Columbus Elementary School

Summary:

Columbus Elementary School is a public elementary school in Columbus, Montana, serving 304 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Columbus Elementary District, which is ranked 95 out of 300 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Columbus Elementary School consistently outperforms the state average in academic proficiency, with 54.88% of students proficient in Mathematics, 57.32% in Reading, and 43.64% in Science, compared to state averages of 36.59%, 46.03%, and 37.03%, respectively. The school has maintained a strong academic ranking, placing between 17th and 109th out of all Montana elementary schools over the past decade, and earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger in most years. However, the school's student-teacher ratio of 15.2 is higher than nearby schools like Roberts School (8.1), Fishtail School (13.0), and Absarokee School (13.1).

While Columbus Elementary School's academic performance is impressive, the school's student population is predominantly White (88.82%), which is lower in racial diversity compared to the state average. This lack of diversity may limit the exposure of students to different cultural perspectives and experiences. To further enhance the educational experience, the school could explore ways to maintain a lower student-teacher ratio and address the lack of racial diversity, potentially by analyzing spending per student and optimizing resource allocation.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 218 E 1st Ave N
       Columbus, MT  59019


(406) 322-5372

District: Columbus Elementary

SchoolDigger Rank:
78th of 332 Montana Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,818 Help


Students who attend Columbus Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Columbus Middle School
High:    Columbus High School

Student/teacher ratio:  15.2 Help
Number of students:  304

Racial breakdown:

White:
88.8%
Hispanic:
4.9%
American Indian:
2.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  25.3% Help


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 Compare Columbus Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Columbus Elementary School ranks better than 76.5% of elementary schools in Montana. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 77.21. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (88.8%), Hispanic (4.9%), American Indian (2.3%). (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Columbus Elementary School is 15.2. (See more...)
Help
Compare Columbus Elementary School employs 20 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Columbus Elementary School is $11,818.
Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Columbus Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Columbus Elementary 95th of 300 Montana school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Columbus Elementary School?

Rank History for Columbus Elementary School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MT State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 85.20 24th 217 88.9%
2005 86.25 18th 218 91.7%
2006 76.41 26th 234 88.9%
2007 70.89 52nd 230 77.4%
2008 78.80 20th 194 89.7%
2009 76.18 18th 190 90.5%
2010 82.80 8th 241 96.7%
2011 71.28 51st 247 79.4%
2012 82.85 7th 244 97.1%
2013 81.66 17th 246 93.1%
2015 84.34 39th 287 86.4%
2016 74.66 46th 191 75.9%
2017 69.90 29th 109 73.4%
2018 66.95 34th 116 70.7%
2019 67.25 38th 123 69.1%
2021 72.09 109th 356 69.4%
2022 87.24 48th 329 85.4%
2023 77.21 78th 332 76.5%
See the entire list of Montana Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Montana Office of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Columbus Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    



Data source: Montana Office of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 2)
0%

0%

0%

100%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Friday, January 24, 2014

Open Quote Our family of 6 just moved here from Dillon due to a work related move.

Our nine year old son was a straight A-B student in second grade last year. This year in 3rd we cannot get above a C average. We are not getting any positive feed back from the school other than "He will adjust". We're approaching the 2nd part of the year and there is no improvements.

If you have to move in to the area go to a different school district that will HELP your kids. NOT "Let them adjust"... Close Quote



Enrollment information for Columbus Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1990 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 400 400
1991 311 2 2 7 5 n/a n/a 0 327
1992 276 0 3 4 36 n/a n/a 0 319
1993 314 1 3 3 9 n/a n/a 0 330
1994 289 0 4 3 8 n/a n/a 0 304
1995 322 3 3 1 0 n/a n/a 0 329
1996 322 3 3 1 0 n/a n/a 0 329
1997 317 4 3 5 6 n/a n/a 0 335
1998 332 4 6 2 7 n/a n/a 0 351
1999 324 3 2 1 8 n/a n/a 0 338
2000 323 3 3 0 12 n/a n/a 0 341
2001 270 0 6 2 8 n/a n/a 0 286
2002 262 1 6 1 4 n/a n/a 0 274
2003 262 1 6 1 4 n/a n/a 0 274
2004 252 2 5 1 1 n/a n/a 0 261
2005 264 4 4 3 2 n/a n/a 0 277
2006 245 2 6 6 5 n/a n/a 0 264
2007 251 4 5 9 5 n/a n/a 0 274
2008 251 1 6 14 10 n/a n/a 0 282
2009 241 2 4 14 9 n/a n/a 0 270
2010 254 3 4 13 5 n/a n/a 0 279
2011 265 1 1 12 6 1 3 0 289
2012 280 1 1 11 7 1 1 0 302
2013 279 1 1 9 9 0 3 0 302
2014 299 1 1 7 8 1 4 0 321
2015 286 0 1 7 9 1 10 0 314
2016 276 0 1 10 6 0 17 0 310
2017 305 0 2 12 9 0 15 0 343
2018 285 1 2 13 9 1 15 0 326
2019 279 1 3 15 9 0 11 0 318
2020 282 1 3 19 9 0 10 0 324
2021 256 0 4 19 2 1 4 0 286
2022 267 2 3 14 3 0 7 0 296
2023 270 3 2 15 7 0 7 0 304

