Columbus High School

Summary:

Columbus High School is a public high school in Columbus, Georgia, serving 1,131 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Muscogee County School District, which is ranked 155 out of 203 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite the district's overall performance, Columbus High School stands out as an exceptional institution. The school consistently ranks among the top high schools in Georgia, with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating exceptional academic performance. Its students significantly outperform their peers in the district and the state on standardized tests, with 93.5% proficient or better in American Literature and Composition, compared to 35.2% in the district and 42% statewide. Additionally, Columbus High School has maintained a 100% four-year graduation rate for the past 5 years, far exceeding the district and state averages.

In contrast, the nearby high schools in the Muscogee County School District, such as Northside High School, Shaw High School, Kendrick High School, Hardaway High School, Carver High School, and Jordan Vocational High School, lag significantly behind in academic performance, graduation rates, and test scores. This disparity highlights the need for more equitable distribution of educational resources and opportunities within the district to ensure all students have access to a high-quality education.

Detail:

Public 9-12

1700 Cherokee Ave
Columbus, GA 31906

(706) 748-2534

District: Muscogee County

SchoolDigger Rank:
3^rd of 458 Georgia High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $7,960

Student/teacher ratio: 18.5

Number of students: 1,131

Racial breakdown:

White:

45.7%

African American:

21.8%

Asian:

14.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 18.3%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Columbus High School ranks better than 99.3% of high schools in Georgia. It also ranks first among 9 ranked high schools in the Muscogee County School District! (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 97.16. (See more...)

The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Columbus High School freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.

Student Body

Compare Details Columbus High School has the largest high school student body size in the Muscogee County School District. (See more...)

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Columbus High School is $7,960, which is the lowest among 9 high schools in the Muscogee County School District!

Schooldigger Rankings:

Columbus High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Columbus High School 3^rd of 458 Georgia public high schools. (See Columbus High School in the ranking list.)

Muscogee County:

SchoolDigger ranks Muscogee County 155^th of 203 Georgia school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Columbus High School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	GA State Percentile
2006	92.88	2^nd	335	99.4%
2007	92.52	2^nd	358	99.4%
2008	92.68	2^nd	370	99.5%
2009	93.20	2^nd	372	99.5%
2010	93.15	3^rd	384	99.2%
2011	91.77	2^nd	402	99.5%
2012	91.83	3^rd	396	99.2%
2013	92.20	1^st	425	99.8%
2014	91.32	1^st	425	99.8%
2015	96.28	3^rd	435	99.3%
2016	95.88	3^rd	426	99.3%
2017	96.95	2^nd	420	99.5%
2018	97.24	2^nd	428	99.5%
2019	96.61	2^nd	438	99.5%
2021	91.99	7^th	410	98.3%
2022	96.00	3^rd	429	99.3%
2023	91.26	16^th	442	96.4%
2024	97.16	3^rd	458	99.3%

See the entire list of Georgia High School Rankings!

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

Data source: Georgia Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 4.6)

80%

20%

Reviews:

by a parent
Friday, December 12, 2014

What a gift it is to have this wonderful high school in Columbus, Georgia! Close Quote

by a student
Saturday, November 10, 2012

I am in the CHS class of 2016, and so far my experience here has been wonderful. Every day, in the cafeteria, they play music. One particular day everyone got up and started dancing to the music. We have lots of pep-rallies, which shortens the school day a little. You are required to attend the field trips, if you don't have enough money, they pay for you. Practically everyone who goes here is really mature. It's nice to be around people you can relate to. Of course, the teachers have high expectations at CHS, and you are usually loaded with work, but with priveledge comes responsibility, and this certainly applies to students at CHS. When I was an eighth grader, I had the option of attending four different high schools, and I am SO, SO glad I chose this one. Close Quote

