Best Public Schools in Columbia, MO

The city of Columbia, Missouri is home to 36 schools, including 22 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, 4 high schools, and 3 alternative schools, all part of the Columbia 93 school district. The district is ranked 154 out of 367 districts in Missouri and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Some of the standout schools in the area include John Warner Middle School, ranked 12th out of 438 Missouri middle schools and rated 5 out of 5 stars, with over 75% of students proficient in math and English. Fairview Elementary is ranked 51st out of 900 Missouri elementary schools and rated 5 out of 5 stars, with very high proficiency rates. Other high-performing schools include Locust St Expressive Arts Elementary, Midway Heights Elementary, and Russell Blvd. Elementary.

However, the data also reveals significant performance gaps between schools, with some high schools, such as Muriel Battle High, struggling with low proficiency rates. The district-wide chronic absenteeism rate of 24.3% is also higher than the state average. While socioeconomic factors appear to play a role in student achievement, the presence of high-performing schools suggests there is potential for improvement across the district.