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Columbia Elementary

Q: Is Columbia Elementary a good school?

Columbia Elementary ranks 3846 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-8

3846^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 34% of California elementary schools

Summary

Columbia Elementary is a K-8 public school serving 464 students in the historic town of Columbia, California, operating within the Columbia Union school district, which ranks above many neighboring districts.

Academically, the school's test scores are below the state average, but it serves a student population with significant economic need, with over 65% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. When compared to nearby schools with similar demographics, such as Jamestown Elementary and Mark Twain Elementary, Columbia Elementary often achieves stronger academic results. The school also uses its resources efficiently, spending significantly less per student than higher-performing schools like Soulsbyville Elementary while achieving comparable or better outcomes than some peers with similar or higher spending.

A notable strength is the school's dramatic improvement in reducing chronic student absenteeism, which has been cut by more than half since 2022. However, performance varies widely between grade levels, with fifth grade being a particular area for growth. After several years of declining statewide rankings, the school's performance has recently stabilized, suggesting current strategies are having a positive effect.

464

Students ?

17.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$29,322

Per pupil spending ?

65.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

22540 Parrotts Ferry Rd.
Columbia, CA 95310-9757

(209) 533-7700

District: Columbia Union

Students who attend Columbia Elementary usually attend:

High:

Sonora High

Racial breakdown:

White:

69.4%

Hispanic:

20.5%

Two or more races:

5.0%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Columbia Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 52nd percentile in 2015 → 34th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (36% vs 41% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 18 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school36%

District avg35%

California avg41%

Elementary school

3,846^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 34%▼ down 18 pts since 2015

From top 48% (2015) to bottom 34% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

922^nd of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Top 33%▼ down 7 pts since 2015

From top 26% (2015) to top 33% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

747^th of 1,543Columbia Union among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	31.4	3846 of 5857	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.1	3680 of 5869	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.4	3466 of 5859	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.5	3494 of 5883	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	28.1	974 of 1417	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.4	3107 of 5789	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	23.0	4425 of 5662	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	40.9	3046 of 5692	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	47.4	2639 of 5614	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	46.0	2684 of 5611	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2013	71.3	1509 of 5530	72.7%	★★★★☆
2012	66.3	1710 of 5390	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	60.8	1972 of 5377	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	63.9	1791 of 5314	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2009	64.2	1710 of 5193	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	62.4	1753 of 5113	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2007	58.2	1919 of 5113	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	56.1	1915 of 4818	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2005	52.5	2068 of 4822	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2004	46.8	2311 of 4809	51.9%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	34.5	3510 of 5597	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.1	3197 of 5612	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.5	3325 of 5609	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.1	3486 of 5635	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	26.5	911 of 1267	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.0	3501 of 5492	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	23.1	4308 of 5413	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	53.4	2077 of 5107	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.0	1847 of 5107	63.8%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	41.5	3051 of 5460	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.4	3906 of 5517	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	44.5	2734 of 5363	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.4	2575 of 5264	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	27.8	855 of 1110	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	50.4	2379 of 5173	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	21.0	4404 of 5084	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	29.4	3902 of 5628	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.5	3863 of 5643	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.9	3338 of 5638	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	37.1	3195 of 5663	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	30.7	826 of 1272	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	51.2	2403 of 5510	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	25.8	4033 of 5431	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	11.8	2366 of 2598	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.2	2413 of 2651	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	14.1	2369 of 2661	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	12.2	2469 of 2726	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	17.8	2445 of 2834	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	7.5	2608 of 2737	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	59.2	922 of 2761	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.0	1041 of 2783	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.5	1237 of 2781	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	36.3	1577 of 2740	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	27.9	642 of 894	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.9	1658 of 2715	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.2	1387 of 2480	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	50.0	1106 of 2508	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	69.3	667 of 2497	73.3%	★★★★☆
2015	69.6	652 of 2477	73.7%	★★★★☆
2013	80.8	300 of 2379	87.4%	★★★★☆
2012	68.5	612 of 2259	72.9%	★★★★☆
2011	64.4	704 of 2236	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2010	69.7	557 of 2179	74.4%	★★★★☆
2009	56.4	830 of 2063	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2008	55.4	806 of 2005	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	54.1	807 of 1999	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2006	49.6	824 of 1804	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2005	70.0	445 of 1777	75.0%	★★★★☆
2004	65.5	507 of 1769	71.3%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2019	46.2	620 of 1491	58.4%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	48.4	1144 of 2533	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.1	1145 of 2551	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.0	1182 of 2531	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.1	1169 of 2509	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	23.4	570 of 738	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.4	1616 of 2380	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.1	1087 of 2262	51.9%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	52.5	990 of 2542	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.0	1009 of 2579	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.1	1026 of 2531	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.2	1073 of 2458	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	32.7	495 of 721	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.9	1536 of 2369	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.5	1343 of 2230	39.8%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	63.9	754 of 2534	70.2%	★★★★☆
2024	58.6	847 of 2552	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.0	1124 of 2538	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	27.5	1753 of 2527	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	33.4	483 of 763	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.6	1352 of 2407	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.7	1479 of 2273	34.9%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	35.4	986 of 1520	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	27.4	1112 of 1537	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.1	1111 of 1543	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.4	1332 of 1555	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	14.5	1391 of 1602	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.9	1131 of 1496	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Hispanic (2025)59th percentile+25 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)44th percentile+10 vs school

