33 public K-12 schools in COLUMBIA from NCES Common Core of Data: enrollment, grade span, demographics, and Civil Rights Data Collection statistics for every active campus.
33 public schools ranked by quality score. NCES CCD 2022-23 data.
Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions families make. This page ranks every public school in COLUMBIA, MO using a composite quality score based on student-teacher ratios, counselor access, gifted program availability, and attendance rates. All data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data for the 2022-23 school year.
33
Schools
17,534
Students
—
Avg Quality
13.3:1
Avg Class Size
How the COLUMBIA Public-School Landscape Breaks Down
COLUMBIA, MO enrolls 17,534 students across 33 public schools reporting to the National Center for Education Statistics. The average student-teacher ratio across the city is 13.3:1, Schools must report at least five campuses in a city to appear in this listing, which is why very small towns may redirect to the broader county or state view.
The highest-ranked campus in COLUMBIA is David H. Hickman High, scoring 44/100 (D) with 2,007 enrolled students at the high level. Families should treat any single ranking as a starting point rather than a verdict — a school serving fewer at-risk students or offering more AP classes will score higher on resource-based composites even if individual teachers or programs elsewhere are stronger. The quality score framework is transparent and rebuilt from raw NCES and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) inputs, so each component can be inspected on the individual school pages linked in the table below.
COLUMBIA schools sit within multiple district boundaries, which matters for property taxes, redistricting votes, and bond measures. Each district files its own NCES F-33 financial return, meaning per-pupil spending can vary noticeably even between neighbouring campuses in the same city. Use the table to sort by enrollment, level, or district, then click any school name for campus-level demographics, Title I status, counselor and nurse staffing, AP courses, chronic-absenteeism rates, and district per-pupil spending. The sidebar links also connect COLUMBIA housing costs, wage data, and crime statistics — context many parents weigh alongside test-adjacent school signals when relocating.
COLUMBIA school enrollment varies 251× across entities
COLUMBIA school enrollment ranges from 8 students (lowest) to 2,007 students (highest), a spread of 1,999 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme heterogeneity inside a single city — small specialty programs sit alongside large comprehensive campuses, often serving very different family demographics inside walking distance. Per-school staffing, programme depth, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same city based on enrollment shape — a 200-student magnet runs a different operational model than a 2,000-student comprehensive high school.
COLUMBIA student-teacher ratio is 13.3:1 — low (typically associated with smaller schools or per-school staffing investment that often correlates with stronger per-student supports)
student-teacher ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE classroom teachers against total enrollment — push-in specialists, English-language aides, special-education co-teachers, and counselors are not included in most reporting Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.
The top-rated school in COLUMBIA is David H. Hickman High with a quality score of 44/100. There are 33 public schools in COLUMBIA with 17,534 total students.
How many schools are in COLUMBIA, MO? ▼
COLUMBIA has 33 public schools with a total enrollment of 17,534 students. Average student-teacher ratio: 13.3:1.
Data from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22. Quality scores based on student-teacher ratio,
counselor access, gifted programs, and attendance. Schools must have 5+ in the city to be listed.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
