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Columbia High School

Q: Is Columbia High School a good school?

Columbia High School ranks 88 th of 620 Illinois high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

88^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 620 Illinois High Schools

Better than 86% of Illinois high schools

Summary

Columbia High School serves grades 9–12 and enrolls 606 students in Columbia, Illinois. Its 2025–2026 SchoolDigger ranking was 88th of 620 schools, at the 86th percentile. The most important finding for families is that Columbia’s proficiency was above the state average in all nine reported grade-and-subject comparisons.

Columbia is the strongest or a close second among nearby schools across those results: it led in five comparisons and placed second in four, with Waterloo High School the closest competitor each time. Columbia’s average advantage over the state was greatest in mathematics, at 16 percentage points, and smallest in science, at 10 points—though it remained above the state in every subject and grade shown. Waterloo outscored Columbia in grade 9 science, 61% to 58%, while Columbia led in grade 9 ELA, 79% to 71%. The supplied scores for Columbia CUSD 4 match the high school’s in each comparison. Columbia’s 2025–2026 graduation rate was 95%, compared with 90% statewide, and chronic absenteeism was 10%, versus 24% statewide.

Recent results are mixed: grade 11 ACT ELA and mathematics fell by 5 and 7 percentage points from the previous year, while grade 9 PreACT Secure ELA and mathematics rose by 11 and 20 points. SchoolDigger has rated Columbia 4 stars in 2025–2026; its overall percentile eased from 90 in 2023–2024 to 86 in each of the next two years, still ahead of nearby Waterloo’s 83rd percentile. In 2024–2025, Columbia had a 16.1 student-teacher ratio and 15% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible. SchoolDigger’s measure for how well Columbia serves special education students fluctuated notably: the group’s percentile was 90 in 2021–2022, 21 in 2022–2023 and 57 in 2024–2025, compared with the school’s overall 86th percentile that latest year. Year-to-year test comparisons are limited because test types and grade groupings change.

606

Students ?

16.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,263

Per pupil spending ?

15.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

97.6%

Measles protection (all grades) (2025-26)

77 Veterans Pkwy
Columbia, IL 62236-1147

(618) 281-5001

District: Columbia CUSD 4

Feeder schools for Columbia High School:

Elementary:	Eagleview Elementary School
	Parkview Elementary School
Middle:	Columbia Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

92.6%

Hispanic:

4.0%

Two or more races:

1.8%

See top rated Illinois high schools

Compare Columbia High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 78th percentile in 2018 → 86th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Illinois average (61% vs 47% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 14% of Illinois high schools

✓94% graduate in 4 years — above the Illinois average (90%)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school61%

District avg61%

Illinois avg47%

88^th of 620

Illinois public high schools ?

Top 14%▼ down 10 pts since 2016

From top 4% (2016) to top 14% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

