- Enrollment
- 1,847
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Huntsville, AL
Columbia High School
Federal NCES profile for Columbia High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 010180001651
👥 S:T ratio 31
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 8
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Columbia High School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama schools.
- #6 of 6
- high schools in Huntsville · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.3:1
- students per teacher
- 43.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Columbia High School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Columbia High School ranks #6 of 6 high schools in Huntsville, AL.
School address
District: Huntsville City · Alabama
NCES ID 010180001651 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-14 students YoY
Columbia High School held near 940 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 54.0 → 56.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-14 students YoY 010180001651 · Huntsville, AL High · MID · TRAD
916 enr · 17.3:1 · 43.5% lunch · RII 27
Nearest enrollment peer: Virgil Grissom High School (1,847 students)
Columbia High School held near 940 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount). Teacher FTE added 54.0 → 56.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Columbia High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Virgil Grissom
Virgil Grissom High School
1,847 students
- Huntsville Hig
Huntsville High School
1,807 students
- Providence Ele
Providence Elementary
1,152 students
- Goldsmithschif
Goldsmithschiffman Elementary
935 students
- This school
Columbia High School
916 students
- Lee High Schoo
Lee High School
877 students
What this shows Columbia High School reports 916 students on the CCD universe file.
How Columbia High School compares
Columbia High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.3:1 | ▼ 2% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 43.5% | ▼ 26% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 916 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.3:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
916
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
43.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% below the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.3:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 49% in Alabama - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
47.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$13,146
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $13,538
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 458 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
43
in-school suspensions + 136 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 19.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 16 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 51.2%
Hispanic or Latino 28.8%
White 12.8%
Two or More 5.2%
Asian 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: African American at 51.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.6, Columbia High School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 6
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Huntsville City reports $13,146 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Columbia High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgil Grissom High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Huntsville High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Providence Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Goldsmithschiffman Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lee High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Columbia High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,807
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,152
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 935
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 877
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar high schools in Huntsville
5 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Virgil Grissom High School
Standard public school
1,847 students 19.6:1 students per teacher
Huntsville High School
Standard public school
1,807 students 18.3:1 students per teacher
Lee High School
Standard public school
877 students 19.5:1 students per teacher
Jemison High School
Standard public school
858 students 18.7:1 students per teacher
New Century Technology High School
Standard public school
366 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~916 students)
Frequently asked questions about Columbia High School
How many students attend Columbia High School?
Columbia High School has 916 students enrolled. It is a high school in Huntsville, AL. CCD year-over-year: 954 (2022-23) → 940 (2023-24), nearly flat (-14).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Columbia High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Columbia High School is 17.3:1, which is 2% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 10% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Columbia High School?
43.5% of students at Columbia High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Columbia High School?
The largest demographic group at Columbia High School is African American at 51.2% of enrollment, in Huntsville, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Columbia High School?
Columbia High School has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Columbia High School rank among high schools in Huntsville?
By Resource Investment Index, Columbia High School ranks #6 of 6 high schools in Huntsville, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Huntsville on the city page.
What other schools are in Huntsville City?
Besides Columbia High School, Huntsville City also operates Virgil Grissom High School (1,847 students), Huntsville High School (1,807 students), and Providence Elementary (1,152 students). See the Huntsville City district page for the complete list.