Columbia County Schools & Education
Columbia County, Pennsylvania
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
70/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Higher Signal
Graduation Rate
90.1%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
90.1%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 90.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$9,986
National avg $13,239
State avg $10,336
School Score
70/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 72/100
State Score Position
#36
of 67 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Columbia County
Measured School Summary
Columbia County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 70/100 and a graduation rate of 90.1%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.
Funding Context
Columbia County spends $9,986 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 3% below the Pennsylvania average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 3% 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 6 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
70/100
Higher measured signal. Ranks #36 of 67 Pennsylvania counties with school score data.
Completion
90.1%
0.2 pts below the state average
Funding context
$9,986
$350 below the state average
School coverage
19
6 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. 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 6 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.
Higher-signal county
Columbia County screens well on the measured county-level school signal. The next check is whether that strength is broad across districts or concentrated in a few school pathways.
State position
#36
of 67 Pennsylvania counties with school score data. The county score is 2 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.
Central Columbia SD
Elementary to high school visible
1,908 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Bloomsburg Area SD
Elementary to high school visible
1,533 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
Southern Columbia Area SD
Elementary to high school visible
1,235 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Benton Area SD
Elementary to high school visible
620 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Bloomsburg Area SD is the largest listed district slice, with 5 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?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
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, Pennsylvania
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.
The Educational Makeup of Columbia County
Six school districts oversee 19 public schools serving 7,715 students across the county. The network is evenly distributed to support local communities through 8 elementary, 4 middle, and 7 high schools.
Focus on Central Columbia and Bloomsburg
Central Columbia SD is the largest district with 1,908 students, followed by Bloomsburg Area SD with 1,533. No charter schools operate in the county, ensuring a focus on traditional public district programs.
Diverse Locales from City to Countryside
Students attend a mix of 10 rural, 5 city, and 4 suburban schools with an average enrollment of 406. Berwick Area High School is the largest individual school, hosting 782 students in a traditional secondary setting.
School Overview
Total Schools
19
in Columbia County
Reported Enrollment
7,715
19 schools reporting
School Districts
6
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
6 School Districts in Columbia County
Central Columbia SD
Bloomsburg Area SD
Southern Columbia Area SD
Benton Area SD
Columbia-Montour AVTS
Millville Area SD
19 Public Schools in Columbia County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berwick Area HS | Record | Berwick Area SD | Berwick, 18603City: Small | 9–12 | High | 782 |
| Central Columbia El Sch | Record | Central Columbia SD | Bloomsburg, 17815Suburb: Small | KG–4 | Primary | 699 |
| Central Columbia MS | Record | Central Columbia SD | Bloomsburg, 17815Suburb: Small | 5–8 | Middle | 612 |
| Columbia-Montour AVTS | Record | Columbia-Montour AVTS | Bloomsburg, 17815Suburb: Small | 9–12 | Vocational | 609 |
| Central Columbia SHS | Record | Central Columbia SD | Bloomsburg, 17815Suburb: Small | 9–12 | High | 597 |
| West Berwick El Sch | Record | Berwick Area SD | Berwick, 18603City: Small | KG–4 | Primary | 486 |
| Hartman El Ctr | Record | Southern Columbia Area SD | Catawissa, 17820Rural: Fringe | KG–4 | Primary | 456 |
| Memorial El Sch | Record | Bloomsburg Area SD | Bloomsburg, 17815City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 432 |
| Bloomsburg Area HS | Record | Bloomsburg Area SD | Bloomsburg, 17815City: Small | 9–12 | High | 428 |
| Southern Columbia MS | Record | Southern Columbia Area SD | Catawissa, 17820Rural: Fringe | 5–8 | Middle | 401 |
| Southern Columbia HS | Record | Southern Columbia Area SD | Catawissa, 17820Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 378 |
| Bloomsburg Area MS | Record | Bloomsburg Area SD | Bloomsburg, 17815City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 354 |
| Appleman El Sch | Record | Benton Area SD | Benton, 17814Rural: Distant | KG–6 | Primary | 316 |
| Millville Area El Sch | Record | Millville Area SD | Millville, 17846Rural: Distant | KG–6 | Primary | 291 |
| Millville Area JSHS | Record | Millville Area SD | Millville, 17846Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 251 |
| W W Evans Memorial El Sch | Record | Bloomsburg Area SD | Bloomsburg, 17815Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 220 |
| Benton Area HS | Record | Benton Area SD | Benton, 17814Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 200 |
| Benton Area MS | Record | Benton Area SD | Benton, 17814Rural: Distant | 7–8 | Middle | 104 |
| Beaver-Main El Sch | Record | Bloomsburg Area SD | Bloomsburg, 17815Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 99 |
Central Columbia El Sch
Central Columbia SD
Bloomsburg, 17815 / Suburb: Small
Columbia-Montour AVTS
Columbia-Montour AVTS
Bloomsburg, 17815 / Suburb: Small
Hartman El Ctr
Southern Columbia Area SD
Catawissa, 17820 / Rural: Fringe
Southern Columbia MS
Southern Columbia Area SD
Catawissa, 17820 / Rural: Fringe
Southern Columbia HS
Southern Columbia Area SD
Catawissa, 17820 / Rural: Fringe
Millville Area El Sch
Millville Area SD
Millville, 17846 / Rural: Distant
W W Evans Memorial El Sch
Bloomsburg Area SD
Bloomsburg, 17815 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$9,986
State avg $10,336
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 Pennsylvania counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Pennsylvania?
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, Pennsylvania — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Columbia County, Pennsylvania?
Six school districts oversee 19 public schools serving 7,715 students across the county. The network is evenly distributed to support local communities through 8 elementary, 4 middle, and 7 high schools.
What are the major school districts in Columbia County, Pennsylvania?
Central Columbia SD is the largest district with 1,908 students, followed by Bloomsburg Area SD with 1,533. No charter schools operate in the county, ensuring a focus on traditional public district programs.
What is the school experience like in Columbia County?
Students attend a mix of 10 rural, 5 city, and 4 suburban schools with an average enrollment of 406. Berwick Area High School is the largest individual school, hosting 782 students in a traditional secondary setting.
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.