by a student
Friday, April 20, 2012

they have a lot of bullies. Close Quote

by a student
Thursday, December 10, 2009

I in the class of 2012. CHS is amazing, there are actually more girls in the school than there are guys. We have a definite above-average minority enrollment. There are lots of opportunities including the exclusive one of being able to participate in the Columbus Space Program and work with many programs such as FIRST Robotics and the Lemelson-MIT funded InvenTeam project. Also, the test scores are proof of our impressive academic schedule. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Columbus High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1989	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	1182	1182
1991	0	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	1114	1114
1992	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	1227	1227
1993	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	1309	1309
1994	700	580	17	24	2	n/a	n/a	0	1323
1995	712	573	26	51	3	n/a	n/a	0	1365
1996	712	573	26	51	3	n/a	n/a	0	1365
1997	785	574	25	51	3	n/a	n/a	0	1438
1998	790	580	45	48	2	n/a	n/a	0	1465
1999	731	483	44	42	2	n/a	n/a	0	1302
2000	781	384	50	37	1	n/a	n/a	0	1253
2001	806	312	52	40	1	n/a	n/a	0	1211
2002	839	312	51	54	3	n/a	n/a	0	1259
2003	839	312	51	54	3	n/a	n/a	0	1259
2004	809	341	61	49	4	n/a	n/a	0	1264
2005	790	353	63	51	5	n/a	n/a	29	1291
2006	789	336	72	57	5	n/a	n/a	44	1303
2007	803	301	75	54	7	n/a	n/a	55	1295
2008	830	313	73	51	5	n/a	n/a	56	1328
2009	797	295	80	49	3	n/a	n/a	59	1283
2010	822	270	78	0	3	1	139	0	1313
2011	844	289	88	92	3	0	85	0	1401
2012	808	295	89	79	5	0	57	0	1333
2013	777	301	93	77	4	1	53	0	1306
2014	754	313	102	63	3	1	56	0	1292
2015	731	299	100	61	2	1	61	0	1255
2016	704	312	112	79	0	4	58	0	1269
2017	697	306	126	71	0	3	64	0	1267
2018	707	302	130	84	2	2	59	0	1286
2019	695	285	145	87	3	2	58	0	1275
2020	666	268	164	90	3	3	52	0	1246
2021	645	246	167	101	5	3	56	0	1223
2022	576	250	168	101	1	2	73	0	1171
2023	517	246	169	120	2	2	75	0	1131

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 Columbus High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	1182	70.0	16.8	15.1
1991	1114	71.0	15.6	12.7
1992	1227	69.0	17.7	20
1993	1309	84.0	15.6	22.5
1994	1323	76.7	17.2	32.1
1995	1365	72.0	19.0	16
1996	1365	72.0	19.0	16
1997	1438	87.0	16.5	22.5
1998	1465	80.6	18.2	26.6
1999	1302	79.8	16.3	18.1
2000	1253	70.6	17.7	16
2001	1211	69.3	17.5	18.7
2002	1259	71.2	17.7	17.1
2003	1259	71.2	17.7	17.1
2004	1264	73.6	17.2	17.6
2005	1291	73.0	17.7	20.2
2006	1303	74.3	17.5	22.6
2007	1295	75.0	17.3	20.3
2008	1328	76.2	17.4	19
2009	1283	78.0	16.4	16.3
2010	1313	74.6	17.6	25.7
2011	1401	74.5	18.8	17
2012	1333	75.5	17.6	18.8
2013	1306	72.9	17.9	20.1
2014	1292	70.8	18.2	20.3
2015	1255	61.0	20.5	19.1
2016	1269	60.0	21.1	21
2017	1267	62.0	20.4	21
2018	1286	61.6	20.8	20.7
2019	1275	62.5	20.4	20.8
2020	1246	63.0	19.7	18.9
2021	1223	62.0	19.7	13.6
2022	1171	63.0	18.5	n/a
2023	1131	61.0	18.5	18.3

