Columbus High School

Summary:

Columbus High School is a public high school in Columbus, Nebraska, serving 1,273 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Columbus Public Schools district, which is ranked 203 out of 212 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Columbus High School has a more diverse student population compared to nearby schools, with a higher percentage of Hispanic students, the school consistently underperforms the state average in academic measures. In 2022-2023, the school's proficiency rates were 23.17% in English Language Arts, 21.65% in Math, and 19.82% in Science, compared to the state averages of 33.35%, 26.23%, and 25.25%, respectively. The school has been ranked in the bottom half of Nebraska high schools for the past several years, with a ranking of 169 out of 215 schools in 2022-2023 and a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Compared to nearby schools like Twin River Senior High School, David City Secondary School, and Leigh High School, Columbus High School's performance lags behind, particularly for its Hispanic and low socioeconomic status student subgroups. The school also has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 45.95% to 52.62% over the past three school years, which may contribute to the academic challenges.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 3434 Discoverer Drive
       Columbus, NE  68602-0947


(402) 563-7050

District: Columbus Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
169th of 215 Nebraska High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $12,691 Help


Feeder schools for Columbus High School:

Elementary:    Centennial Elementary School
    Emerson Elementary School
    Lost Creek Elementary School
    North Park Elementary
    More...
Middle:    Columbus Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  16.5 Help
Number of students:  1,273

Racial breakdown:

White:
51.5%
Hispanic:
43.4%
Two or more races:
1.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  46% Help


 See top rated Nebraska high schools

 Compare Columbus High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Columbus High School ranks worse than 78.6% of high schools in Nebraska. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 22.27. (See more...)
Help
The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Columbus High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (51.5%), Hispanic (43.4%), two or more races (1.9%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 46% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Columbus High School is 16.5. (See more...)
Help
Compare Columbus High School employs 76.7 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Columbus High School is $12,691.
Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Columbus High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Columbus High School 169th of 215 Nebraska public high schools. (See Columbus High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Columbus Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Columbus Public Schools 203rd of 212 Nebraska school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Columbus High School?

Rank History for Columbus High School

Help
Compare

Rank History for all students at Columbus High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NE State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 43.82 178th 249 28.5%
2007 26.69 228th 247 7.7%
2008 54.23 139th 252 44.8%
2009 47.96 150th 251 40.2%
2010 47.68 163rd 249 34.5%
2011 43.09 164th 252 34.9%
2012 45.45 154th 245 37.1%
2013 30.80 196th 247 20.6%
2014 42.83 158th 247 36.0%
2015 34.04 189th 242 21.9%
2016 20.74 217th 246 11.8%
2017 25.05 166th 219 24.2%
2018 19.90 181st 219 17.4%
2019 23.50 166th 217 23.5%
2021 25.91 165th 209 21.1%
2022 41.93 125th 202 38.1%
2023 22.27 169th 215 21.4%
See the entire list of Nebraska High School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Columbus High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NE State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 37.56 13th 26 50.0%
See the entire list of Best Nebraska High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

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

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NE State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 27.10 61st 79 22.8%
2019 24.08 62nd 82 24.4%
2021 28.78 64th 83 22.9%
2022 55.73 23rd 74 68.9%
2023 31.91 53rd 89 40.4%
See the entire list of Best Nebraska High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Columbus High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NE State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 26.00 112th 144 22.2%
2019 25.56 111th 142 21.8%
2021 27.52 102nd 138 26.1%
2022 33.35 89th 132 32.6%
2023 22.16 107th 136 21.3%
See the entire list of Best Nebraska High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Columbus High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NE State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 17.65 118th 138 14.5%
2019 22.88 110th 140 21.4%
2021 23.48 102nd 130 21.5%
2022 45.34 71st 135 47.4%
2023 23.57 104th 135 23.0%
See the entire list of Best Nebraska High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Columbus High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NE State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 29.81 27th 41 34.1%
2019 32.31 26th 43 39.5%
2021 31.26 26th 38 31.6%
2022 60.45 15th 41 63.4%
2023 27.77 31st 41 24.4%
See the entire list of Best Nebraska High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Columbus High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NE State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 30.84 150th 205 26.8%
2019 44.45 114th 207 44.9%
2021 47.08 104th 200 48.0%
2022 52.51 91st 196 53.6%
2023 43.78 119th 206 42.2%
See the entire list of Best Nebraska High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Nebraska 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.

