COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

COLUMBUS, Nebraska — 8 schools

4,111
Total Enrollment
8
Schools
$14,070
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS operates 8 public schools serving 4,111 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Nebraska. The school portfolio breaks down into 6 other, 1 high, 1 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 4,001 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Platte County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,070 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 51.5% local, 38.1% state, and 10.3% 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 $81,518 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 33/100, ranked #158 of 200 in Nebraska against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 8 schools offering Advanced Placement (1 AP courses district-wide), a 300.3:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 15.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 58.7% Hispanic or Latino, 37.6% White, 1.5% African American across the district's schools.

Columbus High School accounts for 33.4% of all COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. 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.

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

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS school enrollment varies 61× across entities

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS school enrollment ranges from 22 students (lowest) to 1,337 students (highest), a spread of 1,315 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity — the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. 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

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS student-counselor ratio is 300:1 — 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 PUBLIC SCHOOLS is typically wider than the COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS-aggregate figure suggests.

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

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS chronic absenteeism rate is 15.4% — 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 PUBLIC SCHOOLS is typically wider than the COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

10.3%
Federal
38.1%
State
51.5%
Local

Funding Equity

33
Equity Score
158 / 200
State Rank
50
State Average

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

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Platte County county, where this district is located.

$736
Studio/mo
$809
1 BR/mo
$1,061
2 BR/mo
$1,399
3 BR/mo
$1,405
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$81,518
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 8 schools in COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

White 37.6%
Hispanic or Latino 58.7%
African American 1.5%
Multiracial 1.1%
Other 0.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 8
Schools with AP
1 AP courses total
300.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
15.4%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

School Enrollment
Columbus High School
1,337
Columbus Middle School
1,166
Centennial Elementary School
353
Lost Creek Elementary Sch
318
North Park Elementary
304
Emerson Elementary School
286
West Park Elementary
215
Pathways Beyond/Early Steps to Success Building
22

Nearby Districts in Nebraska

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

OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
51,754 students · 111 schools · $17,584/pupil
Compare vs COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS →
LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
41,850 students · 76 schools · $14,943/pupil
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MILLARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
23,637 students · 36 schools · $13,267/pupil
Compare vs COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS →
PAPILLION LA VISTA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
12,031 students · 22 schools · $13,821/pupil
Compare vs COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS →
ELKHORN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
11,319 students · 20 schools · $13,062/pupil
Compare vs COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS →

Compare COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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

Compare vs OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS has 8 schools, including 1 high, 1 elementary, 6 other. Total enrollment is 4,111 students.

How much does COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS spend per student?

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS spends $14,070 per student. The district has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #158 in Nebraska.

What is the average teacher salary in COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

The average teacher salary in COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS is $81,518 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Platte County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS students are 58.7% Hispanic or Latino, 37.6% White, 1.5% African American, 0.5% Asian, averaged across 8 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #158 out of 200 districts in Nebraska. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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