbus, Montana 01Photo: Montanabw · CC BY-SA 4.0
B+
Schools in Columbus · Columbus Elementary School District, Columbus High School District

Columbus’s public schools outscore 74% of Montana districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Columbus, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests. 40% of students in Columbus’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Montana average (35%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Montana, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Montana state tests taken in spring 2022, when 99% 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%
▲ 6 pts vs MT 46%
2021–22
Math proficiency
40%
▲ 4 pts vs MT 35%
2021–22
Spent per student
$11.3K
▼ 17% vs MT $13.6K
FY2024 · Columbus Elementary
Students per teacher
15.9
MT 13.7 · larger classes
Schools in town
3
683 students on the public path
In brief

Columbus’s schools, in brief

Columbus runs its own schools through grade 8, then shares

Columbus Elem School (PK–5) and Columbus Middle School (6–8) are Columbus’s own. From grade 9, students attend the Columbus High School District: Columbus High School. The high school’s own results earn a B+, the highest on the path. See the path ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 51% and math 40% across both districts in spring 2022, against 46% and 35% statewide. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Columbus Elementary spends $11,274 per student and Columbus High $13,808, against $13,570 across Montana (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

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 scores

B+: better than 74% of Montana school districts. Test scores are above the Montana average; there is no graduation rate to add.

Montana school districts we grade (241)Better than 74%
Lower resultsHigher results
Montana towns with similar household incomes (158)Better than 72%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 360 test results could put Columbus anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 99% of Columbus’s students in the tested grades sat them (361 in math, 361 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–5Columbus Elem SchoolColumbus Elementary School DistrictB+
6–8Columbus Middle SchoolColumbus Elementary School DistrictB
9–12Columbus High SchoolColumbus High School DistrictB+

Columbus runs its own schools through grade 8 (Columbus Elementary School District). From grade 9, students attend the Columbus High School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Columbus

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

Columbus Elementary School DistrictGrades PK–8 · 2 schools · 456 students, down 1% since 2020–21 · 15.9 per teacher (MT 13.7)
$11,274MT $13,570 · FY2024
A−
Columbus High School DistrictGrades 9–12 · 1 schools · 227 students, up 6% since 2020–21 · 15.8 per teacher (MT 13.7)
$13,808MT $13,570 · FY2024
C−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · PK–8, Columbus Elementary School District54%
State average 45.7% · 313 students tested
Math · PK–8, Columbus Elementary School District42%
State average 35.2% · 312 students tested
Reading · 9–12, Columbus High School District34%
State average 45.7% · 48 students tested
Math · 9–12, Columbus High School District24%
State average 35.2% · 49 students tested

Columbus vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ColumbusB+Columbus Elementary PK–8 · Columbus High 9–12

Every school in Columbus

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

District schools in Columbusby address
Columbus Elem School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B+
278 students15:1Rate it →
Columbus Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B
178 students18:1Rate it →
Columbus High School
High · Grades 9–12
B+
227 students16:1Rate it →

Questions about Columbus’s schools

Are Columbus’s schools good?

By Montana’s own tests, yes: the public schools Columbus children attend outscore 74% of Montana’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 72%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Columbus in?

Two districts: Columbus Elementary School District runs grades PK–8, and Columbus High School District runs grades 9–12.

Where do Columbus kids go to high school?

Columbus High School, with 227 students; its own test results earn a B+.

How much does Columbus spend per student?

$11,274 in Columbus Elementary School District and $13,808 in Columbus High School District (FY2024), against $13,570 across Montana. 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 Montana. Stars are from neighbors.