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Columbia Academy

Public Grades 6-8

492^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 546 Minnesota Middle Schools

Better than 10% of Minnesota middle schools

Summary

Columbia Academy is the main middle school for grades 6–8 in the Columbia Heights Public School District, serving 719 students at 900 49th Ave NE in Columbia Heights, MN, a Twin Cities suburb. It is the largest school in its district, but it sits in the bottom decile of Minnesota middle schools: 492nd of 546 in 2025–2026 (10th percentile, 1 star), while the district ranks 427th of 458. This is not a one-year dip; the school has landed between the 9th and 12th percentile every year since 2020–2021.

Test scores trail state levels in every subject. In 2025–2026, 11.6% of students met standards in math (state: 44.9%), 22.0% in reading (state: 48.6%), and just 3.1% in science (state: 25.5%). Math looks nearly identical in 6th, 7th and 8th grade, which suggests a school-wide pattern rather than one struggling class. Reading has been essentially flat for four years and is the relative strength, with 8th grade (27.3%) the best single result. Science is the clearest concern: proficiency has fallen from roughly 9.5% two years ago to 3.1%.

Comparisons with neighbors are revealing. Columbia Academy's closest academic match is its closest neighbor, Prodeo Columbia Heights Middle, about a mile away — the two are within a few points in every subject, though Columbia Academy is higher in science (3.1% versus 1.5%). Olson Middle and Brooklyn Center Middle School also rank near the bottom, while St. Anthony Middle and Highview Middle School lead the area. Poverty is a real headwind here: 78.7% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. But class size alone does not explain results — Olson Middle has the smallest classes in the group (7.9 students per teacher versus 17.2 here) and the lowest scores. Within the school, students in special education and English learners rank above the school's overall percentile, while low-income students remain near the bottom.

719

Students ?

17.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,741

Per pupil spending ?

78.7%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

900 49th Ave NE
Columbia Heights, MN 55421-1710

(763) 528-4701

District: Columbia Heights Public School District

Students who attend Columbia Academy usually attend:

High:

Columbia Heights Senior High

Feeder schools for Columbia Academy:

Elementary:	Highland Elementary
	North Park School for Innovation
	Valley View Elementary

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

54.9%

African American:

24.6%

White:

11.5%

See top rated Minnesota middle schools

Compare Columbia Academy to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 15th percentile in 2016 → 10th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Minnesota average (15% vs 43% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (10th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 5 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school15%

District avg16%

Minnesota avg43%

492^nd of 546

Minnesota public middle schools ?

Bottom 10%▼ down 5 pts since 2016

From bottom 15% (2016) to bottom 10% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

427^th of 458Columbia Heights Public School District among Minnesota 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	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	11.6	492 of 546	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	11.6	474 of 519	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.1	493 of 545	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.7	482 of 529	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.1	459 of 520	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	10.8	474 of 521	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	17.9	452 of 533	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.5	433 of 518	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	20.0	438 of 523	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	17.1	434 of 508	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	21.2	426 of 516	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	17.0	426 of 490	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	16.7	422 of 488	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	17.4	410 of 469	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	14.2	425 of 478	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	18.2	398 of 454	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	16.0	209 of 230	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	26.1	352 of 409	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	22.8	353 of 403	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	28.3	338 of 406	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	25.1	336 of 396	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	24.1	326 of 387	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	28.1	136 of 185	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	31.5	121 of 169	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.9	122 of 179	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.1	133 of 164	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	28.2	120 of 162	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.0	105 of 141	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	38.9	85 of 148	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.4	82 of 137	40.1%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2019	29.2	82 of 112	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	29.2	144 of 170	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	28.1	131 of 153	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.4	115 of 158	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.1	101 of 133	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.2	88 of 130	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.9	71 of 102	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.4	58 of 120	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	42.0	50 of 109	54.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	11.1	422 of 467	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	9.3	417 of 450	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	9.7	441 of 474	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.0	419 of 455	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.8	418 of 467	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	10.0	413 of 443	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	18.6	383 of 439	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.5	390 of 436	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	12.9	187 of 195	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	15.0	163 of 175	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	16.9	172 of 186	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	17.3	164 of 178	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	20.4	170 of 188	9.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.0	149 of 156	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	30.3	127 of 171	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	40.9	92 of 163	43.6%	★★☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2024	18.6	29 of 30	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	39.2	15 of 20	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	64.8	4 of 19	78.9%	★★★★☆
2018	65.2	9 of 25	64.0%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	14.9	415 of 458	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	15.0	393 of 432	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	17.3	425 of 473	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.1	417 of 459	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	24.2	333 of 404	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	21.2	348 of 399	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.2	328 of 415	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.2	314 of 401	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	10.4	449 of 483	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	11.3	417 of 452	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.9	436 of 479	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	9.9	430 of 464	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	14.3	423 of 476	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	12.2	396 of 437	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	14.3	400 of 454	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.2	375 of 438	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	39.3	83 of 124	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	24.2	99 of 113	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	6.0	105 of 107	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	18.7	117 of 131	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	13.0	113 of 120	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	15.8	103 of 114	9.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	32.0	213 of 296	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.9	207 of 265	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.6	231 of 307	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	43.1	169 of 298	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.0	208 of 288	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.5	241 of 260	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	37.6	182 of 282	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	21.2	221 of 253	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	47.8	223 of 435	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	49.4	200 of 415	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.3	198 of 440	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	41.1	265 of 436	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.5	268 of 438	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	23.0	355 of 422	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	45.4	241 of 428	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	46.1	243 of 428	43.2%	★★☆☆☆

