- Enrollment
- 1,805
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Forest Lake, MN
Columbus Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Columbus Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 271227000593
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 12
📋 Attendance 59
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Columbus Elementary earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of Minnesota schools.
- #4 of 6
- schools in Forest Lake · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.6:1
- large classes for Minnesota
- 18.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Columbus Elementary has class sizes larger than 73% of Minnesota schools. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Columbus Elementary ranks #4 of 6 schools in Forest Lake, MN.
School address
District: Forest Lake Public School District · Minnesota
NCES ID 271227000593 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-6 students YoY
Columbus Elementary held near 426 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 25.5 → 22.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-6 students YoY 271227000593 · Forest Lake, MN Other · SMALL · TRAD
441 enr · 17.6:1 · 18.3% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Forest Lake Area High School (1,805 students)
Columbus Elementary held near 426 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 25.5 → 22.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
Columbus Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Forest Lake Ar
Forest Lake Area High School
1,805 students
- Forest Lake Ar
Forest Lake Area Middle School
916 students
- Lino Lakes Ele 501
Lino Lakes Elementary
501 students
- Wyoming Elemen 447
Wyoming Elementary
447 students
- This school 441
Columbus Elementary
441 students
- Linwood Elemen 400
Linwood Elementary
400 students
What this shows Columbus Elementary reports 441 students on the CCD universe file.
How Columbus Elementary compares
Columbus Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.6:1 | ▲ 11% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 18.3% | ▼ 57% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 441 | top 32% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.6:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
441
Bigger than 54% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
18.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 57% below the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.6:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 73% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 27% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
16.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$14,282
per pupil, district-wide
- below Minnesota avg of $15,919
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 441 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 80.7%
Asian 11.6%
Hispanic or Latino 3.2%
Two or More 3.2%
African American 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 80.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 33.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 33.3, Columbus Elementary is less mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
District finance for Forest Lake Public School District reports $14,282 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Columbus Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Lake Area High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Forest Lake Area Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lino Lakes Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wyoming Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Linwood Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Columbus Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 916
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
- Enrollment
- 501
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 447
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 400
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Nationwide other 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 (~441 students)
Frequently asked questions about Columbus Elementary
How many students attend Columbus Elementary?
Columbus Elementary has 441 students enrolled. It is a public school in Forest Lake, MN. CCD year-over-year: 432 (2022-23) → 426 (2023-24), nearly flat (-6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Columbus Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Columbus Elementary is 17.6:1, which is 11% higher than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 12% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Columbus Elementary?
18.3% of students at Columbus Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Columbus Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Columbus Elementary is White at 80.7% of enrollment, in Forest Lake, MN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Columbus Elementary?
Columbus Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical 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 Columbus Elementary rank among schools in Forest Lake?
By Resource Investment Index, Columbus Elementary ranks #4 of 6 schools in Forest Lake, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Forest Lake on the city page.
What other schools are in Forest Lake Public School District?
Besides Columbus Elementary, Forest Lake Public School District also operates Forest Lake Area High School (1,805 students), Forest Lake Area Middle School (916 students), and Lino Lakes Elementary (501 students). See the Forest Lake Public School District district page for the complete list.