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Test scores delayed: 2026 rankings for Georgia do not yet include English Language Arts scores, which will not be released by the Georgia Department of Education until winter 2026.

North Columbia Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

51^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,222 Georgia Elementary Schools

Better than 96% of Georgia elementary schools

Summary

North Columbia Elementary School in Appling, GA, serves 460 students in grades PK-5 and has earned a 5-star rating, ranking in the 96th percentile of Georgia elementary schools for the 2025-2026 school year.

This school stands out for its consistently strong academics and exceptional student attendance. In math and science, proficiency rates are dramatically higher than both the Columbia County district and state averages. For example, 84.3% of 3rd graders and 84.2% of 4th graders are proficient in math, compared to district averages of 66.4% and 70.8%. Fifth-grade science proficiency is 79.4%, far outpacing the state average of 44.2%. The school also boasts a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of 7.8%—nearly half the district rate (12.9%) and less than half the state rate (17.7%). This strong attendance has been a consistent trend over the past five years, suggesting a highly engaged student body and strong family-school connections. The school's success extends across all student groups, with high rankings for female, male, White, and Special Education students alike.

Compared to nearby schools, North Columbia is a standout even within a high-achieving district. Its 3rd-grade math proficiency is on par with Parkway Elementary School (85.3%) and higher than Lewiston Elementary School (80%). The contrast is even sharper with North Harlem Elementary School, just 11.5 miles away, where 3rd-grade math proficiency is only 48%. North Columbia has maintained its top-10% statewide ranking for seven consecutive years, a stability that sets it apart from schools like Cedar Ridge Elementary School or Euchee Creek Elementary School, which have seen more variability. The school also invests heavily in its students, with per-student spending of $15,588 in 2024-2025—higher than peers like Parkway ($11,641) and Greenbrier Elementary School ($12,998)—and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.6:1.

460

Students ?

13.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,588

Per pupil spending ?

30.0%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

2890 Ray Owens Rd
Appling, GA 30802

(706) 541-1158

District: Columbia County

Students who attend North Columbia Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Harlem Middle School
High:	Harlem High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.4%

African American:

6.1%

Hispanic:

5.7%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 81st percentile in 2016 → 96th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Georgia average (79% vs 47% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 4% of Georgia elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 15 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school79%

District avg66%

Georgia avg47%

51^st of 1,222

Georgia public elementary schools ?

Top 4%▲ up 15 pts since 2016

From top 19% (2016) to top 4% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Georgia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 17Elementary Schools in the Columbia County

17^th of 202Columbia County among Georgia districts

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

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	96.1	51 of 1222	95.8%	★★★★★
2025	94.1	82 of 1238	93.4%	★★★★★
2024	96.5	46 of 1236	96.3%	★★★★★
2023	95.5	66 of 1223	94.6%	★★★★★
2022	95.9	63 of 1220	94.8%	★★★★★
2021	93.9	79 of 1214	93.5%	★★★★★
2019	91.9	97 of 1234	92.1%	★★★★★
2018	89.9	111 of 1209	90.8%	★★★★★
2017	73.7	273 of 1205	77.3%	★★★★☆
2016	78.0	231 of 1233	81.3%	★★★★☆
2015	81.1	197 of 1240	84.1%	★★★★☆
2014	79.0	202 of 1231	83.6%	★★★★☆
2013	83.1	120 of 1225	90.2%	★★★★★
2012	75.1	279 of 1201	76.8%	★★★★☆
2011	81.4	179 of 1212	85.2%	★★★★☆
2010	87.3	67 of 1183	94.3%	★★★★★
2009	83.6	126 of 1133	88.9%	★★★★☆
2008	84.2	114 of 1134	89.9%	★★★★★
2007	90.0	31 of 1125	97.2%	★★★★★
2006	82.7	124 of 1101	88.7%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	95.6	53 of 1189	95.5%	★★★★★
2025	92.7	88 of 1224	92.8%	★★★★★
2024	95.6	47 of 1223	96.2%	★★★★★
2023	93.8	82 of 1212	93.2%	★★★★★
2022	95.3	62 of 1206	94.9%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	94.8	59 of 1186	95.0%	★★★★★
2025	93.5	85 of 1225	93.1%	★★★★★
2024	96.2	45 of 1220	96.3%	★★★★★
2023	95.9	47 of 1210	96.1%	★★★★★
2022	94.6	69 of 1209	94.3%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	85.7	52 of 466	88.8%	★★★★☆
2025	89.7	32 of 565	94.3%	★★★★★
2023	97.4	11 of 455	97.6%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	86.8	79 of 703	88.8%	★★★★☆
2025	81.3	130 of 769	83.1%	★★★★☆
2024	88.5	60 of 772	92.2%	★★★★★
2023	85.4	100 of 775	87.1%	★★★★☆
2022	85.8	96 of 779	87.7%	★★★★☆

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)

Female (2026)96th percentile~ school

Male (2026)95th percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)89th percentile-7 vs school

White (2026)89th percentile-7 vs school

By subject vs Georgia (2025-2026) ?

