Is Columbia High School a good school?

Columbia High School ranks in the bottom 17.2% of Alabama high schools.

How many students attend Columbia High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 940 students attended Columbia High School.

What is the racial makeup of Columbia High School?

Students at Columbia High School are 52% African American, 28% Hispanic, 13% White, 5% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What schools feed into Columbia High School?

Columbia High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Morris Elementary School Elementary : Providence Elementary Elementary : Ridgecrest Elementary School Elementary : Williams Elementary School Middle : Morris Middle School Middle : Williams Middle School

Columbia High School

Summary:

Columbia High School is a public high school located in Huntsville, Alabama, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of 954. The school is part of the Huntsville City School District, which is ranked 83 out of 137 districts in Alabama and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Columbia High School has a significantly higher percentage of minority students compared to the surrounding schools, with 53.46% African American and 26.73% Hispanic students. The school consistently underperforms academically, with only 7.82% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to 30.95% at Virgil Grissom High School, 43.29% at Huntsville High School, and 48.77% at James Clemens High School. Columbia High School has a low statewide ranking, consistently placing in the bottom third of Alabama high schools, and has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at 49.9%.

The data reveals significant racial disparities in academic performance at Columbia High School, with the school's African American students ranking 26th out of 222 Alabama high schools, while the Hispanic students ranked 103rd out of 114 high schools. The school has also seen a decline in its student population and a shift in its racial makeup, with a decrease in the percentage of White students and an increase in the percentage of African American and Hispanic students. These challenges highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve educational outcomes for the diverse student population at Columbia High School.

Detail:

Public 9-12

300 Explorer Boulevard
Huntsville, AL 35806

(256) 428-7576

District: Huntsville City

SchoolDigger Rank:
313^th of 378 Alabama High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,661

Feeder schools for Columbia High School:

Elementary:	Morris Elementary School
	Providence Elementary
	Ridgecrest Elementary School
	Williams Elementary School
Middle:	Morris Middle School
	Williams Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.7

Number of students: 940

Racial breakdown:

African American:

52.2%

Hispanic:

28.1%

White:

12.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 49.9%

See top rated Alabama high schools

Compare Columbia High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Columbia High School ranks worse than 82.8% of high schools in Alabama. It also ranks last among 6 ranked high schools in the Huntsville City School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 17.95. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Columbia High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Columbia High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (52.2%), Hispanic (28.1%), White (12.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 49.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Columbia High School is 16.7, which is the 2^nd best among 6 high schools in the Huntsville City School District. (See more...)

Compare Columbia High School employs 56.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Columbia High School is $10,661, which is the 3^rd highest among 6 high schools in the Huntsville City School District.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Columbia High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Columbia High School 313^th of 378 Alabama public high schools. (See Columbia High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

English Language Learner students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Huntsville City:

SchoolDigger ranks Huntsville City 83^rd of 137 Alabama school districts. (See district ranking list.)

What do you think?

Your rating for Columbia High School?

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Rank History for Columbia High School

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Rank History for all students at Columbia High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2006	54.03	175^th	357	51.0%
2007	32.48	286^th	358	20.1%
2008	60.98	128^th	359	64.3%
2009	44.65	234^th	357	34.5%
2010	54.70	177^th	358	50.6%
2011	43.61	245^th	360	31.9%
2012	31.26	295^th	358	17.6%
2013	47.48	243^rd	358	32.1%
2014	27.46	274^th	358	23.5%
2015	23.82	277^th	353	21.5%
2016	13.06	310^th	351	11.7%
2017	25.57	267^th	353	24.4%
2018	29.79	260^th	356	27.0%
2019	27.66	267^th	366	27.0%
2021	28.35	269^th	371	27.5%
2022	38.76	212^th	367	42.2%
2023	20.79	302^nd	371	18.6%
2024	17.95	313^th	378	17.2%

