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Columbia Herkimer NYPhoto: Webb_Herkimer_NY.png: Schzmo *derivative work: Liesel · Public domain
C+
Schools in Columbia · Central Valley Central School District, Richfield Springs Central School District

Columbia’s public schools score below 63% of New York districts on tests and graduation

38% of students in Columbia’s public schools are proficient in reading, below the New York average (49%). The grade covers the three public school districts 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 New York, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From New York state tests taken in spring 2022, when 91% 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
38%
▼ 10 pts vs NY 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
37%
▼ 10 pts vs NY 46%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 2–2 pts vs NY 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$24.3K
▼ 30% vs NY $34.6K
FY2024 · Central Valley Central
Students per teacher
10.7
NY 11.2 · smaller classes
Schools in town
0
1,233 students on the public path
In brief

Columbia’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1040 New York towns with household incomes within a quarter of Columbia’s, its schools beat 31%, lower than their 37% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 38% of tested students were proficient in reading and 37% in math, against 49% and 46% statewide; 91% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87% across New York (the state reports Columbia’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Central Valley Central spends $24,276 per student and Richfield Springs Central $28,370, against $34,607 across New York (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 Columbia’s grade

C Test scoresC Graduation

C+: better than 37% of New York school districts. Both inputs trail the New York average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

New York school districts we grade (1,013)Better than 37%
Lower resultsHigher results
New York towns with similar household incomes (1040)Better than 31%
Towns in Herkimer County (19)Better than 42%
CB−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,684 test results and a graduating class of 153 could put Columbia anywhere from C to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 91% of Columbia’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,718 in math, 1,653 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–124 schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B−

Parts of Columbia (3% of its land) are served by Van Hornesville-Owen D. Young Central instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Three districts serve Columbia

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

Central Valley Central School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 2,015 students, down 4% since 2020–21 · 11.4 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$24,276NY $34,607 · FY2024
C
Richfield Springs Central School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 2 schools · 420 students, up 4% since 2020–21 · 8.8 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$28,370NY $34,607 · FY2024
B−
Mount Markham Central School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 1,032 students · 10.5 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$27,244NY $34,607 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Central Valley Central School District34%
State average 48.9% · 939 students tested
Math · PK–12, Central Valley Central School District33%
State average 46.5% · 1022 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Richfield Springs Central School District45%
State average 48.9% · 211 students tested
Math · PK–12, Richfield Springs Central School District46%
State average 46.5% · 206 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Mount Markham Central School District44%
State average 48.9% · 503 students tested
Math · PK–12, Mount Markham Central School District41%
State average 46.5% · 490 students tested

Columbia vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ColumbiaC+Central Valley Central PK–12 · Richfield Springs Central PK–12 · Mount Markham Central PK–12
German FlattsCCentral Valley Central
LitchfieldB−Mount Markham Central
WarrenC+Richfield Springs Central PK–12 · Van Hornesville-Owen D. Young Central K–12
WinfieldB−Mount Markham Central
RichfieldB−Richfield Springs Central PK–12 · Mount Markham Central PK–12

3 of the 5 neighbors share Mount Markham Central with Columbia for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Columbia

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

Also serving Columbiain other towns
Mount Markham Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · West Winfield
B−
465 students14:1Rate it →
Harry M Fisher Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–1 · Mohawk
348 students11:1Rate it →
Richfield Springs Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Richfield Springs
C+
231 students9:1Rate it →
Richfield Springs Junior/Senior High School
Grades PK–12 · Richfield Springs
C+
189 students8:1Rate it →

Questions about Columbia’s schools

Are Columbia’s schools good?

On New York’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Columbia children attend score below 63% of New York’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 31%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Columbia in?

Central Valley Central School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,015 students in 4 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Columbia are served by Van Hornesville-Owen D. Young Central.

What is Columbia’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Central Valley Central School District graduated in four years, against 87% across New York.

How much does Columbia spend per student?

$24,276 in Central Valley Central School District, $28,370 in Richfield Springs Central School District and $27,244 in Mount Markham Central School District (FY2024), against $34,607 across New York. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Columbia families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Columbia → 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 New York. Stars are from neighbors.