Columbia County Schools & Education
Columbia County, Georgia
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
47/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
92.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
92.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.1%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,528
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,405
School Score
47/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 50/100
State Score Position
#89
of 159 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Columbia County
Measured School Summary
Columbia County performs at an average level with a school score of 47/100 and a solid graduation rate of 92.0%.
Funding Context
At $6,528 per pupil, Columbia County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 6% below the Georgia average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 12% 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
31 public schools and 2 districts 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
47/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #89 of 159 Georgia counties with school score data.
Completion
92.0%
3.9 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,528
$877 below the state average
School coverage
31
2 districts 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 31 public schools across 2 districts, 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 County carries most of the listed public-school system, with 30 of 31 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#89
of 159 Georgia counties with school score data. The county score is 3 points below 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 County
Elementary to high school visible
29,025 students
30 listed schools in this county slice.
State Charter Schools II- SAIL Charter Academy - School for
Elementary school only in this slice
568 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Columbia County is the largest listed district slice, with 30 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?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Columbia County district systems?
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, Georgia
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.
Extensive Schooling in a Growing County
Columbia County features 31 public schools, including 18 elementary and 5 high schools, serving nearly 30,000 students. The infrastructure supports a rapidly expanding population through two distinct school districts.
Elite Graduation Rates and High Scores
A standout 92.0% graduation rate puts Columbia County well ahead of the 87% national average. This high performance is achieved with efficient spending of $6,528 per pupil, which is lower than both state and national averages.
Local Districts and Charter Options
The Columbia County School District serves 29,025 students, while the SAIL Charter Academy adds specialized choice for 568 students. Large high schools like Grovetown High, with 2,236 students, act as major community anchors.
Spacious Suburban and Rural Campuses
The county offers a mix of 18 suburban and 12 rural schools, with an average school size of 955 students. Facilities are generally large, ranging from the sprawling Grovetown High to several elementary schools that exceed state size averages.
School Overview
Total Schools
31
in Columbia County
Reported Enrollment
29,593
31 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
1
3% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Columbia County
Columbia County
GuideState Charter Schools II- SAIL Charter Academy - School for
31 Public Schools in Columbia County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 12 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 31 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grovetown High School | Profile | Columbia County | Grovetown, 30813Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 2,236 |
| Lakeside High School | Profile | Columbia County | Evans, 30809Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,940 |
| Evans High School | Profile | Columbia County | Evans, 30809Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,887 |
| Greenbrier High School | Profile | Columbia County | Evans, 30809Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,801 |
| Harlem High School | Profile | Columbia County | Harlem, 30814Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,223 |
| Cedar Ridge Elementary School | Profile | Columbia County | Grovetown, 30813Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 1,150 |
| Grovetown Middle School | Profile | Columbia County | Grovetown, 30813Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,080 |
| Baker Place Elementary | Profile | Columbia County | Grovetown, 30813Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 1,005 |
| Columbia Middle School | Profile | Columbia County | Grovetown, 30813Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 993 |
| Harlem Middle School | Profile | Columbia County | Harlem, 30814Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 981 |
| Evans Middle School | Profile | Columbia County | Evans, 30809Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 980 |
| Grovetown Elementary School | Profile | Columbia County | Grovetown, 30813Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 979 |
| Lewiston Elementary School | Record | Columbia County | Evans, 30809Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 892 |
| North Harlem Elementary School | Record | Columbia County | Harlem, 30814Town: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 862 |
| Greenbrier Middle School | Record | Columbia County | Evans, 30809Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 845 |
| Evans Elementary School | Record | Columbia County | Evans, 30809Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 840 |
| Stevens Creek Elementary School | Record | Columbia County | Martinez, 30907Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 839 |
| River Ridge Elementary | Record | Columbia County | Evans, 30809Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 782 |
| Riverside Middle School | Record | Columbia County | Evans, 30809Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 757 |
| Parkway Elementary School | Record | Columbia County | Evans, 30809Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 756 |
Grovetown High School
Columbia County
Grovetown, 30813 / Rural: Fringe
Lakeside High School
Columbia County
Evans, 30809 / Suburb: Large
Evans High School
Columbia County
Evans, 30809 / Suburb: Large
Greenbrier High School
Columbia County
Evans, 30809 / Rural: Fringe
Harlem High School
Columbia County
Harlem, 30814 / Rural: Fringe
Cedar Ridge Elementary School
Columbia County
Grovetown, 30813 / Suburb: Large
Grovetown Middle School
Columbia County
Grovetown, 30813 / Suburb: Large
Baker Place Elementary
Columbia County
Grovetown, 30813 / Rural: Fringe
Columbia Middle School
Columbia County
Grovetown, 30813 / Rural: Fringe
Harlem Middle School
Columbia County
Harlem, 30814 / Rural: Fringe
Evans Middle School
Columbia County
Evans, 30809 / Suburb: Large
Grovetown Elementary School
Columbia County
Grovetown, 30813 / Suburb: Large
North Harlem Elementary School
Columbia County
Harlem, 30814 / Town: Fringe
Stevens Creek Elementary School
Columbia County
Martinez, 30907 / Suburb: Large
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,528
State avg $7,405
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 Georgia counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Georgia?
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, Georgia — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Columbia County, Georgia?
Columbia County features 31 public schools, including 18 elementary and 5 high schools, serving nearly 30,000 students. The infrastructure supports a rapidly expanding population through two distinct school districts.
How do schools in Columbia County perform academically?
A standout 92.0% graduation rate puts Columbia County well ahead of the 87% national average. This high performance is achieved with efficient spending of $6,528 per pupil, which is lower than both state and national averages.
What are the major school districts in Columbia County, Georgia?
The Columbia County School District serves 29,025 students, while the SAIL Charter Academy adds specialized choice for 568 students. Large high schools like Grovetown High, with 2,236 students, act as major community anchors.
What is the school experience like in Columbia County?
The county offers a mix of 18 suburban and 12 rural schools, with an average school size of 955 students. Facilities are generally large, ranging from the sprawling Grovetown High to several elementary schools that exceed state size averages.
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.