See the entire list of Alabama High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Columbia High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2017	36.55	15^th	19	21.1%
2018	34.22	18^th	24	25.0%
2019	17.06	30^th	37	18.9%
2021	16.62	37^th	43	14.0%
2022	8.80	37^th	40	7.5%
2023	12.29	42^nd	45	6.7%
2024	6.97	55^th	56	1.8%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Columbia High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2018	35.75	11^th	22	50.0%
2021	78.79	4^th	28	85.7%
2022	33.30	16^th	39	59.0%
2023	55.99	13^th	43	69.8%
2024	46.61	23^rd	63	63.5%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Columbia High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2018	19.96	130^th	160	18.8%
2019	29.39	126^th	171	26.3%
2021	65.29	50^th	196	74.5%
2022	29.51	121^st	169	28.4%
2023	26.17	143^rd	182	21.4%
2024	42.56	101^st	198	49.0%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Columbia High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2017	40.91	183^rd	315	41.9%
2018	20.68	278^th	349	20.3%
2019	24.15	279^th	358	22.1%
2021	41.22	203^rd	361	43.8%
2022	44.33	185^th	361	48.8%
2023	18.08	303^rd	349	13.2%
2024	26.17	282^nd	375	24.8%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Columbia High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2017	25.61	255^th	343	25.7%
2018	27.97	255^th	347	26.5%
2019	19.18	290^th	354	18.1%
2021	24.46	270^th	359	24.8%
2022	29.05	262^nd	367	28.6%
2023	19.43	296^th	358	17.3%
2024	11.11	343^rd	366	6.3%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Military Connected students at Columbia High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2018	14.31	16^th	18	11.1%
2019	11.46	12^th	14	14.3%
2021	31.97	18^th	25	28.0%
2022	11.66	24^th	26	7.7%
2023	22.81	20^th	27	25.9%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Military Connected Students!

Rank History for Male students at Columbia High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2017	25.46	264^th	339	22.1%
2018	32.55	240^th	350	31.4%
2019	37.26	217^th	357	39.2%
2021	32.72	243^rd	366	33.6%
2022	48.61	166^th	366	54.6%
2023	21.81	284^th	358	20.7%
2024	27.12	260^th	368	29.3%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Columbia High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2017	39.79	108^th	189	42.9%
2018	50.92	88^th	223	60.5%
2019	60.97	65^th	224	71.0%
2021	54.32	68^th	228	70.2%
2022	83.37	26^th	222	88.3%
2023	32.05	151^st	224	32.6%
2024	36.84	133^rd	231	42.4%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Columbia High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2017	41.06	45^th	93	51.6%
2018	35.48	59^th	95	37.9%
2019	35.38	63^rd	103	38.8%
2021	30.64	78^th	113	31.0%
2022	15.47	103^rd	114	9.6%
2023	22.67	101^st	122	17.2%
2024	17.37	126^th	139	9.4%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for Native American students at Columbia High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	15.63	44^th	45	2.2%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Native American Students!

Rank History for White students at Columbia High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2017	27.23	167^th	230	27.4%
2018	33.51	206^th	300	31.3%
2019	16.61	281^st	313	10.2%
2021	28.27	229^th	319	28.2%
2022	22.19	272^nd	326	16.6%
2023	32.74	203^rd	317	36.0%
2024	17.14	293^rd	325	9.8%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Alabama State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Alabama State Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Columbia High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2006	110	201	10	16	3	n/a	n/a	0	340
2007	147	259	13	21	5	n/a	n/a	0	445
2008	178	297	19	35	7	n/a	n/a	0	536
2009	198	349	20	30	6	n/a	n/a	0	603
2010	204	415	21	39	5	n/a	n/a	2	686
2011	192	443	22	49	8	0	4	0	718
2012	168	455	18	39	7	1	7	0	695
2013	147	458	12	34	7	1	15	0	674
2014	134	460	16	41	9	2	22	0	684
2015	137	488	17	60	10	3	43	0	758
2016	157	579	11	157	9	8	72	0	993
2017	147	548	8	165	10	5	67	0	950
2018	137	522	8	163	7	3	74	0	914
2019	132	454	8	177	7	6	66	0	850
2020	144	445	4	192	9	8	67	0	869
2021	138	451	5	214	10	9	71	0	898
2022	134	528	27	234	15	12	0	0	950
2023	114	510	14	255	5	6	50	0	954
2024	118	491	12	264	7	4	44	0	940