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 Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 400 18.0 22.2 8.5
1991 327 14.0 23.3 6.1
1992 319 16.0 19.9 13.5
1993 330 17.9 18.4 15.2
1994 304 17.9 17.0 11.8
1995 329 16.8 19.6 12.8
1996 329 16.8 19.6 12.8
1997 335 17.6 19.0 11.3
1998 351 20.8 16.9 4
1999 338 17.7 19.1 10.9
2000 341 18.4 18.5 16.4
2001 286 16.5 17.3 14.7
2002 274 17.0 16.1 11.3
2003 274 17.0 16.1 11.3
2004 261 16.1 16.2 13
2005 277 16.6 16.7 14.8
2006 264 15.8 16.7 22.7
2007 274 16.3 16.8 21.9
2008 282 19.0 14.8 19.9
2009 270 19.0 14.2 12.6
2010 279 19.5 14.3 21.5
2011 289 19.5 14.8 20.8
2012 302 19.5 15.4 21.5
2013 302 19.0 15.8 18.2
2014 321 19.6 16.3 24.3
2015 314 20.0 15.7 18.8
2016 310 20.0 15.5 25.2
2017 343 20.0 17.1 27.7
2018 326 20.4 15.9 26.1
2019 318 20.4 15.5 24.2
2020 324 21.0 15.4 25.3
2021 286 20.0 14.3 n/a
2022 296 19.0 15.5 n/a
2023 304 20.0 15.2 n/a

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 Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 400 18.0 22.2 8.5
1991 327 14.0 23.3 6.1
1992 319 16.0 19.9 13.5
1993 330 17.9 18.4 15.2
1994 304 17.9 17.0 11.8
1995 329 16.8 19.6 12.8
1996 329 16.8 19.6 12.8
1997 335 17.6 19.0 11.3
1998 351 20.8 16.9 4
1999 338 17.7 19.1 10.9
2000 341 18.4 18.5 16.4
2001 286 16.5 17.3 14.7
2002 274 17.0 16.1 11.3
2003 274 17.0 16.1 11.3
2004 261 16.1 16.2 13
2005 277 16.6 16.7 14.8
2006 264 15.8 16.7 22.7
2007 274 16.3 16.8 21.9
2008 282 19.0 14.8 19.9
2009 270 19.0 14.2 12.6
2010 279 19.5 14.3 21.5
2011 289 19.5 14.8 20.8
2012 302 19.5 15.4 21.5
2013 302 19.0 15.8 18.2
2014 321 19.6 16.3 24.3
2015 314 20.0 15.7 18.8
2016 310 20.0 15.5 25.2
2017 343 20.0 17.1 27.7
2018 326 20.4 15.9 26.1
2019 318 20.4 15.5 24.2
2020 324 21.0 15.4 25.3
2021 286 20.0 14.3 n/a
2022 296 19.0 15.5 n/a
2023 304 20.0 15.2 n/a

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 Elementary School

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2021 $11,638
2022 $11,372
2023 $11,818

Data source: Montana Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Columbus Elementary 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 38th of 123 Elementary schoolsRanks 78th of 332 Elementary schools
 7.4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students318304
 4.4%
African American13
 200%
American Indian97
 22.2%
Asian32
 33.3%
Hispanic1515
Pacific Islander00
White279270
 3.2%
Two or More Races117
 36.4%


Schools Near Columbus Elementary School









Frequently Asked Questions about Columbus Elementary School

Columbus Elementary School ranks 78th of 332 Montana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

In the 2022-23 school year, 304 students attended Columbus Elementary School.

Students at Columbus Elementary School are 89% White, 5% Hispanic, 2% American Indian, 2% Two or more races.

Students who attend Columbus Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Columbus Middle School
High : Columbus High School


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

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.





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