Columbus High School

Public school district · Stillwater County · Montana · NCES district ID 3007200

Columbus High School spent $13,316 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, below the middle: 75% of the other Montana districts with fewer than 1,000 students in fall 2022 spent more (median $16,778). Its one school enrolled 227 students in 2024-25; 36.4% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $13,808 per student, up 3.7% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 90% or more (Montana: 85.5%).

NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 · Census Bureau school finances 2023-24 · NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 · method

Spending per student among Montana districts of similar size

Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to Columbus High School in enrollment (234 to 255 students) and Columbus High School itself.

Current spending per student, Montana districts closest in size to Columbus High School, FY23Hays Lodgepole $27,782; Victor K-12 Schools $17,242; Manhattan High School $15,042; Shepherd High School $14,115; Columbus High School $13,316; Choteau Elementary $12,192; Canyon Creek School $11,624; Fort Benton Elementary $11,145; Centerville Public Schools $10,945; Lone Rock Elementary $10,484; State median, under 1,000 students $16,778.5k10k15k20k25k30kHays Lodgepole$27,782Victor K-12 Schools$17,242Manhattan High School$15,042Shepherd High School$14,115Columbus High School$13,316Choteau Elementary$12,192Canyon Creek School$11,624Fort Benton Elementary$11,145Centerville Public Schools$10,945Lone Rock Elementary$10,484State median, under 1,000 students $16,778
Current spending per student, Montana districts closest in size to Columbus High School, FY23Hays Lodgepole $27,782; Victor K-12 Schools $17,242; Manhattan High School $15,042; Shepherd High School $14,115; Columbus High School $13,316; Choteau Elementary $12,192; Canyon Creek School $11,624; Fort Benton Elementary $11,145; Centerville Public Schools $10,945; Lone Rock Elementary $10,484; State median, under 1,000 students $16,778.5k10k15k20k25k30kHays Lodgepole$27,782Victor K-12 Schools$17,242Manhattan High School$15,042Shepherd High School$14,115Columbus High School$13,316Choteau Elementary$12,192Canyon Creek School$11,624Fort Benton Elementary$11,145Centerville Public Schools$10,945Lone Rock Elementary$10,484State median, under 1,000 students $16,778
Current spending per student, Montana districts closest in size to Columbus High School, FY23Hays Lodgepole $27,782; Victor K-12 Schools $17,242; Manhattan High School $15,042; Shepherd High School $14,115; Columbus High School $13,316; Choteau Elementary $12,192; Canyon Creek School $11,624; Fort Benton Elementary $11,145; Centerville Public Schools $10,945; Lone Rock Elementary $10,484; State median, under 1,000 students $16,778.5k15k25k30kHays Lodgepole$27,782Victor K-12 Schools$17,242Manhattan High School$15,042Shepherd High School$14,115Columbus High School$13,316Choteau Elementary$12,192Canyon Creek School$11,624Fort Benton Elementary$11,145Centerville Public Schools$10,945Lone Rock Elementary$10,484State median, under 1,000 students $16,778
Current spending per student, Montana districts closest in size to Columbus High School, FY23Hays Lodgepole $27,782; Victor K-12 Schools $17,242; Manhattan High School $15,042; Shepherd High School $14,115; Columbus High School $13,316; Choteau Elementary $12,192; Canyon Creek School $11,624; Fort Benton Elementary $11,145; Centerville Public Schools $10,945; Lone Rock Elementary $10,484; State median, under 1,000 students $16,778.5k15k25k30kHays Lodgepole$27,782Victor K-12 Schools$17,242Manhattan High School$15,042Shepherd High School$14,115Columbus High School$13,316Choteau Elementary$12,192Canyon Creek School$11,624Fort Benton Elementary$11,145Centerville Public Schools$10,945Lone Rock Elementary$10,484State median, under 1,000 students $16,778

Where the money came from

$4,128,000 in revenue: 36.4% state, 62.1% local and 1.5% federal. Total spending including $281,000 of capital outlay was $3,769,000, or $15,447 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

Columbus High School revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $1,503,000; Local $2,562,000; Federal $63,000; total $4,128,000.
  • State$1,503,000 36%
  • Local$2,562,000 62%
  • Federal$63,000 2%

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 361 districts with fewer than 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).

Enrollment fell from 2022-23 to 2024-25

244 students in 2022-23, 240 students in 2023-24, 227 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.