61^st of 738Columbia CUSD 4 among Illinois 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	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	80.8	88 of 620	85.8%	★★★★☆
2025	81.9	100 of 698	85.7%	★★★★☆
2024	89.7	71 of 697	89.8%	★★★★☆
2023	77.4	130 of 699	81.4%	★★★★☆
2022	86.9	72 of 699	89.7%	★★★★☆
2021	89.2	70 of 688	89.8%	★★★★☆
2019	86.8	79 of 701	88.7%	★★★★☆
2018	73.2	144 of 647	77.7%	★★★★☆
2017	84.1	84 of 642	86.9%	★★★★☆
2016	86.5	25 of 643	96.1%	★★★★★
2015	69.2	147 of 614	76.1%	★★★★☆
2014	81.5	121 of 670	81.9%	★★★★☆
2013	75.7	156 of 670	76.7%	★★★★☆
2012	76.4	146 of 665	78.0%	★★★★☆
2011	75.4	158 of 655	75.9%	★★★★☆
2010	85.6	68 of 643	89.4%	★★★★☆
2009	77.8	131 of 632	79.3%	★★★★☆
2008	81.6	94 of 624	84.9%	★★★★☆
2007	75.0	145 of 612	76.3%	★★★★☆
2006	78.8	107 of 596	82.0%	★★★★☆
2005	86.0	50 of 590	91.5%	★★★★★
2004	76.7	110 of 592	81.4%	★★★★☆
2003	75.4	129 of 586	78.0%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	60.6	107 of 491	78.2%	★★★★☆
2023	47.3	172 of 428	59.8%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	73.9	123 of 545	77.4%	★★★★☆
2025	80.9	101 of 685	85.3%	★★★★☆
2024	85.3	85 of 664	87.2%	★★★★☆
2023	81.6	99 of 656	84.9%	★★★★☆
2022	85.9	71 of 658	89.2%	★★★★☆
2021	89.4	65 of 639	89.8%	★★★★☆
2019	79.4	112 of 665	83.2%	★★★★☆
2018	72.3	153 of 620	75.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	79.4	70 of 478	85.4%	★★★★☆
2025	65.2	175 of 672	74.0%	★★★★☆
2024	91.2	41 of 639	93.6%	★★★★★
2023	73.4	110 of 644	82.9%	★★★★☆
2022	83.3	53 of 626	91.5%	★★★★★
2021	83.5	67 of 611	89.0%	★★★★☆
2019	70.4	121 of 639	81.1%	★★★★☆
2018	56.1	226 of 585	61.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	78.4	84 of 521	83.9%	★★★★☆
2025	79.8	106 of 685	84.5%	★★★★☆
2024	90.6	65 of 668	90.3%	★★★★★
2023	69.3	161 of 668	75.9%	★★★★☆
2022	84.7	78 of 664	88.3%	★★★★☆
2021	85.5	79 of 653	87.9%	★★★★☆
2019	89.8	62 of 675	90.8%	★★★★★
2018	70.6	148 of 619	76.1%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	40.9	229 of 527	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	21.1	375 of 476	21.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	74.1	49 of 493	90.1%	★★★★★
2021	29.3	270 of 453	40.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.6	306 of 473	35.3%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	68.6	124 of 515	75.9%	★★★★☆
2025	70.5	140 of 564	75.2%	★★★★☆
2024	78.7	105 of 554	81.0%	★★★★☆
2023	60.9	188 of 557	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	76.9	101 of 560	82.0%	★★★★☆
2021	78.9	99 of 553	82.1%	★★★★☆
2019	77.1	105 of 552	81.0%	★★★★☆
2018	62.1	172 of 548	68.6%	★★★☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)85th percentile~ school

Male (2026)84th percentile~ school

Disabled (2025)78th percentile-7 vs school

Female (2026)77th percentile-8 vs school

White (2026)76th percentile-10 vs school

Special Education (2025)57th percentile-29 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts62%+12 vs state