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 Columbus High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	1182	70.0	16.8	15.1
1991	1114	71.0	15.6	12.7
1992	1227	69.0	17.7	20
1993	1309	84.0	15.6	22.5
1994	1323	76.7	17.2	32.1
1995	1365	72.0	19.0	16
1996	1365	72.0	19.0	16
1997	1438	87.0	16.5	22.5
1998	1465	80.6	18.2	26.6
1999	1302	79.8	16.3	18.1
2000	1253	70.6	17.7	16
2001	1211	69.3	17.5	18.7
2002	1259	71.2	17.7	17.1
2003	1259	71.2	17.7	17.1
2004	1264	73.6	17.2	17.6
2005	1291	73.0	17.7	20.2
2006	1303	74.3	17.5	22.6
2007	1295	75.0	17.3	20.3
2008	1328	76.2	17.4	19
2009	1283	78.0	16.4	16.3
2010	1313	74.6	17.6	25.7
2011	1401	74.5	18.8	17
2012	1333	75.5	17.6	18.8
2013	1306	72.9	17.9	20.1
2014	1292	70.8	18.2	20.3
2015	1255	61.0	20.5	19.1
2016	1269	60.0	21.1	21
2017	1267	62.0	20.4	21
2018	1286	61.6	20.8	20.7
2019	1275	62.5	20.4	20.8
2020	1246	63.0	19.7	18.9
2021	1223	62.0	19.7	13.6
2022	1171	63.0	18.5	n/a
2023	1131	61.0	18.5	18.3

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 Columbus High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2017	$254 (3.6%)	$6,863 (96.4%)	$7,116
2018	$245 (3.3%)	$7,081 (96.7%)	$7,326
2019	$275 (3.5%)	$7,684 (96.5%)	$7,960

Data source: Georgia Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Columbus 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 2^nd of 438 High schools	Ranks 16^th of 442 High schools	3.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course American Literature and Composition (Columbus High School)	91.7	86	5.7%
End of Course American Literature and Composition (Muscogee County)	41	34.2	6.8%
End of Course American Literature and Composition (Georgia)	47.3	38.9	8.4%
End of Course Algebra I (Columbus High School)	91.8	60.9	30.9%
End of Course Algebra I (Muscogee County)	29	21.4	7.6%
End of Course Algebra I (Georgia)	41.1	35.8	5.3%
End of Course Biology (Columbus High School)	96.1	88.2	7.9%
End of Course Biology (Muscogee County)	43.3	38.2	5.1%
End of Course Biology (Georgia)	49	45.5	3.5%
End of Course United States History (Columbus High School)	91.6	47.5	44.1%
End of Course United States History (Muscogee County)	40.3	22.5	17.8%
End of Course United States History (Georgia)	48.3	37.1	11.2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1275	1131	11.3%
African American	285	246	13.7%
American Indian	3	2	33.3%
Asian	145	169	16.6%
Hispanic	87	120	37.9%
Pacific Islander	2	2
White	695	517	25.6%
Two or More Races	58	75	29.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	20.8%	18.3%	2.5%

