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Central Elementary

Q: Is Central Elementary a good school?

Central Elementary ranks 425 th of 657 Kansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 2-6

425^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 657 Kansas Elementary Schools

Better than 35% of Kansas elementary schools

Summary

Central Elementary serves 348 students in grades 2–6 in Columbus, Kansas, and is part of Columbus USD. Its academic results are mixed: math and science are above state results, while English Language Arts (ELA) is below. The clearest standout is attendance: chronic absenteeism was 5% in 2025–26, the lowest rate among the ten area schools with reported figures.

Central’s strongest academic comparisons are in math and science, while ELA is its main weakness. In 2025–26, 43% of students met the math benchmark, compared with 41% statewide and 36% in the district; Central was also 3 points above the average of nearby schools with results. In science, Central’s 40% was above the state’s 38%, the district’s 27%, and the nearby-school average of 39%. ELA was weaker: 39% met the benchmark, below the state’s 46% and the nearby-school average of 50%, though 1 point above the district. Among nearby schools with results, Central ranked second-lowest in ELA and second-highest in math. For individual grades, fourth-grade math stood out at 54%, 16 points above the nearby-school average; third-grade ELA was 35%, 25 points below its nearby comparison.

Math has improved notably over time, rising 14 points from 2022–23 to 2025–26 and moving from below to above the state. ELA gained 4 points, but the state improved faster, shifting Central from 2 points above the state to 7 points below. Chronic absenteeism fell 13 points over the same period, from 17% to 5%; the latest rate compares with 13% in the district and 18% statewide. SchoolDigger places Central at the 35th statewide percentile for 2025–26, rank 425 of 657, with 2 stars; the district is at the 18th percentile with 1 star. Its student–teacher ratio of 13 is close to the nearby average of 12.7, as is its free/reduced-lunch rate of 64% compared with 66% nearby. SchoolDigger’s statewide subgroup rankings place Special Education Students at the 52nd percentile, 17 points above Central’s overall standing, while White Students rank at the 20th percentile, 15 points below it. These rankings indicate different relative standings for those groups, not individual student outcomes.

348

Students ?

13.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,360

Per pupil spending ?

64.4%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

810 S High School Avenue
Columbus, KS 66725-0109

(620) 429-3943

District: Columbus

Students who attend Central Elementary usually attend:

High:

Columbus Junior High and High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

84.2%

Two or more races:

7.8%

Hispanic:

5.5%

See top rated Kansas elementary schools

Compare Central Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 45th percentile in 2021 → 35th in 2026

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 45th-percentile peak (2021) to 35th (2026)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school41%

District avg34%

Kansas avg42%

425^th of 657

Kansas public elementary schools ?

Bottom 35%▲ up 7 pts since 2016

From bottom 29% (2016) to bottom 35% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Kansas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

