Columbia

Summary:

The Columbia school district in Florida serves a diverse community, with 17 schools including 10 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 4 high schools, and 1 alternative school. While the district's overall graduation rate is on par with the state average, there are significant performance gaps between the top-performing and struggling schools.

Some standout schools in the district include Westside Elementary School, which ranks among the top 20% of elementary schools in Florida, and Belmont Academy, a public charter school with exceptional performance on end-of-course exams. In contrast, schools like Summers Elementary and Melrose Park Elementary struggle, with proficiency rates well below the district and state averages.

The district also faces challenges with a consistently high chronic absenteeism rate across all schools, which likely contributes to the performance gaps. Additionally, the wide range in the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, from 37% at Belmont Academy to 93% at Niblack Elementary, suggests that the district serves communities with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, which may impact student outcomes. Overall, the data highlights both areas of strength and opportunities for improvement within the Columbia school district.

District Detail

372 W Duval St
Lake City, FL 32055-3990

(386) 755-8000

SchoolDigger Rank:
34^th of 67 Florida districts

See the 2025 Florida District rankings!

Grades served: PK, KG-12
Students: 9,508

Primary Schools: 8
Middle Schools: 2
High Schools: 5
Alternative Schools: 2

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				FAST English Language Arts (2025)								FAST Math (2025)						Statewide Science Science (2025)		EOC Algebra 1 (2025)	EOC Geometry (2025)	EOC Biology 1 (2025)	EOC US History (2025)	EOC Civics (2025)	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	FAST English Language Arts 3rd Grade	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 9th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 10th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC US History End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Columbia High School	Public	9-12	469 SE Fighting Tiger Dr	Lake City	32025	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	No	No	(386) 755-8080	1,711	74	22.9	44.8%	918 (53.7%)	516 (30.2%)	134 (7.8%)	34 (2.0%)	4 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	105 (6.1%)	38.5	479^th of 844 public high schools	43.2%		38.1	438^th of 807 public high schools	45.7%	41							52.0	49.0									26.0	48.0	62.0	63.0		$8,413	$726	$7,687
Richardson Sixth Grade Academy	Public	6	646 SE Pennsylvania St	Lake City	32025	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 755-8130	455	27	16.8	55.2%	216 (47.5%)	148 (32.5%)	43 (9.5%)	9 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (8.6%)								(n/a)				57.0								56.0										$10,049	$1,036	$9,014
Melrose Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	820 SE Putnam St	Lake City	32025	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 755-8260	635	39	16.2	82.2%	122 (19.2%)	388 (61.1%)	68 (10.7%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (8.5%)	30.3	1634^th of 2258 public elementary schools	27.6%		24	1797^th of 2256 public elementary schools	20.3%	163	33.0	48.0	39.0						54.0	56.0	59.0				37.0							$10,889	$1,294	$9,595
Eastside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	256 SE Beech St	Lake City	32025	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 755-8220	655	35	18.7	58.3%	389 (59.4%)	144 (22.0%)	62 (9.5%)	5 (0.8%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (7.9%)	58.5	915^th of 2258 public elementary schools	59.5%		73.5	562^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	75.1%	353	60.0	54.0	48.0						66.0	72.0	64.0				60.0							$9,238	$1,052	$8,187
Five Points Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	303 NW Johnson St	Lake City	32055	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 755-8230	349	22	15.8	75.6%	194 (55.6%)	82 (23.5%)	28 (8.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (12.6%)	19.8	1911^th of 2258 public elementary schools	15.4%		24.9	1771^st of 2256 public elementary schools	21.5%	140	42.0	30.0	39.0						47.0	38.0	54.0				38.0							$12,190	$1,341	$10,849
Fort White Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	18119 SW State Road 47	Fort White	32038	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 344-6301	644	37	17.4	63.0%	429 (66.6%)	55 (8.5%)	117 (18.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	40 (6.2%)	33.8	1528^th of 2258 public elementary schools	32.3%		37.9	1403^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	37.8%	125	58.0	44.0	41.0						69.0	53.0	41.0				31.0							$9,796	$1,194	$8,602
