Columbia School District

Columbia School District is a small district serving the town of Columbia, CT, with a single school — Horace W. Porter School — a PK–8 elementary school with 440 students and a low 9.8 student-teacher ratio. Because there is only one school, district-level results mirror school-level results. The school ranks in the 55th percentile statewide for 2025–26, placing it in the top half of Connecticut schools with a 3-star rating.

Horace W. Porter School shows standout performance in several areas. In 2025–26, 3rd grade math proficiency reached 71.7%, roughly 19.5 points above the state average. 7th grade math hit 60.4% (+16.3 points), and 5th grade science reached 69.0% (+16.1 points) — the school's largest positive gap. Overall, the school outpaced the state in both ELA (55.8% vs. 51.0%) and math (52.0% vs. 45.7%). Science achievement is a clear bright spot. Chronic absenteeism is just 7.5%, less than half the state rate of 16.4%, and only 22.05% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Per-student spending is a high $21,347.

However, performance is uneven across grades. 4th grade ELA has been a recurring weak spot: 41.0% in 2024–25 (10.4 points below the state) and 46.2% in 2025–26 (still below the state). Upper-grade math also slips — 5th grade math was 41.9% and 8th grade was 40.7%, both slightly trailing the state. Ranking momentum is positive, however: the school rose from the 48th percentile in 2024–25 to the 55th percentile in 2025–26. With strong resources, excellent attendance, and small classes, the school has solid foundations. Targeted support for 4th grade ELA and middle-grade math could help turn these advantages into more consistent excellence across all grades.