Mathematics58%+18 vs state

Science58%+10 vs state

★

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Schools Near Columbia High 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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				PreACT Secure English Language Arts (2026)		PreACT Secure Mathematics (2026)		PreACT Secure Science (2026)		ACT English Language Arts (2026)	ACT Mathematics (2026)	ACT Science (2026)	Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2026)
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	PreACT Secure English Language Arts 9th Grade	PreACT Secure English Language Arts 10th Grade	PreACT Secure Mathematics 9th Grade	PreACT Secure Mathematics 10th Grade	PreACT Secure Science 9th Grade	PreACT Secure Science 10th Grade	ACT English Language Arts 11th Grade	ACT Mathematics 11th Grade	ACT Science 11th Grade	Vaccination: Measles protection (all grades)	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Columbia High School	Public	9-12	77 Veterans Pkwy	Columbia	62236	Monroe County	Columbia CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(618) 281-5001	606	38	16.1	15.2%	561 (92.6%)	5 (0.8%)	24 (4.0%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (1.8%)	80.8	88^th of 620 public high schools	85.8%		81.9	100^th of 698 public high schools	85.7%	12	79.1	65.7	60.4	47.6	57.6	56.6	61.8	58.0	58.0	97.6%		$14,263	$437	$13,826
Dupo High School	Public	9-12	600 Louisa Ave	Dupo	62239	St. Clair County	Community Unit School District No 196	No	(n/a)	No	No	(618) 286-3214	259	24	10.8	67.2%	212 (81.9%)	9 (3.5%)	14 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (9.3%)	29.1	456^th of 620 public high schools	26.5%		29.6	509^th of 698 public high schools	27.1%	53	62.1	37.3	37.9	19.6	35.1	23.5	35.0	30.0	30.0	99.6%		$21,369	$282	$21,086
ACDC Penniman	Public	6-12	300 Annunciation Ct	Cahokia	62206	St. Clair County	Cahokia CUSD 187	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(618) 332-5101	0	4	.0	—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Cahokia High School	Public	9-12	800 Range Ln	Cahokia	62206	St. Clair County	Cahokia CUSD 187	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(618) 332-3730	850	46	18.5	75.9%	24 (2.8%)	758 (89.2%)	25 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (5.1%)	3	612^th of 620 public high schools	1.3%		6.6	660^th of 698 public high schools	5.4%	48	25.7	16.9			15.6	11.5	8.9		14.3	92%		$26,723	$3,644	$23,079
Waterloo High School	Public	9-12	505 E Bulldog	Waterloo	62298	Monroe County	Waterloo CUSD 5	No	(n/a)	No	No	(618) 939-3455	876	51	17.1	20.0%	813 (92.8%)	2 (0.2%)	24 (2.7%)	2 (0.2%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (3.5%)	77.3	107^th of 620 public high schools	82.7%		80.8	106^th of 698 public high schools	84.8%	1	70.6	59.3	61.9	47.2	61.3	59.6	58.6	49.3	57.7	99.1%		$13,026	$496	$12,530
Valmeyer High School	Public	9-12	300 S Cedar Bluff Dr	Valmeyer	62295	Monroe County	Valmeyer CUSD 3	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(618) 935-2100	106	11	9.6	20.8%	101 (95.3%)	2 (1.9%)	3 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33.9	429^th of 620 public high schools	30.8%		46.5	378^th of 698 public high schools	45.8%	51	48.4	48.3				34.5				100%		$18,703	$526	$18,177
Center for Academic and Vocational Excellence - CAVE	Public	9-12	7645 Magna Dr	Belleville	62223	St. Clair County	Belleville Township HSD 201	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(618) 222-7852	0	14	.0	—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Belleville High School-West	Public	9-12	4063 Frank Scott Pkwy W	Belleville	62223	St. Clair County	Belleville Township HSD 201	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(618) 222-7610	2,118	134	15.7	59.9%	918 (43.3%)	960 (45.3%)	122 (5.8%)	9 (0.4%)	13 (0.6%)	6 (0.3%)	89 (4.2%)	30.9	450^th of 620 public high schools	27.4%		43.5	407^th of 698 public high schools	41.7%	43	54.5	43.9	35.0	25.5	36.2	36.1	33.7	26.3	32.5	99.5%		$22,538	$795	$21,743
Bridges Networking Connections - Intermediate	Public	12	5950 Town Hall Rd	Belleville	62223	St. Clair County	Belleville Township HSD 201	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(618) 222-8273	0			—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Bridges Networking Connections	Public	12	5950 Town Hall Rd	Belleville	62223	St. Clair County	Belleville Township HSD 201	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(618) 222-8273	0			—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Columbia High School

What district is Columbia High School in?

Columbia CUSD 4

What is the racial makeup of Columbia High School?

Students at Columbia High School are 93% White, 4% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

Is Columbia High School a good school?

Columbia High School ranks 88^th of 620 Illinois high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Columbia High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 606 students attended Columbia High School.

What schools feed into Columbia High School?

Columbia High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Eagleview Elementary School
Elementary : Parkview Elementary School
Middle : Columbia Middle School

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Schools in Columbia, IL

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Latest Illinois data All new data »

2025–26 school spending dataNewOct 30, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 30, 2026

2025–26 ACT, IAR, ISA & PreACT Secure test scoresNewOct 30, 2026

2013–14 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board 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.