Columbia County Schools & Education
Columbia County, Wisconsin
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
47/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
88.4%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
88.4%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 91.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,541
National avg $13,239
State avg $8,113
School Score
47/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 65/100
State Score Position
#66
of 72 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 88.4%.
Funding Context
At $7,541 per pupil, Columbia County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 27% below the Wisconsin average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 3.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 7% 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 8 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 #66 of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data.
Completion
88.4%
3.4 pts below the state average
Funding context
$7,541
$572 below the state average
School coverage
31
8 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 8 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.
Mixed school landscape
Columbia County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.
State position
#66
of 72 Wisconsin counties with school score data. The county score is 18 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.
Portage Community School District
Elementary to high school visible
2,021 students
7 listed schools in this county slice.
Lodi School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,491 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
Columbus School District
Elementary to high school visible
1,161 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Poynette School District
Elementary to high school visible
995 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Portage Community School District is the largest listed district slice, with 8 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, Wisconsin
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.
Columbia County’s Diverse School Infrastructure
Columbia County supports 8,696 students across 31 public schools and eight districts. The system is heavily weighted toward early education, with 15 elementary schools providing a strong foundation for the county's youth. The remaining 16 schools are split between middle and high school levels, ensuring a clear path to graduation.
Portage Community District Leads Enrollment
The Portage Community School District is the county's largest, operating 8 schools and serving 2,088 students. Charter schools make a small but important appearance here, with two campuses representing 6.5% of the total school landscape. Other major districts include Lodi and Columbus, which together serve over 2,600 students.
A Balance of Towns and Rural Scenery
With 19 schools in town settings and 12 in rural areas, Columbia County offers families a choice between central town hubs and quieter countryside campuses. Portage High is the county's largest school with 706 students, while the average school size remains manageable at 290 students. This mix provides a classic Wisconsin educational feel that caters to different lifestyle preferences.
School Overview
Total Schools
31
in Columbia County
Reported Enrollment
8,696
31 schools reporting
School Districts
8
districts
Charter Schools
2
6% of total
School Level Breakdown
8 School Districts in Columbia County
Portage Community School District
Lodi School District
Columbus School District
Poynette School District
Pardeeville Area School District
Fall River School District
Rio Community School District
Cambria-Friesland School District
31 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 20 of 31 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portage High | Record | Portage Community School District | Portage, 53901Town: Distant | 6–12 | High | 706 |
| Spring Hill Elementary | Record | Wisconsin Dells School District | Wisconsin Dells, 53965Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 608 |
| Lodi High | Record | Lodi School District | Lodi, 53555Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 451 |
| Columbus Elementary | Record | Columbus School District | Columbus, 53925Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 438 |
| Muir Elementary | Record | Portage Community School District | Portage, 53901Town: Distant | 2–5 | Primary | 422 |
| Poynette Elementary | Record | Poynette School District | Poynette, 53955Rural: Distant | PK–4 | Primary | 412 |
| Wayne Bartels Middle | Record | Portage Community School District | Portage, 53901Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 406 |
| Lodi Primary | Record | Lodi School District | Lodi, 53555Rural: Fringe | PK–2 | Primary | 395 |
| Wisconsin Dells Middle School | Record | Wisconsin Dells School District | Wisconsin Dells, 53965Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 387 |
| Columbus High | Record | Columbus School District | Columbus, 53925Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 385 |
| Pardeeville Elementary | Record | Pardeeville Area School District | Pardeeville, 53954Rural: Distant | PK–4 | Primary | 355 |
| Lodi Middle | Record | Lodi School District | Lodi, 53555Town: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 335 |
| Poynette High | Record | Poynette School District | Poynette, 53955Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 307 |
| Poynette Middle | Record | Poynette School District | Poynette, 53955Rural: Distant | 5–8 | Middle | 276 |
| Pardeeville High | Record | Pardeeville Area School District | Pardeeville, 53954Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 266 |
| Columbus Middle | Record | Columbus School District | Columbus, 53925Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 265 |
| Fall River High | Record | Fall River School District | Fall River, 53932Town: Distant | 6–12 | High | 265 |
| Pardeeville Middle | Record | Pardeeville Area School District | Pardeeville, 53954Rural: Distant | 5–8 | Middle | 244 |
| Fall River Elementary | Record | Fall River School District | Fall River, 53932Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 234 |
| Lodi Elementary | Record | Lodi School District | Lodi, 53555Town: Fringe | 3–5 | Primary | 230 |
Portage High
Portage Community School District
Portage, 53901 / Town: Distant
Spring Hill Elementary
Wisconsin Dells School District
Wisconsin Dells, 53965 / Town: Distant
Columbus Elementary
Columbus School District
Columbus, 53925 / Town: Distant
Muir Elementary
Portage Community School District
Portage, 53901 / Town: Distant
Poynette Elementary
Poynette School District
Poynette, 53955 / Rural: Distant
Wayne Bartels Middle
Portage Community School District
Portage, 53901 / Town: Distant
Wisconsin Dells Middle School
Wisconsin Dells School District
Wisconsin Dells, 53965 / Town: Distant
Pardeeville Elementary
Pardeeville Area School District
Pardeeville, 53954 / Rural: Distant
Pardeeville High
Pardeeville Area School District
Pardeeville, 53954 / Rural: Distant
Fall River High
Fall River School District
Fall River, 53932 / Town: Distant
Pardeeville Middle
Pardeeville Area School District
Pardeeville, 53954 / Rural: Distant
Fall River Elementary
Fall River School District
Fall River, 53932 / Town: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,541
State avg $8,113
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Columbia County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
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See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Wisconsin counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Wisconsin?
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, Wisconsin — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Columbia County, Wisconsin?
Columbia County supports 8,696 students across 31 public schools and eight districts. The system is heavily weighted toward early education, with 15 elementary schools providing a strong foundation for the county's youth. The remaining 16 schools are split between middle and high school levels, ensuring a clear path to graduation.
What are the major school districts in Columbia County, Wisconsin?
The Portage Community School District is the county's largest, operating 8 schools and serving 2,088 students. Charter schools make a small but important appearance here, with two campuses representing 6.5% of the total school landscape. Other major districts include Lodi and Columbus, which together serve over 2,600 students.
What is the school experience like in Columbia County?
With 19 schools in town settings and 12 in rural areas, Columbia County offers families a choice between central town hubs and quieter countryside campuses. Portage High is the county's largest school with 706 students, while the average school size remains manageable at 290 students. This mix provides a classic Wisconsin educational feel that caters to different lifestyle preferences.
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.