Columbus operates 4 public schools serving 942 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Kansas. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 other, 2 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 1,124 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Cherokee County County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $18,040 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 22.3% local, 70.7% state, and 6.9% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $76,088 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 62/100, ranked #75 of 252 in Kansas against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.
a 310.8:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 15.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 82.4% White, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% African American across the district's schools.
Columbus Junior High and High School accounts for 39.0% of all Columbus student enrollment
That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Columbus-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: other. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.
Columbus school enrollment varies 3.4× across entities
Columbus school enrollment ranges from 130 students (lowest) to 438 students (highest), a spread of 308 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.
Columbus has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 50.8% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch
free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.
Columbus student-counselor ratio is 311:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts
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 Variation between sub-units within Columbus is typically wider than the Columbus-aggregate figure suggests.
Columbus chronic absenteeism rate is 15.9% — 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 Columbus is typically wider than the Columbus-aggregate figure suggests.
Columbus has 4 schools, including 2 other, 2 elementary. Total enrollment is 942 students.
How much does Columbus spend per student?
Columbus spends $18,040 per student. The district has an equity score of 62/100, ranking #75 in Kansas.
What is the average teacher salary in Columbus?
The average teacher salary in Columbus is $76,088 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.
What is the average rent near Columbus?
The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Cherokee County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.
What is the demographic composition of Columbus?
Columbus students are 82.4% White, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% African American, 0.3% Asian, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.
What is the equity score for Columbus?
Columbus has an equity score of 62/100, ranking #75 out of 252 districts in Kansas. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.