Female (2025)37th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2025)31st percentile-4 vs school

White (2025)9th percentile-25 vs school

Middle school

Male (2025)70th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)61st percentile-6 vs school

Disabled (2019)58th percentile+19 vs school

Female (2025)55th percentile-12 vs school

White (2025)35th percentile-31 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy42%-7 vs state

Science33%~ state avg

Mathematics30%-7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Columbia Elementary

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Ranking:

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Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CSA Spanish Overall (2025)				CSA Spanish Listening (2025)				CSA Spanish Writing (2025)				CSA Spanish Reading (2025)				CAST Science (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)							% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CSA Spanish Overall 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 6th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall All Grades	CSA Spanish Listening 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 6th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening All Grades	CSA Spanish Writing 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 6th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing All Grades	CSA Spanish Reading 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 6th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading All Grades	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Columbia Elementary	Public	K-8	22540 Parrotts Ferry Rd.	Columbia	95310	Tuolumne County	Columbia Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 533-7700	464	27	17.2	65.3%	322 (69.4%)	5 (1.1%)	95 (20.5%)	4 (0.9%)	12 (2.6%)	2 (0.4%)	23 (5.0%)	31.4	3846^th of 5857 public elementary schools	34.3%		33.1	3680^th of 5869 public elementary schools	37.3%	166																	17.4	48.8	32.6	30.4	47.6	26.1	40.5	55.3	51.2	41.8	17.4	46.0	10.9	18.9	39.5	44.2	30.4	50.8	79.1	88.1	79.1	62.7	89.6	$29,322	$28,804	$518
Sonora Elementary	Public	K-8	830 Greenley Rd.	Sonora	95370	Tuolumne County	Sonora Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 532-5491	643	32	20.0	48.2%	462 (71.9%)	5 (0.8%)	113 (17.6%)	15 (2.3%)	18 (2.8%)	1 (0.2%)	29 (4.5%)	40.3	3199^th of 5857 public elementary schools	45.4%		37.5	3334^th of 5869 public elementary schools	43.2%	135																	30.9	43.1	37.1	55.9	39.1	35.3	39.2	57.1	55.6	46.8	44.1	34.9	25.4	21.3	28.6	38.9	31.6	96.1	96.1	96.1	96.1	96.1	96.1	$32,387	$31,650	$737
Jamestown Elementary	Public	K-8	18299 Fifth Ave.	Jamestown	95327	Tuolumne County	Jamestown Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 984-4058	409	20	20.4	71.6%	264 (64.5%)	3 (0.7%)	111 (27.1%)	1 (0.2%)	9 (2.2%)	1 (0.2%)	20 (4.9%)	25.6	4347^th of 5857 public elementary schools	25.8%		25.3	4336^th of 5869 public elementary schools	26.1%	11	4.6	0.0	0.0	1.7	4.6	7.1	7.1	8.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	4.6	0.0	0.0	1.7	5.4	25.0	16.1	44.2	17.9	24.3	26.8	31.0	42.2	32.2	46.5	22.2	5.4	26.8	31.0	27.3	27.4							$36,971	$35,806	$1,165
Curtis Creek Elementary	Public	K-8	18755 Standard Rd.	Sonora	95370	Tuolumne County	Curtis Creek Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 532-1428	410	20	20.3	51.7%	305 (74.4%)	6 (1.5%)	66 (16.1%)	7 (1.7%)	6 (1.5%)	2 (0.5%)	18 (4.4%)	44.2	2936^th of 5857 public elementary schools	49.9%		31.3	3827^th of 5869 public elementary schools	34.8%	891																	51.1	23.3	37.5	56.5	20.0	33.3	12.1	30.6	38.1	33.2	52.2	20.0	51.1	6.1	22.5	16.7	29.6	95.2				95.2		$36,021	$33,864	$2,157
