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Columbus High School

Public Grades 9-12

124^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 146 Nebraska High Schools

Better than 15% of Nebraska high schools

Summary

Columbus High School is a public high school serving 1,295 students in grades 9-12 in Columbus, Nebraska. The school is part of the Columbus Public Schools district, which is ranked 112 out of 115 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Columbus High School has consistently underperformed compared to the state average on standardized tests, with only 31.15% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in ACT English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 42.74%. The school's four-year graduation rate has fluctuated between 79.3% and 88.1%, which is below the state average. Additionally, Columbus High School has experienced high rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 13.8% to 22.3% in recent years, significantly higher than the state average. A significant portion of the school's student population, 45.95% to 53.36%, comes from low-socioeconomic backgrounds and qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

When comparing Columbus High School to nearby schools, such as Twin River Senior High School and David City Secondary School, both within 20 miles, these schools have significantly higher academic performance, graduation rates, and lower chronic absenteeism rates. This suggests that the challenges faced by Columbus High School may be unique to the school or the district, rather than being a regional issue. The school's increased per-student spending over the years, from $12,061 in 2020-2021 to $13,800 in 2023-2024, has not translated into improved academic outcomes or other key metrics, raising questions about the effective allocation and utilization of resources within the school.

1,337

Students ?

17.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,800

Per pupil spending ?

51.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3434 Discoverer Drive
Columbus, NE 68602-0947

(402) 563-7050

District: Columbus Public Schools

Feeder schools for Columbus High School:

Elementary:	Centennial Elementary School
	Emerson Elementary School
	Lost Creek Elementary School
	North Park Elementary
	More...
	West Park Elementary
Middle:	Columbus Middle School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

50.1%

White:

45.0%

Two or more races:

1.8%

See top rated Nebraska high schools

Compare Columbus High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 22nd percentile in 2015 → 15th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Nebraska average (36% vs 44% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (15th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 7 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school36%

District avg36%

Nebraska avg44%

124^th of 146

Nebraska public high schools ?

Bottom 15%▼ down 7 pts since 2015

From bottom 22% (2015) to bottom 15% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Nebraska High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

114^th of 118Columbus Public Schools among Nebraska 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	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2025	16.1	124 of 146	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.7	133 of 168	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.3	169 of 215	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	41.9	125 of 202	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	25.9	165 of 209	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.5	166 of 217	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.9	181 of 219	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	25.0	166 of 219	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	20.7	217 of 246	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	34.0	189 of 242	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	42.8	158 of 247	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	30.8	196 of 247	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	45.4	154 of 245	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	43.1	164 of 252	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2010	47.7	163 of 249	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2009	48.0	150 of 251	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2008	54.2	139 of 252	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2007	26.7	228 of 247	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	43.8	178 of 249	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2019	37.6	13 of 26	50.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2025	25.8	48 of 66	27.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.7	63 of 93	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	22.2	107 of 136	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.3	89 of 132	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	27.5	102 of 138	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.6	111 of 142	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.0	112 of 144	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2025	31.3	16 of 28	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.3	18 of 33	45.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	27.8	31 of 41	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	60.5	15 of 41	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	31.3	26 of 38	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	32.3	26 of 43	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	29.8	27 of 41	34.1%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2025	31.7	25 of 41	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.1	31 of 62	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	31.9	53 of 89	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	55.7	23 of 74	68.9%	★★★★☆
2021	28.8	64 of 83	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.1	62 of 82	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.1	61 of 79	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2025	24.6	46 of 66	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	25.2	66 of 93	29.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.6	104 of 135	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	45.3	71 of 135	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	23.5	102 of 130	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	22.9	110 of 140	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.6	118 of 138	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Nebraska percentile	Rating
2025	33.9	81 of 113	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	46.4	73 of 125	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.8	119 of 206	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	52.5	91 of 196	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.1	104 of 200	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	44.5	114 of 207	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.8	150 of 205	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2019)50th percentile+26 vs school

Hispanic (2025)43rd percentile+28 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)39th percentile+24 vs school

Male (2025)30th percentile+15 vs school

White (2025)28th percentile+13 vs school

Female (2025)27th percentile+12 vs school

By subject vs Nebraska (2024-2025) ?