Columbus High School enrollment by school year2022-23: 244, 2023-24: 240, 2024-25: 22701002003002022-232442023-242402024-25227
Columbus High School enrollment by school year2022-23: 244, 2023-24: 240, 2024-25: 22701002003002022-232442023-242402024-25227
Columbus High School enrollment by school year2022-23: 244, 2023-24: 240, 2024-25: 22701002003002022-232442023-242402024-25227
Columbus High School enrollment by school year2022-23: 244, 2023-24: 240, 2024-25: 22701002003002022-232442023-242402024-25227

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-2324414.217.1
2023-2424014.216.9
2024-2522714.415.7

Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.

$1,039,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $4,258 per student

Columbus High School booked $1,039,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 14 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $73,015 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 93 in 100 Montana districts with a figure (state median $53,321, 282 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Montana teacher salary at $53,628 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).

ProgramTeacher salariesShare
Regular programs$805,00077.5%
Special education$70,0006.7%
Vocational$164,00015.8%

Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23

The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $3,870 in 2018-19, $4,324 in 2019-20, $4,238 in 2020-21, $4,115 in 2021-22, $4,258 in 2022-23.

Columbus High School teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,870, 2019-20: $4,324, 2020-21: $4,238, 2021-22: $4,115, 2022-23: $4,25802k4k6k2018-19$3,8702019-20$4,3242020-21$4,2382021-22$4,1152022-23$4,258
Columbus High School teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,870, 2019-20: $4,324, 2020-21: $4,238, 2021-22: $4,115, 2022-23: $4,25802k4k6k2018-19$3,8702019-20$4,3242020-21$4,2382021-22$4,1152022-23$4,258
Columbus High School teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,870, 2019-20: $4,324, 2020-21: $4,238, 2021-22: $4,115, 2022-23: $4,25802k4k6k2018-19$3,8702019-20$4,3242020-21$4,2382021-22$4,1152022-23$4,258
Columbus High School teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,870, 2019-20: $4,324, 2020-21: $4,238, 2021-22: $4,115, 2022-23: $4,25802k4k6k2018-19$3,8702019-20$4,3242020-21$4,2382021-22$4,1152022-23$4,258

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).

State test results, 2021-22

In 2021-22, the students tested in Columbus High School scored proficient or above: 30-39% in reading and 20-29% in math, against 45.7% in reading and 35.2% in math across Montana. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within Montana, not across states.

Students proficient or above, 2021-22
SubjectThis districtMontanaStudents tested
Reading and language arts30-39%45.7%48
Math20-29%35.2%49

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.

Graduation rate, class of 2023

90% or more of the 46 students in Columbus High School's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 85.5% across Montana. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.

Four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate, class of 2023
This districtMontana
Four-year graduation rate90% or more85.5%
Students in the class4610,838

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.

1 high school, 227 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Columbus High School22715.717.6%Eligible, no program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

Contact Columbus High School

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.

What to look at next about Columbus High School

  1. Montana districts by spending per studentColumbus High School ranks 272 of 361 Montana districts with fewer than 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($13,316).#272 of 361
  2. Every school district in MontanaColumbus High School is the number 123 by size of 398 Montana districts, with 244 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#123 of 398
  3. Hays Lodgepole School DistrictThe next larger Montana district: 248 students in fall 2022, $27,782 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$27,782
  4. Manhattan High SchoolThe next smaller Montana district: 239 students in fall 2022, $15,042 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$15,042
  5. Compare Columbus High School with Hays Lodgepole School DistrictEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. Columbus High School, its largest high school227 students in 2024-25, 15.7 per teacher.227
  7. Teacher salary spending across MontanaColumbus High School spent $73,015 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $53,321); spending, not a salary.$73,015
  8. Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.

Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).

Questions about Columbus High School

  1. How many schools and students are in Columbus High School?
    One school was open in 2024-25 (1 high), enrolling 227 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does Columbus High School spend per student?
    $13,316 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the Montana median for districts with fewer than 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $16,778 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $13,808 per student, up 3.7% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does Columbus High School's money come from?
    $4,128,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 36.4% state, 62.1% local and 1.5% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in Columbus High School live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 13 of the 241 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 5.4%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.
  5. How much does Columbus High School spend on teacher salaries?
    $1,039,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $4,258 per student. Divided by the 14 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $73,015 per teacher, more than 93 in 100 Montana districts (state median $53,321). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Montana teacher salary at $53,628 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
  6. How do students in Columbus High School do on state tests?
    In 2021-22, the students tested in Columbus High School scored proficient or above: 30-39% in reading and 20-29% in math, against 45.7% in reading and 35.2% in math across Montana. Montana's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.
  7. What is the graduation rate in Columbus High School?
    90% or more of the 46 students in Columbus High School's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 85.5% across Montana. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.
  8. What is Columbus High School's NCES district ID?
    3007200. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.

Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.

Sources

Every federal file behind this record
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
  • Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
  • EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
  • EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25

Compiled from official source data by .