Science79%+35 vs state

Mathematics79%+32 vs state

★

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Schools Near North Columbia Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Milestones Assessment Algebra I (2026)	Milestones Assessment Mathematics (2026)						Milestones Assessment Science (2026)		Milestones Assessment Social Studies (2026)	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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Milestones Assessment Algebra I End of Course	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 3rd Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 4th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 5th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Science 5th Grade	Milestones Assessment Science 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
North Columbia Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2890 Ray Owens Rd	Appling	30802	Columbia County	Columbia County	No	No	No	No	(706) 541-1158	460	34	13.6	30.0%	379 (82.4%)	28 (6.1%)	26 (5.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.4%)	96.1	51^st of 1222 public elementary schools	95.8%		94.1	82^nd of 1238 public elementary schools	93.4%	31		84.3	84.2	70.2				79.4			$15,588	$138	$15,449
Parkway Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2660 William Few Parkway	Evans	30809	Columbia County	Columbia County	No	No	No	No	(706) 868-2346	795	51	15.4	19.6%	468 (58.9%)	103 (13.0%)	114 (14.3%)	56 (7.0%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	51 (6.4%)	97.2	35^th of 1222 public elementary schools	97.1%		97	37^th of 1238 public elementary schools	97.0%	2		85.3	82.5	78.9				80.2			$11,641	$427	$11,214
Greenbrier Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5116 Riverwood Pkwy	Evans	30809	Columbia County	Columbia County	No	No	No	No	(706) 650-6060	610	41	14.9	18.5%	454 (74.4%)	56 (9.2%)	37 (6.1%)	14 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	48 (7.9%)	90.7	122^nd of 1222 public elementary schools	90.0%		96.6	51^st of 1238 public elementary schools	95.9%	71		79.8	84.8	70.8				56.3			$12,998	$147	$12,851
Baker Place Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2011 Hero Way	Grovetown	30813	Columbia County	Columbia County	No	No	No	No	(706) 447-2115	958	63	15.3	40.2%	370 (38.6%)	344 (35.9%)	132 (13.8%)	10 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	100 (10.4%)	86.1	165^th of 1222 public elementary schools	86.5%		91.2	115^th of 1238 public elementary schools	90.7%	50		71.6	70.0	59.8				60.5			$12,091	$460	$11,631
Euchee Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	795 Louisville Rd	Grovetown	30813	Columbia County	Columbia County	No	No	No	Yes	(706) 556-4000	705	48	14.6	45.0%	334 (47.4%)	209 (29.6%)	101 (14.3%)	9 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	51 (7.2%)	71.3	311^th of 1222 public elementary schools	74.5%		75.6	268^th of 1238 public elementary schools	78.4%	43		54.5	55.6	53.4				58.3			$12,920	$343	$12,577
Lewiston Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5426 Hereford Farm Rd	Evans	30809	Columbia County	Columbia County	No	No	No	No	(706) 650-6064	614	43	14.4	30.9%	342 (55.7%)	131 (21.3%)	54 (8.8%)	21 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	65 (10.6%)	94.6	80^th of 1222 public elementary schools	93.5%		94.5	76^th of 1238 public elementary schools	93.9%	4		80.0	78.9	75.6				69.4			$13,768	$524	$13,244
SAIL Charter Academy - School for Arts-Infused Learning	Public, Charter	K-8	4575 Blanchard Woods Dr	Evans	30809	Columbia County	State Specialty Schools II- SAIL Charter Academy - School fo	Yes	No	No	Yes	(762) 585-1400	554	43	13.0	—	289 (52.2%)	103 (18.6%)	89 (16.1%)	10 (1.8%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	60 (10.8%)	63.3	396^th of 1222 public elementary schools	67.6%		59.8	434^th of 1238 public elementary schools	64.9%	38	81.3	39.7	50.0	52.3	62.8	45.2	55.6	52.3	44.4	19.5	$12,496	$321	$12,175
Evans Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	618 Gibbs Rd	Evans	30809	Columbia County	Columbia County	No	No	No	No	(706) 863-1202	730	49	15.0	39.0%	368 (50.4%)	157 (21.5%)	82 (11.2%)	40 (5.5%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	79 (10.8%)	88.2	149^th of 1222 public elementary schools	87.8%		87.6	154^th of 1238 public elementary schools	87.6%	5		76.6	63.2	76.7				62.6			$12,288	$138	$12,150
Cedar Ridge Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1000 Trudeau Trl	Grovetown	30813	Columbia County	Columbia County	No	No	No	Yes	(706) 447-2100	1,060	69	15.4	49.9%	372 (35.1%)	349 (32.9%)	202 (19.1%)	17 (1.6%)	3 (0.3%)	5 (0.5%)	112 (10.6%)	67	357^th of 1222 public elementary schools	70.8%		80.4	231^st of 1238 public elementary schools	81.3%	126		56.2	67.1	42.7				48.1			$11,723	$376	$11,347
Riverside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4431 Hardy McManus Rd	Evans	30809	Columbia County	Columbia County	No	No	No	No	(706) 868-3736	640	45	14.2	24.7%	402 (62.8%)	80 (12.5%)	70 (10.9%)	24 (3.8%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	60 (9.4%)	91.9	110^th of 1222 public elementary schools	91.0%		93.6	89^th of 1238 public elementary schools	92.8%	21		58.1	83.9	82.1				79.2			$13,601	$609	$12,992

Frequently Asked Questions about North Columbia Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of North Columbia Elementary School?

Students at North Columbia Elementary School are 82% White, 6% African American, 6% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races.

What district is North Columbia Elementary School in?

Columbia County

What schools do graduates of North Columbia Elementary School attend?

Students who attend North Columbia Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Harlem Middle School
High : Harlem High School

How many students attend North Columbia Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 460 students attended North Columbia Elementary School.

Is North Columbia Elementary School a good school?

Yes! North Columbia Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 51^st of 1222 Georgia elementary schools.

Rate North Columbia Elementary School!

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Latest Georgia data All new data »

2025–26 attendance dataAug 6, 2026

2025–26 Milestones Assessment scoresAug 6, 2026

2021–22 through 2024–25 Milestones Assessment scores (updated)Aug 6, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesFeb 19, 2026

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