Science43%-5 vs state

Mathematics33%-8 vs state

English Language Arts31%-12 vs state

★

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Schools Near Columbus High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				NSCAS English Language Arts (2025)	NSCAS Mathematics (2025)	ACT English Language Arts (2025)	ACT Mathematics (2025)	ACT Science (2025)	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/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NSCAS English Language Arts All Grades	NSCAS Mathematics All Grades	ACT English Language Arts 11th Grade	ACT Mathematics 11th Grade	ACT Science 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Columbus High School	Public	9-12	3434 Discoverer Drive	Columbus	68602	Platte County	Columbus Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(402) 563-7050	1,337	78	17.1	51.9%	602 (45.0%)	16 (1.2%)	670 (50.1%)	13 (1.0%)	12 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (1.8%)	16.1	124^th of 146 public high schools	15.1%		23.7	133^rd of 168 public high schools	20.8%	9			31.2	33.3	42.7	$13,800	$417	$11,750
Lakeview High School	Public	9-12	3744 83rd St	Columbus	68601	Platte County	Lakeview Community Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(402) 564-8518	344	26	13.0	32.0%	241 (70.1%)	2 (0.6%)	94 (27.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.2%)	72.9	42^nd of 146 public high schools	71.2%		45.1	101^st of 168 public high schools	39.9%	59			52.6	61.8	68.4	$18,711	$283	$14,942
Schuyler Central High School	Public	9-12	401 Adam St	Schuyler	68661	Colfax County	Schuyler Community Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 352-2421	643	40	16.1	52.6%	68 (10.6%)	19 (3.0%)	551 (85.7%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1.5	140^th of 146 public high schools	4.1%		3.6	162^nd of 168 public high schools	3.6%	22			8.0	17.3	24.7	$14,927	$1,224	$10,928
Humphrey Junior-Senior High School	Public	7-12	405 South 7th Street	Humphrey	68642	Platte County	Humphrey Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(402) 923-1230	132	12	10.8	16.7%	130 (98.5%)	1 (0.8%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	89.8	10^th of 146 public high schools	93.2%		91.8	10^th of 168 public high schools	94.0%		60.5	69.2		67.9	75.0	$19,925	$632	$16,869
Shelby - Rising City High School	Public	9-12	650 N Walnut	Shelby	68662	Polk County	Shelby - Rising City Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(402) 527-5946	112	13	8.4	38.4%	92 (82.1%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (15.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.7%)	57.3	68^th of 146 public high schools	53.4%					(n/a)			64.5	45.2	54.8	$23,959	$769	$19,420
Leigh High School	Public	7-12	222 W 4th St	Leigh	68643	Colfax County	Leigh Community Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(402) 487-2228	95	12	8.1	18.9%	87 (91.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.1%)								(n/a)	74.2					$27,198	$458	$23,001
Twin River Senior High School	Public	7-12	816 Willard Ave	Genoa	68640	Nance County	Twin River Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(402) 993-2911	189	19	10.1	29.6%	171 (90.5%)	1 (0.5%)	7 (3.7%)	2 (1.1%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.7%)	75.2	34^th of 146 public high schools	76.7%		21.3	138^th of 168 public high schools	17.9%	104				64.5	61.3	$23,055	$394	$20,878
David City Secondary School	Public	7-12	750 D St	David City	68632	Butler County	David City Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(402) 367-3187	307	27	11.5	38.4%	255 (83.1%)	1 (0.3%)	46 (15.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	49.5	83^rd of 146 public high schools	43.2%		65.4	65^th of 168 public high schools	61.3%	18	60.0		53.5	48.8	51.2	$23,420	$863	$18,642

Frequently Asked Questions about Columbus High School

What schools feed into Columbus High School?

Columbus High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Centennial Elementary School
Elementary : Emerson Elementary School
Elementary : Lost Creek Elementary School
Elementary : North Park Elementary
Elementary : West Park Elementary
Middle : Columbus Middle School

How many students attend Columbus High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,337 students attended Columbus High School.

What is the racial makeup of Columbus High School?

Students at Columbus High School are 50% Hispanic, 45% White, 2% Two or more races, 1% African American.

What district is Columbus High School in?

Columbus Public Schools

Is Columbus High School a good school?

Columbus High School ranks in the bottom 15.1% of Nebraska high schools.

Rate Columbus High School!

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NENebraska High School Rankings

NENebraska District Rankings

Schools in Columbus, NE

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