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Columbia High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2006	340	16.0	21.3	38.5
2007	445	31.0	14.4	44.3
2008	536	40.3	13.3	n/a
2009	603	40.9	14.6	31.2
2010	686	47.2	14.5	38.6
2011	718	43.3	16.5	42.9
2012	695	46.9	14.8	42.9
2013	674	49.3	13.6	49.4
2014	684	42.8	15.9	50
2015	758	46.0	16.4	27.8
2016	993	61.0	16.2	35
2017	950	61.3	15.4	38.9
2018	914	59.3	15.4	49.9
2019	850	58.0	14.6	49.9
2020	869	55.0	15.8	49.8
2021	898	55.0	16.3	49.9
2022	950	51.9	18.2	49.9
2023	954	53.9	17.6	49.9
2024	940	56.1	16.7	49.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Columbia High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2006	340	16.0	21.3	38.5
2007	445	31.0	14.4	44.3
2008	536	40.3	13.3	n/a
2009	603	40.9	14.6	31.2
2010	686	47.2	14.5	38.6
2011	718	43.3	16.5	42.9
2012	695	46.9	14.8	42.9
2013	674	49.3	13.6	49.4
2014	684	42.8	15.9	50
2015	758	46.0	16.4	27.8
2016	993	61.0	16.2	35
2017	950	61.3	15.4	38.9
2018	914	59.3	15.4	49.9
2019	850	58.0	14.6	49.9
2020	869	55.0	15.8	49.8
2021	898	55.0	16.3	49.9
2022	950	51.9	18.2	49.9
2023	954	53.9	17.6	49.9
2024	940	56.1	16.7	49.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Columbia High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$882 (8.3%)	$9,778 (91.7%)	$10,661

Data source: Alabama Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Columbia High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 267^th of 366 High schools	Ranks 302^nd of 371 High schools	8.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Mathematics (Columbia High School)	25.5	14.1	11.5%
End of Course Mathematics (Huntsville City)	47.7	28.6	19%
End of Course Mathematics (Alabama)	42.5	23.6	19%
End of Course Science (Columbia High School)	27.7	20.8	6.9%
End of Course Science (Huntsville City)	49.8	39.7	10.2%
End of Course Science (Alabama)	42.6	31.7	10.9%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	850	954	12.2%
African American	454	510	12.3%
American Indian	7	5	28.6%
Asian	8	14	75%
Hispanic	177	255	44.1%
Pacific Islander	6	6
White	132	114	13.6%
Two or More Races	66	50	24.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	49.9%	49.9%	0%