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)

White (2026)49th percentile+39 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)33rd percentile+23 vs school

Special Education (2026)28th percentile+18 vs school

Asian (2019)27th percentile+12 vs school

African American (2026)26th percentile+17 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)15th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2026)10th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)9th percentile~ school

Male (2026)7th percentile-3 vs school

Hispanic (2026)4th percentile-6 vs school

Homeless (2024)3rd percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Reading22%-27 vs state

Math12%-33 vs state

Science3%-22 vs state

2.5

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

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What people are saying

by a teacher
Friday, March 24, 2017

I substitute taught here twice. Both times, I endured both verbal abuse from students and written abuse. Ex. While I was redirecting a student, another student wrote on the board in marker next to my name, "ugly fat ass" and scribbled in marker all over the lesson plan directions I wrote on the board. When I called the secretary for behavior support, she sent up a behavior specialist who asked the class to write down the name of the student on a piece of anonymous paper who wrote the negative comments about me. While he waited, I went down to the main office to show the principal what the student wrote about me and asked him to visit the classroom. He escorted me to the classroom. His only words to the class were to ask them to consider if they had done this to a classmate's parent. Then, it turns out it was a girl who wrote the negative comments about me on the board, but neither the behavior specialist or the principal acknowledged this to me, or required the student to apologize to me, which I found very inappropriate. Then, after the behavior specialist left, the class was required to read silently on their Chromebooks. I caught one of the 6th grade students surfing the internet and asked him to leave the classroom and go to the behavior specialist's room. He called me "fat ass" and slammed the door as he left. I will never substitute teach at this school again. It is a terrible school. Close Quote

by a student
Monday, February 2, 2009

central middle school has great teachers that are willing to help those that are in need.They respect all customs,when I first came I thought that my parents were sending me to the worst school ever, But than I met the teachers and they were amazing and all were in their 20's-40's but that didnt stop them from being the amazing teachers that they are now.The classes are great too,this school really inspired me to think more aout my education and now my parents cant even shut me about highschool and college. Close Quote