Summers Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1388 SW McFarlane Ave	Lake City	32025	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 755-8250	492	31	15.8	72.0%	182 (37.0%)	200 (40.7%)	58 (11.8%)	5 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	46 (9.3%)	30.4	1628^th of 2258 public elementary schools	27.9%		31.2	1588^th of 2256 public elementary schools	29.6%	40	46.0	37.0	40.0						74.0	50.0	44.0				32.0							$10,811	$1,346	$9,466
Pathways Academy	Public	6-12	1301 NW Labonte Ln	Lake City	32055	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	No	No	(386) 755-8296	94	6	15.6	77.7%	45 (47.9%)	35 (37.2%)	5 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.1%)	8 (8.5%)	2.5	790^th of 844 public high schools	6.4%		1.8	799^th of 807 public high schools	1.0%	9				23.0		6.0	0.0	8.0				25.0		13.0		6.0	12.0					$20,983	$1,351	$19,633
Columbia City Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7438 SW State Road 47	Lake City	32024	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 758-4850	585	36	16.2	53.0%	435 (74.4%)	37 (6.3%)	71 (12.1%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (6.7%)	42.7	1283^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	43.2%		76.5	492^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	78.2%	791	54.0	50.0	49.0						64.0	65.0	46.0				41.0							$10,929	$1,291	$9,637
Lake City Middle School	Public	7-8	843 SW Arlington Blvd	Lake City	32025	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 758-4800	809	43	18.6	52.3%	425 (52.5%)	233 (28.8%)	87 (10.8%)	7 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (6.9%)	52.3	562^nd of 1205 public middle schools	53.4%		49.3	606^th of 1196 public middle schools	49.3%	44					55.0	47.0							61.0	41.0		54.0	77.0				65.0	$9,858	$1,132	$8,725
Fort White High School	Public	6-12	17828 SW State Road 47	Fort White	32038	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	No	No	(386) 319-7272	1,101	65	16.9	46.3%	792 (71.9%)	95 (8.6%)	126 (11.4%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	85 (7.7%)	44.8	398^th of 844 public high schools	52.8%		42.3	397^th of 807 public high schools	50.8%	1				55.0	50.0	52.0	56.0	53.0				50.0	64.0	24.0		68.0	54.0	37.0	68.0	66.0	75.0	$11,082	$949	$10,133
Westside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1956 SW County Road 252b	Lake City	32024	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 755-8280	695	40	17.3	43.9%	448 (64.5%)	98 (14.1%)	55 (7.9%)	22 (3.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	70 (10.1%)	78.5	442^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	80.4%		81.4	369^th of 2256 public elementary schools	83.6%	73	68.0	65.0	75.0						71.0	73.0	77.0				72.0							$9,752	$1,148	$8,603
Pinemount Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	324 SW Gabriel Pl	Lake City	32024	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 755-8172	448	30	14.9	59.4%	304 (67.9%)	62 (13.8%)	47 (10.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (7.6%)	63.7	784^th of 2258 public elementary schools	65.3%		75.8	509^th of 2256 public elementary schools	77.4%	275	65.0	57.0	47.0						76.0	78.0	63.0				55.0							$11,172	$1,324	$9,848
Columbia Virtual Instruction Program	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	372 W Duval St	Lake City	32055	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	Yes	No	(386) 755-8020	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Columbia Virtual Franchise	Public, Virtual	6-12	372 W Duval St	Lake City	32055	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	Yes	No	(352) 758-4935	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Prek Ese	Public	PK	444 W Duval St	Lake City	32055	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	No	No	(386) 755-8049	7	0			3 (42.9%)	3 (42.9%)	1 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Columbia Virtual Instruction Program (District Provided)	Public, Virtual	9-12	372 W Duval St	Lake City	32055	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	Yes	No	(386) 755-8053	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Belmont Academy	Public, Charter, Alternative	PK, KG-12	1476 SW Walter Ave	Lake City	32024	Columbia County	Columbia	Yes	No	No	No	(386) 487-0487	828	40	20.7	38.5%	634 (76.6%)	26 (3.1%)	98 (11.8%)	19 (2.3%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (5.9%)								(n/a)	90.0	72.0	78.0	87.0	79.0	77.0	83.0	81.0	86.0	83.0	97.0	93.0	86.0		81.0		68.0	62.0	82.0	91.0	84.0	$8,751	$339	$8,412

Districts nearby

District	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Union	19.48 mi	8	10^th
Suwannee	21.18 mi	14	46^th
Alachua	21.86 mi	67	45^th
Bradford	25.61 mi	12	39^th
Hamilton	28.98 mi	8

See the top FL Florida districts

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