Belleview Elementary	Public	K-8	22736 Kuien Mill Rd.	Sonora	95370	Tuolumne County	Belleview Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 586-5510	148	9	16.4	48.6%	101 (68.2%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (24.3%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (6.8%)	53.2	2409^th of 5857 public elementary schools	58.9%		78	1240^th of 5869 public elementary schools	78.9%	1169																	38.1	28.6	34.3	21.4	40.0	57.1	55.0	64.3	28.6	45.9	50.0	31.3	33.3	45.0	50.0	28.6	39.4							$39,173	$38,478	$695
Albert A. Michelson Elementary	Public	K-5	196 Pennsylvania Gulch Rd.	Murphys	95247	Calaveras County	Vallecito Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 728-3441	226	12	18.8	46.5%	163 (72.1%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (16.4%)	4 (1.8%)	7 (3.1%)	1 (0.4%)	14 (6.2%)	70.5	1583^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	73.0%		75.6	1349^th of 5869 public elementary schools	77.0%	234																	42.1		42.1	50.0	53.5	65.8				57.0	53.9	53.5	47.4				51.4							$24,106	$23,152	$954
Soulsbyville Elementary	Public	K-8	20300 Soulsbyville Rd.	Soulsbyville	95372	Tuolumne County	Soulsbyville Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 532-1419	498	24	20.8	39.2%	383 (76.9%)	0 (0.0%)	76 (15.3%)	4 (0.8%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	31 (6.2%)	62.4	1947^th of 5857 public elementary schools	66.8%		62.1	1976^th of 5869 public elementary schools	66.3%	29																	49.2	36.6	44.1	31.9	46.7	54.1	64.9	54.0	34.2	48.7	45.8	50.0	34.4	50.9	48.0	46.3	45.7	94.7	94.7		94.7	94.7	94.7	$22,715	$22,556	$159
Mark Twain Elementary	Public	K-8	646 Stanislaus Ave.	Angels Camp	95222	Calaveras County	Mark Twain Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 736-6533	507	24	21.1	68.2%	359 (70.8%)	4 (0.8%)	100 (19.7%)	3 (0.6%)	15 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (5.1%)	16.8	5119^th of 5857 public elementary schools	12.6%		9.3	5712^th of 5869 public elementary schools	2.7%	593																	12.5	13.6	13.3	31.3	31.6	22.5	20.8	38.6	42.5	33.0	30.3	17.5	2.5	15.1	15.7	15.9	15.8							$22,353	$21,652	$701
Twain Harte	Public	K-8	18815 Manzanita Dr.	Twain Harte	95383	Tuolumne County	Twain Harte	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 586-3266	258	13	19.1	65.1%	169 (65.5%)	2 (0.8%)	62 (24.0%)	1 (0.4%)	6 (2.3%)	2 (0.8%)	16 (6.2%)	52.4	2473^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	57.8%		55.6	2257^th of 5869 public elementary schools	61.5%	216																	28.6	41.9	35.6	60.0	34.6	53.6	50.0	28.6	51.6	45.7	60.0	42.3	17.9	35.7	17.7	41.9	34.9	92.0				92.0		$33,811	$33,350	$461
Summerville Elementary	Public	K-8	18451 Carter St.	Tuolumne	95379	Tuolumne County	Summerville Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 928-4291	457	23	19.8	45.1%	292 (63.9%)	1 (0.2%)	75 (16.4%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (10.3%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (9.2%)	29.2	4024^th of 5857 public elementary schools	31.3%		33.1	3670^th of 5869 public elementary schools	37.5%	354																	24.1	25.6	24.7	28.1	41.7	35.2	40.0	55.6	53.9	40.9	21.9	31.4	18.5	26.7	8.9	28.2	22.2	96.6	96.6	96.6	96.6	96.6	96.6	$29,402	$27,840	$1,562

Frequently Asked Questions about Columbia Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Columbia Elementary?

Students at Columbia Elementary are 69% White, 20% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 3% American Indian, 1% African American.

How many students attend Columbia Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 464 students attended Columbia Elementary.

Is Columbia Elementary a good school?

Columbia Elementary ranks 3846^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Columbia Elementary attend?

Students who attend Columbia Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Sonora High

What district is Columbia Elementary in?

Columbia Union

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Latest California data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

2024–25 CSA Spanish test scoresDec 22, 2025

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 14, 2025

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