Schools Near Columbia Academy

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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)				MCA-IV Reading (2026)					MCA-IV Science (2026)			MCA-III Math (2026)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
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	MCA-IV Reading 5th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 6th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 7th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 8th Grade	MCA-IV Reading All Grades	MCA-IV Science 5th Grade	MCA-IV Science 8th Grade	MCA-IV Science All Grades	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	Total
Columbia Academy	Public	6-8	900 49th Ave NE	Columbia Heights	55421	Anoka County	Columbia Heights Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(763) 528-4701	719	42	17.2	78.7%	83 (11.5%)	177 (24.6%)	395 (54.9%)	22 (3.1%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (5.3%)	11.6	492^nd of 546 public middle schools	9.9%		11.6	474^th of 519 public middle schools	8.7%	18		23.0	15.5	27.3	22.0		3.1	3.1		10.0	11.5	13.3	11.6	$12,741
Columbia Academy Anchor Program	Public	6-8	900 49th Ave NE	Columbia Heights	55421	Anoka County	Columbia Heights Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 528-4540	6	0	4.0	—	2 (33.3%)	4 (66.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)														$37,560
Prodeo Columbia Heights Middle	Public, Charter	6-8	4141 University Ave NE	Columbia Heights	55421	Anoka County	Prodeo Academy	Yes	No	No	No	(763) 205-9950	291	22	13.2	89.0%	8 (2.7%)	192 (66.0%)	75 (25.8%)	2 (0.7%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.1%)	12.2	489^th of 546 public middle schools	10.4%		15.1	460^th of 519 public middle schools	11.4%	29		26.8	17.8	19.4	21.3		1.5	1.5		18.3	13.7	10.4	14.2
Fridley Middle	Public, Magnet	5-8	6100 W Moore Lake Dr	Fridley	55432	Anoka County	Fridley Public School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(763) 502-5400	694	59	11.7	72.0%	155 (22.3%)	239 (34.4%)	151 (21.8%)	57 (8.2%)	11 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	81 (11.7%)	40.2	334^th of 546 public middle schools	38.8%		39.1	326^th of 519 public middle schools	37.2%	8	36.1	35.0	29.9	41.1	35.5	19.0	16.8	17.9	25.1	25.4	25.3	39.7	28.8	$14,203
Fridley Middle Area Learning Center	Public	5-8	6100 W Moore Lake Dr	Fridley	55432	Anoka County	Fridley Public School District	No	No	No	No	(763) 502-5036	24	0	43.3	83.3%	4 (16.7%)	16 (66.7%)	1 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (12.5%)								(n/a)														$13,030
Highview Middle School	Public	6-8	2300 - 7th St NW	New Brighton	55112	Ramsey County	Mounds View Public School District	No	No	No	No	(651) 621-6700	823	49	16.7	39.1%	474 (57.6%)	103 (12.5%)	111 (13.5%)	62 (7.5%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	70 (8.5%)	66.9	148^th of 546 public middle schools	72.9%		74	114^th of 519 public middle schools	78.0%	34		51.5	45.8	51.1	49.5		21.7	21.7		45.2	41.6	39.4	42.2	$12,407
Northeast Middle	Public	6-8	2955 NE Hayes St	Minneapolis	55418	Hennepin County	Minneapolis Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(612) 668-1500	541	38	14.1	63.6%	149 (27.5%)	159 (29.4%)	105 (19.4%)	28 (5.2%)	40 (7.4%)	1 (0.2%)	59 (10.9%)	25.8	421^st of 546 public middle schools	22.9%		18.1	442^nd of 519 public middle schools	14.8%	21		39.6	29.6	25.7	31.9		9.3	9.3		23.4	25.1	11.2	20.1	$16,849
St. Anthony Middle	Public	6-8	3303 33rd Ave NE	Saint Anthony	55418	Hennepin County	St. Anthony-New Brighton Schools	No	No	No	No	(612) 706-1031	439	32	13.7	31.0%	280 (63.8%)	47 (10.7%)	44 (10.0%)	25 (5.7%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.5%)	38 (8.7%)	78.6	79^th of 546 public middle schools	85.5%		78.8	85^th of 519 public middle schools	83.6%	6		72.9	50.3	61.6	61.7		17.5	17.5		57.6	45.5	44.1	49.1	$11,431
Olson Middle	Public	6-8	1607 51st Ave N	Minneapolis	55430	Hennepin County	Minneapolis Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(612) 668-1640	329	42	7.9	76.6%	23 (7.0%)	133 (40.4%)	99 (30.1%)	37 (11.2%)	10 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (8.2%)	6.2	527^th of 546 public middle schools	3.5%		5.6	505^th of 519 public middle schools	2.7%	22		7.6	7.8	18.5	10.7		3.7	3.7		2.9	4.1	9.6	5.3	$16,762
Brooklyn Center Middle School Alternative Learning Center	Public	6-8	6500 Humboldt Ave N	Brooklyn Center	55430	Hennepin County	Brooklyn Center Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(763) 561-2120	0	0	.0	—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)														$4,488

Frequently Asked Questions about Columbia Academy

How many students attend Columbia Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 719 students attended Columbia Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Columbia Academy?

Students at Columbia Academy are 55% Hispanic, 25% African American, 12% White, 5% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

What district is Columbia Academy in?

Columbia Heights Public School District

Is Columbia Academy a good school?

Columbia Academy ranks in the bottom 9.9% of Minnesota middle schools.

What high school do graduates of Columbia Academy attend?

Students who attend Columbia Academy usually go on to attend Columbia Heights Senior High

Rate Columbia Academy!

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »

2019–20 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2024–25 through 2025–26 MCA-III & MCA-IV test scoresSep 30, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCA-III test scoresAug 29, 2025

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