Schools Near Columbia High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Summative Assessment Mathematics (2024)				Summative Assessment Science (2024)		Summative Assessment English (2024)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Summative Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 11th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 8th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 11th Grade	Summative Assessment English 6th Grade	Summative Assessment English 7th Grade	Summative Assessment English 8th Grade	Summative Assessment English 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Columbia High School	Public	9-12	300 Explorer Boulevard	Huntsville	35806	Madison County	Huntsville City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 428-7576	940	56	16.7	49.9%	118 (12.6%)	491 (52.2%)	264 (28.1%)	12 (1.3%)	7 (0.7%)	4 (0.4%)	44 (4.7%)	18	313^th of 378 public high schools	17.2%		20.8	302^nd of 371 public high schools	18.6%	11				7.8		14.5				7.6	$10,661	$882	$9,778
Bob Jones High School	Public	9-12	650 Hughes Rd	Madison	35758	Madison County	Madison City	No	No	No	No	(256) 772-2547	1,968	109	17.9	28.2%	1,059 (53.8%)	442 (22.5%)	182 (9.2%)	143 (7.3%)	12 (0.6%)	2 (0.1%)	128 (6.5%)	96.1	18^th of 378 public high schools	95.2%		98.3	10^th of 371 public high schools	97.3%	8				45.9		51.3				53.0	$9,356	$610	$8,716
James Clemens High School	Public	9-12	11306 County Line Road	Madison	35756	Limestone County	Madison City	No	No	No	No	(256) 216-5313	2,121	118	18.0	25.2%	1,198 (56.5%)	400 (18.9%)	196 (9.2%)	219 (10.3%)	9 (0.4%)	3 (0.1%)	96 (4.5%)	98.3	11^th of 378 public high schools	97.1%		98.7	8^th of 371 public high schools	97.8%	3				48.8		59.8				55.6	$9,387	$717	$8,640
Huntsville Center For Technology	Public	9-12	2800 Drake Ave SW	Huntsville	35805	Madison County	Huntsville City	No	No	No	No	(256) 428-7810	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Jemison High School	Public	9-12	5000 Pulaski Pike	Huntsville	35810	Madison County	Huntsville City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 428-8100	867	48	18.1	64.5%	60 (6.9%)	629 (72.5%)	138 (15.9%)	2 (0.2%)	4 (0.5%)	2 (0.2%)	32 (3.7%)	23.4	290^th of 378 public high schools	23.3%		23.8	288^th of 371 public high schools	22.4%	2				5.6		18.9				14.1	$11,834	$2,162	$9,671
Huntsville High School	Public	9-12	2304 Billie Watkins St SW	Huntsville	35801	Madison County	Huntsville City	No	No	No	No	(256) 428-8050	1,802	101	17.9	30.4%	1,099 (61.0%)	408 (22.6%)	164 (9.1%)	27 (1.5%)	15 (0.8%)	4 (0.2%)	85 (4.7%)	96.6	15^th of 378 public high schools	96.0%		96.4	17^th of 371 public high schools	95.4%	2				43.3		54.9				53.4	$7,531	$475	$7,055
Lee High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	2500 Meridian Street	Huntsville	35811	Madison County	Huntsville City	No	Yes	No	Yes	(256) 428-8150	861	48	17.8	76.8%	155 (18.0%)	557 (64.7%)	105 (12.2%)	5 (0.6%)	6 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (3.8%)	27.1	278^th of 378 public high schools	26.5%		32.9	241^st of 371 public high schools	35.0%	37				6.9		20.1				16.6	$12,340	$1,764	$10,575
New Century Technology High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	2500 Meridian Street NW	Huntsville	35811	Madison County	Huntsville City	No	Yes	No	No	(256) 428-7800	374	29	12.8	48.7%	169 (45.2%)	113 (30.2%)	53 (14.2%)	15 (4.0%)	5 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	18 (4.8%)	99.1	7^th of 378 public high schools	98.1%		99.8	3^rd of 371 public high schools	99.2%	4				52.9		61.8				59.8
Sparkman High School	Public	10-12	2616 Jeff Rd	Harvest	35749	Madison County	Madison County	No	No	No	No	(256) 837-0331	1,770	87	20.3	39.2%	811 (45.8%)	621 (35.1%)	169 (9.5%)	30 (1.7%)	58 (3.3%)	7 (0.4%)	74 (4.2%)	71.6	79^th of 378 public high schools	79.1%		74.6	76^th of 371 public high schools	79.5%	3				25.6		34.7				35.9	$8,030	$650	$7,341
East Limestone High School	Public	6-12	15641 E Limestone Rd	Athens	35613	Limestone County	Limestone County	No	No	No	No	(256) 233-6660	1,281	61	20.9	41.0%	847 (66.1%)	275 (21.5%)	93 (7.3%)	25 (2.0%)	5 (0.4%)	2 (0.2%)	34 (2.7%)	63.3	111^th of 378 public high schools	70.6%		65.5	106^th of 371 public high schools	71.4%	5	52.0	23.0	6.4	22.6	19.1	41.5	67.4	52.0	51.5	22.3	$7,987	$597	$7,375

Columbia High School

Columbia High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Huntsville City:

What do you think?

Rank History for Columbia High School

Rank History for all students at Columbia High School

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Columbia High School

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Columbia High School

Rank History for Special Education students at Columbia High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Columbia High School

Rank History for Female students at Columbia High School

Rank History for Military Connected students at Columbia High School

Rank History for Male students at Columbia High School

Rank History for African American students at Columbia High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Columbia High School

Rank History for Native American students at Columbia High School

Rank History for White students at Columbia High School

Enrollment information for Columbia High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Columbia High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Columbia High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Columbia High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Columbia High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Columbia High School

Frequently Asked Questions about Columbia High School

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