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



Data source: Nebraska Department of Education

We're sorry, but no reviews have been submitted for Columbus High School.

If you have first-hand knowledge about Columbus High School, submit a rating!


Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!


Enrollment information for Columbus High School

Help
Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 689 0 3 2 0 n/a n/a 0 694
1989 907 0 8 4 8 n/a n/a 0 927
1990 888 2 11 6 8 n/a n/a 0 915
1991 909 1 13 8 10 n/a n/a 0 941
1992 943 4 11 7 5 n/a n/a 0 970
1993 974 6 8 11 4 n/a n/a 0 1003
1994 1042 3 10 16 5 n/a n/a 0 1076
1995 1122 5 7 34 7 n/a n/a 0 1175
1996 1122 5 7 34 7 n/a n/a 0 1175
1997 1128 4 12 26 6 n/a n/a 0 1176
1998 1141 6 20 28 1 n/a n/a 0 1196
1999 1139 6 5 23 4 n/a n/a 21 1198
2000 1120 9 7 55 8 n/a n/a 0 1199
2001 1109 15 11 72 5 n/a n/a 0 1212
2002 1041 11 7 118 9 n/a n/a 0 1186
2003 1041 11 7 118 9 n/a n/a 0 1186
2004 1006 13 6 136 5 n/a n/a 0 1166
2005 953 6 8 166 3 n/a n/a 0 1136
2006 943 4 9 187 8 n/a n/a 0 1151
2007 931 8 7 211 5 n/a n/a 0 1162
2008 895 10 11 239 9 n/a n/a 0 1164
2009 889 8 14 255 10 n/a n/a 0 1176
2010 812 9 12 274 11 n/a n/a 0 1118
2011 770 6 12 299 30 0 12 0 1129
2012 740 4 11 321 21 0 14 0 1111
2013 730 3 10 320 14 0 19 0 1096
2014 735 1 13 355 13 1 15 0 1133
2015 727 3 11 370 12 1 18 0 1142
2016 721 5 6 405 12 1 13 0 1163
2017 690 6 6 434 12 2 14 0 1164
2018 713 11 7 476 8 0 15 0 1230
2019 731 12 9 521 7 0 12 0 1292
2020 723 16 11 538 7 0 14 0 1309
2021 729 27 9 534 6 0 20 0 1325
2022 699 22 8 521 9 0 22 0 1281
2023 656 21 9 553 10 0 24 0 1273

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

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 694 46.2 15.0 11.5
1989 927 57.7 16.0 10.9
1990 915 56.6 16.1 11.9
1991 941 57.5 16.3 10.7
1992 970 60.5 16.0 12.9
1993 1003 61.7 16.3 13.6
1994 1076 63.5 16.9 14.8
1995 1175 66.0 17.8 10.1
1996 1175 66.0 17.8 10.1
1997 1176 66.3 17.7 9.5
1998 1196 66.8 17.9 7.2
1999 1198 68.5 17.5 17.3
2000 1199 68.5 17.5 16.6
2001 1212 68.8 17.6 17.3
2002 1186 67.8 17.5 20.2
2003 1186 67.8 17.5 20.2
2004 1166 66.4 17.6 22.9
2005 1136 66.5 17.1 27.2
2006 1151 69.1 16.7 32.6
2007 1162 70.2 16.6 28.1
2008 1164 71.8 16.2 25.9
2009 1176 73.1 16.1 27
2010 1118 73.2 15.2 37
2011 1129 73.6 15.3 37.7
2012 1111 72.5 15.3 39.9
2013 1096 69.7 15.7 40.9
2014 1133 70.0 16.1 42.2
2015 1142 72.0 15.8 42.1
2016 1163 72.0 16.1 49.4
2017 1164 72.0 16.1 47.8
2018 1230 73.3 16.7 53.4
2019 1292 72.3 17.8 49.1
2020 1309 75.5 17.3 48.9
2021 1325 79.7 16.6 48.8
2022 1281 75.7 16.9 52.6
2023 1273 76.7 16.5 46

