Southern Columbia Area SD operates 3 public schools serving 1,235 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Pennsylvania. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 elementary, 1 high schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 1,195 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Columbia County County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $19,006 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 59.0% local, 36.3% state, and 4.7% 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 $86,347 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 30/100, ranked #531 of 659 in Pennsylvania against a state average of 49 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.
Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (6 AP courses district-wide), a 340.3:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 26.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 94.4% White, 2.3% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% African American across the district's schools.
Hartman El Ctr accounts for 40.2% of all Southern Columbia Area SD student enrollment
That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Southern Columbia Area SD-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: elementary. 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.
Southern Columbia Area SD student-counselor ratio is 340:1 — 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 Southern Columbia Area SD is typically wider than the Southern Columbia Area SD-aggregate figure suggests.
Southern Columbia Area SD chronic absenteeism rate is 26.8% — 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 Southern Columbia Area SD is typically wider than the Southern Columbia Area SD-aggregate figure suggests.
How many schools are in Southern Columbia Area SD?
Southern Columbia Area SD has 3 schools, including 2 elementary, 1 high. Total enrollment is 1,235 students.
How much does Southern Columbia Area SD spend per student?
Southern Columbia Area SD spends $19,006 per student. The district has an equity score of 30/100, ranking #531 in Pennsylvania.
What is the average teacher salary in Southern Columbia Area SD?
The average teacher salary in Southern Columbia Area SD is $86,347 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.
What is the average rent near Southern Columbia Area SD?
The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Columbia County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.
What is the demographic composition of Southern Columbia Area SD?
Southern Columbia Area SD students are 94.4% White, 2.3% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% African American, 0.5% Asian, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.
What is the equity score for Southern Columbia Area SD?
Southern Columbia Area SD has an equity score of 30/100, ranking #531 out of 659 districts in Pennsylvania. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.