219^th of 268Columbus among Kansas 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	Kansas percentile	Rating
2026	38.8	425 of 657	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.4	430 of 656	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.0	392 of 653	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.8	391 of 660	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.0	406 of 668	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	45.9	370 of 670	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	46.2	374 of 667	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.6	417 of 656	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	37.0	439 of 659	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2016	34.1	468 of 656	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	25.9	553 of 678	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	54.6	388 of 668	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	56.7	369 of 660	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	55.8	352 of 631	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	22.7	552 of 630	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	45.5	429 of 621	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2008	43.7	429 of 614	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2007	50.8	363 of 600	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2006	40.3	408 of 585	30.3%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2021	56.9	76 of 214	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	78.3	29 of 193	85.0%	★★★★☆
2018	46.7	71 of 140	49.3%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2026	35.6	402 of 585	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	46.4	329 of 591	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	50.8	294 of 591	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	39.0	376 of 574	34.5%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2026	50.3	278 of 546	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	48.5	270 of 533	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.7	322 of 546	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.6	298 of 541	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	62.0	140 of 512	72.7%	★★★★☆
2021	60.8	158 of 494	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	60.6	162 of 509	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	49.5	267 of 512	47.9%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2026	46.2	336 of 594	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	45.4	332 of 605	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.2	357 of 586	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.1	355 of 575	38.3%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2024	44.4	23 of 41	43.9%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2026	47.1	154 of 318	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	48.2	145 of 313	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	36.1	189 of 306	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.0	224 of 296	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	37.2	197 of 305	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	56.9	76 of 214	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	78.3	29 of 193	85.0%	★★★★☆
2018	46.7	71 of 140	49.3%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2026	27.6	459 of 576	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.6	468 of 576	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.0	442 of 579	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.5	425 of 584	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.4	442 of 596	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	35.7	407 of 587	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.2	438 of 592	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.7	452 of 574	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2022	38.8	222 of 368	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	51.9	145 of 367	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	33.9	248 of 368	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	32.2	247 of 350	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	28.1	282 of 358	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	23.0	289 of 343	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	34.4	260 of 368	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	38.3	266 of 355	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	40.6	264 of 342	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	46.1	213 of 320	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2010	15.3	288 of 316	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	53.0	166 of 307	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2008	51.0	167 of 296	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	63.5	101 of 286	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2006	42.6	171 of 277	38.3%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2021	65.8	25 of 160	84.4%	★★★★☆
2019	79.0	17 of 157	89.2%	★★★★☆
2018	16.3	132 of 132	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2021	58.2	93 of 313	70.3%	★★★★☆
2019	34.1	205 of 294	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	23.9	222 of 275	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2022	54.4	92 of 270	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.9	81 of 275	70.5%	★★★★☆
2019	44.3	150 of 270	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.5	177 of 255	30.6%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2021	44.9	161 of 308	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.5	206 of 301	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.7	157 of 280	43.9%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2022	68.7	26 of 171	84.8%	★★★★☆
2021	65.8	25 of 160	84.4%	★★★★☆
2019	79.0	17 of 157	89.2%	★★★★☆
2018	16.3	132 of 132	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2022	31.1	255 of 349	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	40.4	208 of 349	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	23.3	287 of 344	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.6	264 of 333	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Disabled (2021)64th percentile+20 vs school

Special Education (2026)52nd percentile+16 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)49th percentile+14 vs school

Multi-racial (2024)44th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)43rd percentile+8 vs school

Female (2026)31st percentile-4 vs school

White (2026)20th percentile-15 vs school

Middle school

Special Education (2022)85th percentile+45 vs school

Disabled (2021)84th percentile+24 vs school

Female (2021)70th percentile+10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2022)66th percentile+26 vs school

Male (2021)48th percentile-13 vs school

White (2022)27th percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs Kansas (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics43%~ state avg

Science40%~ state avg

English Language Arts39%-7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Central Elementary