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

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 694 46.2 15.0 11.5
1989 927 57.7 16.0 10.9
1990 915 56.6 16.1 11.9
1991 941 57.5 16.3 10.7
1992 970 60.5 16.0 12.9
1993 1003 61.7 16.3 13.6
1994 1076 63.5 16.9 14.8
1995 1175 66.0 17.8 10.1
1996 1175 66.0 17.8 10.1
1997 1176 66.3 17.7 9.5
1998 1196 66.8 17.9 7.2
1999 1198 68.5 17.5 17.3
2000 1199 68.5 17.5 16.6
2001 1212 68.8 17.6 17.3
2002 1186 67.8 17.5 20.2
2003 1186 67.8 17.5 20.2
2004 1166 66.4 17.6 22.9
2005 1136 66.5 17.1 27.2
2006 1151 69.1 16.7 32.6
2007 1162 70.2 16.6 28.1
2008 1164 71.8 16.2 25.9
2009 1176 73.1 16.1 27
2010 1118 73.2 15.2 37
2011 1129 73.6 15.3 37.7
2012 1111 72.5 15.3 39.9
2013 1096 69.7 15.7 40.9
2014 1133 70.0 16.1 42.2
2015 1142 72.0 15.8 42.1
2016 1163 72.0 16.1 49.4
2017 1164 72.0 16.1 47.8
2018 1230 73.3 16.7 53.4
2019 1292 72.3 17.8 49.1
2020 1309 75.5 17.3 48.9
2021 1325 79.7 16.6 48.8
2022 1281 75.7 16.9 52.6
2023 1273 76.7 16.5 46

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

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $465 (4.6%) $8,214 (81.3%) $10,106
2020 $93 (0.8%) $9,700 (86.8%) $11,173
2021 $409 (3.4%) $10,268 (85.1%) $12,061
2022 $627 (4.9%) $10,669 (83.8%) $12,735
2023 $850 (6.7%) $10,159 (80.0%) $12,691

Data source: Nebraska 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 166th of 217 High schoolsRanks 169th of 215 High schools
 2.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts (Columbus High School)28.423.2
 5.3%
   11th Grade English Language Arts (Columbus Public Schools)28.423.2
 5.3%
   11th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)37.433.4
 4.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (Columbus High School)27.121.7
 5.4%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Columbus Public Schools)27.121.7
 5.4%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)30.926.2
 4.6%
11th Grade Science (Columbus High School)20.219.8
 0.4%
   11th Grade Science (Columbus Public Schools)20.219.8
 0.4%
   11th Grade Science (Nebraska)26.425.3
 1.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students12921273
 1.5%
African American1221
 75%
American Indian710
 42.9%
Asian99
Hispanic521553
 6.1%
Pacific Islander00
White731656
 10.3%
Two or More Races1224
 100%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients49.1%46%
 3.1%


Schools Near Columbus High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Columbus High School

Columbus High School ranks in the bottom 21.4% of Nebraska high schools.

Columbus High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Centennial Elementary School
Elementary : Emerson Elementary School
Elementary : Lost Creek Elementary School
Elementary : North Park Elementary
Elementary : West Park Elementary
Middle : Columbus Middle School

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,273 students attended Columbus High School.

Students at Columbus High School are 52% White, 43% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 2% African American.


Rate Columbus High School!



Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Columbus High School!




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





Diagnostics

None retrieved from Database in 180 milliseconds.