Schools Near Columbus High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Milestones Assessment American Literature and Composition (2024)	Milestones Assessment Algebra I (2024)	Milestones Assessment Biology (2024)	Milestones Assessment United States History (2024)	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts (2024)			Milestones Assessment Mathematics (2024)			Milestones Assessment Science (2024)	Milestones Assessment Social Studies (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	Milestones Assessment American Literature and Composition End of Course	Milestones Assessment Algebra I End of Course	Milestones Assessment Biology End of Course	Milestones Assessment United States History End of Course	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 6th Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 7th Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Science 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Columbus High School	Public	9-12	1700 Cherokee Ave	Columbus	31906	Muscogee County	Muscogee County	No	No	No	No	(706) 748-2534	1,131	61	18.5	18.3%	517 (45.7%)	246 (21.8%)	120 (10.6%)	169 (14.9%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	75 (6.6%)	97.2	3^rd of 458 public high schools	99.3%		91.3	16^th of 442 public high schools	96.4%	13	93.5	97.1	88.2	68.1									$7,960	$275	$7,684
Jordan Vocational High School	Public	9-12	3200 Howard Ave	Columbus	31904	Muscogee County	Muscogee County	No	No	No	Yes	(706) 748-2819	869	75	11.5	96.5%	197 (22.7%)	465 (53.5%)	128 (14.7%)	5 (0.6%)	4 (0.5%)	2 (0.2%)	68 (7.8%)	12.3	408^th of 458 public high schools	10.9%		16	373^rd of 442 public high schools	15.6%	35	13.5	16.5	15.3	14.1									$10,851	$1,138	$9,712
Rainey McCullers School of the Arts	Public	6-12	1700 Midtown Dr	Columbus	31906	Muscogee County	Muscogee County	No	No	No	No	(706) 748-3304	384	32	12.0	37.5%	137 (35.7%)	145 (37.8%)	60 (15.6%)	7 (1.8%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	33 (8.6%)	78.8	52^nd of 458 public high schools	88.6%		69.5	81^st of 442 public high schools	81.7%	29		64.2	71.6	78.3	96.0	73.5	83.3	60.0	44.9	55.6	37.0	68.5	$13,530	$373	$13,157
Hardaway High School	Public	9-12	2901 College Dr	Columbus	31906	Muscogee County	Muscogee County	No	No	No	Yes	(706) 748-2766	1,184	79	15.0	96.6%	199 (16.8%)	764 (64.5%)	114 (9.6%)	9 (0.8%)	3 (0.3%)	3 (0.3%)	92 (7.8%)	34.3	274^th of 458 public high schools	40.2%		28.4	294^th of 442 public high schools	33.5%	20	36.2	14.8	38.8	19.4									$8,880	$620	$8,259
Carver High School	Public	9-12	3100 8th St	Columbus	31906	Muscogee County	Muscogee County	No	No	No	Yes	(706) 748-2499	916	56	16.3	96.6%	16 (1.7%)	821 (89.6%)	42 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	34 (3.7%)	12.3	409^th of 458 public high schools	10.7%		18	360^th of 442 public high schools	18.6%	49	14.7	21.5	11.7	11.9									$9,612	$814	$8,798
Spencer High School	Public	9-12	1000 Fort Benning Rd	Columbus	31903	Muscogee County	Muscogee County	No	No	No	Yes	(706) 683-8701	943	55	17.1	96.6%	40 (4.2%)	659 (69.9%)	186 (19.7%)	5 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	9 (1.0%)	43 (4.6%)	10.8	417^th of 458 public high schools	9.0%		14.2	382^nd of 442 public high schools	13.6%	35	12.3	11.2	15.8	12.6									$8,488	$727	$7,761
Kendrick High School	Public	9-12	6015 Georgetown Dr	Columbus	31907	Muscogee County	Muscogee County	No	No	No	Yes	(706) 565-2960	876	53	16.4	96.6%	27 (3.1%)	754 (86.1%)	37 (4.2%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	4 (0.5%)	50 (5.7%)	14.4	400^th of 458 public high schools	12.7%		12	400^th of 442 public high schools	9.5%		16.4	5.9	13.5	22.4									$9,324	$694	$8,630
Shaw High School	Public	9-12	7579 Raider Way	Columbus	31909	Muscogee County	Muscogee County	No	No	No	No	(706) 569-3638	1,234	73	16.9	96.6%	227 (18.4%)	653 (52.9%)	214 (17.3%)	31 (2.5%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.2%)	105 (8.5%)	27.3	316^th of 458 public high schools	31.0%		27.4	299^th of 442 public high schools	32.4%	17	33.0	22.5	29.2	17.9									$8,749	$367	$8,382
Northside High School	Public	9-12	2002 American Way	Columbus	31909	Muscogee County	Muscogee County	No	No	No	No	(706) 748-2920	1,402	90	15.6	32.1%	628 (44.8%)	441 (31.5%)	176 (12.6%)	56 (4.0%)	2 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	97 (6.9%)	64.6	107^th of 458 public high schools	76.6%		61.2	115^th of 442 public high schools	74.0%	8	35.8	49.5	70.0	41.2									$8,127	$325	$7,802
Muscogee Youth Development Campus	Public	5-12	7700 Chattsworth Rd	Midland	31820	Muscogee County	Department of Juvenile Justice	No	No	No	Yes	(706) 569-2863	49	8	6.1	93.9%	18 (36.7%)	24 (49.0%)	7 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Columbus High School

Is Columbus High School a good school?

Yes! Columbus High School is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 3^rd of 458 Georgia high schools.

How many students attend Columbus High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,131 students attended Columbus High School.

What district is Columbus High School in?

Muscogee County

What is the racial makeup of Columbus High School?

Students at Columbus High School are 46% White, 22% African American, 15% Asian, 11% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Georgia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.