Columbia County

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Evans, Georgia - 30 schools

An equity score of 15/100 ranks Columbia County #213 of 216 districts in Georgia (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,434 per pupil, Columbia County ranks #194 of 219 Georgia districts by per-pupil spending (Georgia districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

29,025
Total Enrollment
30
Schools
$11,434
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Columbia County operates 30 public schools serving 29,025 students, placing it in the mid-size range in Georgia. The school portfolio breaks down into 17 combined, 8 middle, 5 high schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Columbia County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,434 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 219 Georgia districts by per-pupil spending. See how Georgia compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 43.9% local, 45.4% state, and 10.7% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 15/100, ranked #213 of 216 in Georgia against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 5 of 30 schools offering Advanced Placement (102 AP courses district-wide), a 482.2:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 21.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 53.3% White, 21.0% African American, 12.1% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Grovetown Elementary School, with a diversity index of 72.4/100.

Its largest campus is Grovetown High School, enrolling 2,256 students (8% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is South Columbia Elementary School, at 456 students, a 5x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Columbia County school enrollment varies 4.9× across entities

Columbia County school enrollment ranges from 456 students (lowest) to 2,256 students (highest), a spread of 1,800 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Columbia County student-counselor ratio is 482:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Columbia County chronic absenteeism rate is 21.0% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Columbia County is typically wider than the Columbia County-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

10.7%
Federal
45.4%
State
43.9%
Local

Funding Equity

15
Equity Score
213 / 216
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 30 schools in Columbia County.

White 53.3%
Hispanic or Latino 12.1%
African American 21.0%
Asian 4.8%
Multiracial 8.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 61.6/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Columbia County's schools, above the Georgia average of 50.0.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Grovetown Elementary School 72.4
  2. 2 Cedar Ridge Elementary School 72.1
  3. 3 Brookwood Elementary School 71.5
  4. 4 Grovetown Middle School 71.0
  5. 5 Columbia Middle School 70.0

Programs & Resources

5 / 30
Schools with AP
102 AP courses total
482.2:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
21.0%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Columbia County

School Enrollment
Grovetown High School
2,256
Greenbrier High School
1,935
Lakeside High School
1,861
Evans High School
1,800
Harlem High School
1,318
Grovetown Middle School
1,067
Cedar Ridge Elementary School
1,060
Evans Middle School
1,030
Harlem Middle School
1,025
Baker Place Elementary
958
North Harlem Elementary School
930
Grovetown Elementary School
908
Columbia Middle School
903
Greenbrier Middle School
853
Parkway Elementary School
795
River Ridge Elementary
789
Stevens Creek Elementary School
759
Martinez Elementary School
731
Evans Elementary School
730
Stallings Island Middle School
729
Riverside Middle School
711
Euchee Creek Elementary School
705
Riverside Elementary School
640
Lewiston Elementary School
614
Blue Ridge Elementary School
612
Greenbrier Elementary School
610
Brookwood Elementary School
559
Lakeside Middle School
498
North Columbia Elementary School
460
South Columbia Elementary School
456

How Columbia County Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Georgia districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Richmond County Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Muscogee County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Houston County Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Hall County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Paulding County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Columbia County's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Georgia

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Gwinnett County
181,814 students · 140 schools · $13,113/pupil
Compare vs Columbia County →
Cobb County
106,703 students · 110 schools · $13,203/pupil
Compare vs Columbia County →
Dekalb County
92,368 students · 131 schools · $15,594/pupil
Compare vs Columbia County →
Fulton County
89,935 students · 108 schools · $13,999/pupil
Compare vs Columbia County →
Forsyth County
54,077 students · 42 schools · $10,928/pupil
Compare vs Columbia County →

Compare Columbia County

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Gwinnett County →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Columbia County?

Columbia County has 30 schools, including 5 high, 8 middle, 17 combined. Total enrollment is 29,025 students.

How much does Columbia County spend per student?

Columbia County spends $11,434 per student. The district has an equity score of 15/100, ranking #213 in Georgia.

What is the demographic composition of Columbia County?

Columbia County students are 53.3% White, 21.0% African American, 12.1% Hispanic or Latino, 4.8% Asian, averaged across 30 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Columbia County?

Columbia County has an equity score of 15/100, ranking #213 out of 216 districts in Georgia.