Columbia County Schools & Education
Columbia County, Florida
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
50/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
96.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
96.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 89.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$5,638
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,118
School Score
50/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 36/100
State Score Position
#8
of 67 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Columbia County
Measured School Summary
Columbia County performs at an average level with a school score of 50/100 and a solid graduation rate of 96.0%.
Funding Context
At $5,638 per pupil, Columbia County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 38% above the Florida average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 6.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 8% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Columbia County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
19 public schools and 1 district are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
50/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #8 of 67 Florida counties with school score data.
Completion
96.0%
6.2 pts above the state average
Funding context
$5,638
$480 below the state average
School coverage
19
1 district represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Columbia County has 19 public schools across 1 district, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Columbia County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Dominant-district county
COLUMBIA carries most of the listed public-school system, with 19 of 19 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#8
of 67 Florida counties with school score data. The county score is 14 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
COLUMBIA
Elementary to high school visible
9,887 students
19 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
COLUMBIA is the largest listed district slice, with 19 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Columbia County?
Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Columbia County, Florida
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
A Concentrated Network in Columbia
Columbia County maintains 19 public schools for its 9,887 students. The system includes 9 elementary schools and 4 high schools, all operating within a single district. This smaller network allows for a more focused educational community across the county.
The Columbia District Connection
The Columbia District oversees the entire student body of 9,887 across 19 schools. Belmont Academy stands out as the county's single charter school, representing 5.3% of total schools and serving 759 students. The district remains the primary provider of education, maintaining high standards across its campuses.
The Classic Town School Experience
Thirteen of the county's 19 schools are located in town settings, giving the district a classic community feel. Schools average 582 students, with Columbia High School being the largest at 1,737 students. This smaller average size helps maintain a local, accessible atmosphere for families.
School Overview
Total Schools
19
in Columbia County
Reported Enrollment
9,887
19 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
1
5% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Columbia County
19 Public Schools in Columbia County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 3 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 19 of 19 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL | Profile | COLUMBIA | LAKE CITY, 32025Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 1,737 |
| FORT WHITE HIGH SCHOOL | Profile | COLUMBIA | FORT WHITE, 32038Rural: Distant | 6–12 | High | 1,158 |
| LAKE CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL | Profile | COLUMBIA | LAKE CITY, 32025Town: Distant | 7–8 | Middle | 970 |
| BELMONT ACADEMY | Record | COLUMBIA | LAKE CITY, 32024Rural: Distant | PK–12 | Charter | 759 |
| WESTSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | COLUMBIA | LAKE CITY, 32024Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 696 |
| FORT WHITE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | COLUMBIA | FORT WHITE, 32038Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 681 |
| EASTSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | COLUMBIA | LAKE CITY, 32025Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 631 |
| COLUMBIA CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | COLUMBIA | LAKE CITY, 32024Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 615 |
| SUMMERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | COLUMBIA | LAKE CITY, 32025Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 517 |
| PINEMOUNT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | COLUMBIA | LAKE CITY, 32024Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 486 |
| RICHARDSON SIXTH GRADE ACADEMY | Record | COLUMBIA | LAKE CITY, 32025Town: Distant | 6 | Middle | 450 |
| FIVE POINTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | COLUMBIA | LAKE CITY, 32055Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 400 |
| MELROSE PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | COLUMBIA | LAKE CITY, 32025Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 398 |
| NIBLACK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | COLUMBIA | LAKE CITY, 32055Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 282 |
| PATHWAYS ACADEMY | Record | COLUMBIA | LAKE CITY, 32055Rural: Fringe | KG–12 | Alternative | 87 |
| COLUMBIA VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM (DISTRICT PROVIDED) | Record | COLUMBIA | LAKE CITY, 32055Town: Distant | 6–12 | Virtual | 16 |
| PREK ESE | Record | COLUMBIA | LAKE CITY, 32055Town: Distant | PK | Special Education | 4 |
| COLUMBIA VIRTUAL FRANCHISE | Record | COLUMBIA | LAKE CITY, 32055Town: Distant | 6–12 | Virtual | 0 |
| COLUMBIA VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM | Record | COLUMBIA | LAKE CITY, 32055Town: Distant | KG–12 | Virtual | 0 |
COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL
COLUMBIA
LAKE CITY, 32025 / Town: Distant
FORT WHITE HIGH SCHOOL
COLUMBIA
FORT WHITE, 32038 / Rural: Distant
LAKE CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL
COLUMBIA
LAKE CITY, 32025 / Town: Distant
COLUMBIA CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
COLUMBIA
LAKE CITY, 32024 / Rural: Distant
COLUMBIA VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM (DISTRICT PROVIDED)
COLUMBIA
LAKE CITY, 32055 / Town: Distant
COLUMBIA VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM
COLUMBIA
LAKE CITY, 32055 / Town: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$5,638
State avg $6,118
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Columbia County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Florida counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Florida?
How should I read the school score in Columbia County?
What is the graduation rate in Columbia County?
How much does Columbia County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Columbia County, Florida — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Columbia County, Florida?
Columbia County maintains 19 public schools for its 9,887 students. The system includes 9 elementary schools and 4 high schools, all operating within a single district. This smaller network allows for a more focused educational community across the county.
What are the major school districts in Columbia County, Florida?
The Columbia District oversees the entire student body of 9,887 across 19 schools. Belmont Academy stands out as the county's single charter school, representing 5.3% of total schools and serving 759 students. The district remains the primary provider of education, maintaining high standards across its campuses.
What is the school experience like in Columbia County?
Thirteen of the county's 19 schools are located in town settings, giving the district a classic community feel. Schools average 582 students, with Columbia High School being the largest at 1,737 students. This smaller average size helps maintain a local, accessible atmosphere for families.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.