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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)				KAP English Language Arts (2026)					KAP Mathematics (2026)					KAP Science (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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	KAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	KAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	KAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	KAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	KAP English Language Arts All Grades	KAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	KAP Mathematics 4th Grade	KAP Mathematics 5th Grade	KAP Mathematics 6th Grade	KAP Mathematics All Grades	KAP Science 5th Grade	KAP Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central Elementary	Public	2-6	810 S High School Avenue	Columbus	66725	Cherokee County	Columbus	No	No	No	Yes	(620) 429-3943	348	27	13.0	64.4%	293 (84.2%)	2 (0.6%)	19 (5.5%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.4%)	1 (0.3%)	27 (7.8%)	38.8	425^th of 657 public elementary schools	35.3%		38.4	430^th of 656 public elementary schools	34.5%	5	35.1	44.9	42.9	34.3	39.1	32.4	53.6	41.1	44.8	42.9	40.3	40.3	$15,360	$3,220	$12,140
Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-1	724 E Garfield Street	Columbus	66725	Cherokee County	Columbus	No	No	No	Yes	(620) 429-3905	208	13	15.8	59.1%	159 (76.4%)	5 (2.4%)	20 (9.6%)	1 (0.5%)	9 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (6.7%)								(n/a)													$12,655	$2,838	$9,817
Riverton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7166 SE 70th	Riverton	66770	Cherokee County	Riverton	No	No	No	Yes	(620) 848-4078	313	26	12.0	61.3%	258 (82.4%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (11.8%)	37.4	447^th of 657 public elementary schools	32.0%		43.8	378^th of 656 public elementary schools	42.4%	69	61.4	39.2	48.1		49.0	43.2	23.5	25.0		29.9	38.5	38.5	$13,211	$1,931	$11,280
Southeast Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	303 S Humbert	Weir	66781	Cherokee County	Cherokee	No	No	No	Yes	(620) 396-8211	149	14	10.4	75.8%	129 (86.6%)	2 (1.3%)	8 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.3%)	1 (0.7%)	7 (4.7%)	53.1	314^th of 657 public elementary schools	52.2%		43.1	381^st of 656 public elementary schools	41.9%	67	64.3	52.4			59.2	42.8	33.3			38.8			$15,594	$1,920	$13,674
Lincoln Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	801 Lincoln Ave	Baxter Springs	66713	Cherokee County	Baxter Springs	No	No	No	Yes	(620) 856-3322	245	16	15.3	65.3%	171 (69.8%)	1 (0.4%)	14 (5.7%)	1 (0.4%)	32 (13.1%)	6 (2.4%)	20 (8.2%)								(n/a)													$16,364	$1,800	$14,563
Central Elementary	Public	3-6	1501 Park Ave	Baxter Springs	66713	Cherokee County	Baxter Springs	No	No	No	Yes	(620) 856-3311	223	19	12.0	68.2%	157 (70.4%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (7.6%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (14.3%)	5 (2.2%)	12 (5.4%)	76.5	124^th of 657 public elementary schools	81.1%		78.5	118^th of 656 public elementary schools	82.0%	6	60.0	80.3	58.1	59.3	64.8	54.9	67.7	56.4	60.0	60.0	50.0	50.0	$12,962	$1,041	$11,920
Liberty Elementary	Public	3-5	624 E. 8th Street	Galena	66739	Cherokee County	Galena	No	No	No	Yes	(620) 783-4499	167	14	12.2	64.1%	131 (78.4%)	1 (0.6%)	11 (6.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.8%)	1 (0.6%)	20 (12.0%)	38.5	427^th of 657 public elementary schools	35.0%		42.9	384^th of 656 public elementary schools	41.5%	43	51.6	51.7	51.1		51.5	32.2	36.7	38.3		35.5	23.4	23.4	$13,945	$3,815	$10,130
Spring Grove Primary Center	Public	PK, KG-2	1900 Galena Ave.	Galena	66739	Cherokee County	Galena	No	No	No	Yes	(620) 783-4499	229	14	16.6	65.1%	162 (70.7%)	1 (0.4%)	20 (8.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.3%)	2 (0.9%)	41 (17.9%)								(n/a)													$10,987	$3,001	$7,986
Oswego Neosho Heights Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	100 Oregon	Oswego	67356	Labette County	Oswego	No	No	No	Yes	(620) 795-4541	178	17	10.6	53.4%	145 (81.5%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (14.0%)	40.3	414^th of 657 public elementary schools	37.0%		32.3	474^th of 656 public elementary schools	27.7%	60	66.7	50.0	34.6		51.3	46.7	35.0	26.9		36.8	30.8	30.8	$19,303	$2,367	$16,936
Chetopa Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	430 Elm Street	Chetopa	67336	Labette County	Chetopa-St. Paul	No	No	No	Yes	(620) 236-7244	61	8	8.0	88.5%	49 (80.3%)	1 (1.6%)	3 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (9.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.3%)								(n/a)					29.4					41.2			$17,896	$4,261	$13,635

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Central Elementary?

Students at Central Elementary are 84% White, 8% Two or more races, 5% Hispanic, 1% American Indian.

How many students attend Central Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 348 students attended Central Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Central Elementary attend?

Students who attend Central Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Columbus Junior High and High School

What district is Central Elementary in?

Columbus

Is Central Elementary a good school?

Central Elementary ranks 425^th of 657 Kansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Central Elementary!

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Latest Kansas data All new data »

2025–26 attendance dataNewOct 13, 2026

2025–26 KAP test scoresNewOct 13, 2026

2023–24 school spending dataJan 8, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesDec 4, 2025

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