Is Columbus Middle School a good school?

Columbus Middle School ranks in the bottom 6.5% of Nebraska middle schools.

How many students attend Columbus Middle School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,207 students attended Columbus Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Columbus Middle School?

Students at Columbus Middle School are 50% Hispanic, 44% White, 2% Two or more races, 2% African American, 1% American Indian.

What high school do graduates of Columbus Middle School attend?

Students who attend Columbus Middle School usually go on to attend Columbus High School

Columbus Middle School

Summary:

Columbus Middle School is a public middle school in Columbus, Nebraska, serving 1,174 students in grades 5-8. The school is part of the Columbus Public Schools district, which is ranked 175 out of 182 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Over the past 10 years, Columbus Middle School has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Nebraska middle schools, typically between 150-200 out of around 250 schools, and has maintained a 2-star rating out of 5 from SchoolDigger. The school's performance on student group rankings is also concerning, as it ranks in the bottom half of Nebraska middle schools for female students, male students, Hispanic students, white students, English language learners, special education students, and low socioeconomic status students. Additionally, the school has seen a steady increase in chronic absenteeism rates, rising from 11.7% in 2020-2021 to 21.1% in 2023-2024, which is significantly higher than the state average.

When comparing Columbus Middle School to nearby schools, such as Shelby - Rising City Middle School, Schuyler Middle School, and Lakeview Junior High School, the data shows that Shelby - Rising City Middle School and Lakeview Junior High School generally outperform Columbus Middle School in academic assessments and have higher statewide rankings, while Schuyler Middle School, which is also part of a low-performing district, has similar academic performance to Columbus Middle School. Despite increased spending per student and a relatively low student-teacher ratio, the academic outcomes at Columbus Middle School indicate that additional factors, such as curriculum, instructional practices, and student engagement, may need to be examined and improved to drive better student outcomes.

Detail:

Public 5-8

2200 26th St
Columbus, NE 68602-0947

(402) 563-7060

District: Columbus Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
187^th of 200 Nebraska Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,098

Students who attend Columbus Middle School usually attend:

High:

Columbus High School

Feeder schools for Columbus Middle School:

Elementary:	Centennial Elementary School
	Emerson Elementary School
	Lost Creek Elementary School
	North Park Elementary
	More...
	West Park Elementary

Student/teacher ratio: 16.1

Number of students: 1,207

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

50.1%

White:

43.8%

Two or more races:

2.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 62.6%

See top rated Nebraska middle schools

Compare Columbus Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Columbus Middle School ranks worse than 93.5% of middle schools in Nebraska. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 10.26. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (50.1%), White (43.8%), two or more races (2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 62.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Columbus Middle School is 16.1. (See more...)

Compare Columbus Middle School employs 74.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Columbus Middle School is $13,098.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Columbus Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Columbus Middle School 187^th of 200 Nebraska public middle schools. (See Columbus Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

English Language Learner students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Columbus Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Columbus Public Schools 175^th of 182 Nebraska school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for Columbus Middle School?

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Rank History for Columbus Middle School

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Rank History for all students at Columbus Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NE State Percentile
2006	18.54	214^th	226	5.3%
2007	33.08	183^rd	227	19.4%
2008	57.79	116^th	245	52.7%
2009	48.20	166^th	243	31.7%
2010	49.38	156^th	254	38.6%
2011	48.39	144^th	246	41.5%
2012	37.05	187^th	255	26.7%
2013	43.29	158^th	248	36.3%
2014	42.71	158^th	252	37.3%
2015	42.54	166^th	256	35.2%
2016	49.16	139^th	255	45.5%
2017	39.75	153^rd	236	35.2%
2018	36.13	155^th	225	31.1%
2019	38.91	162^nd	247	34.4%
2021	36.72	156^th	223	30.0%
2022	25.53	202^nd	249	18.9%
2023	20.79	203^rd	238	14.7%
2024	10.26	187^th	200	6.5%

See the entire list of Nebraska Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Columbus Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	39.34	13^th	22	40.9%
2019	35.39	9^th	15	40.0%
2021	36.82	15^th	27	44.4%
2023	23.63	28^th	35	20.0%
2024	22.74	17^th	22	22.7%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Columbus Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	41.28	22^nd	44	50.0%
2019	56.03	17^th	52	67.3%
2021	45.29	19^th	40	52.5%
2022	34.61	29^th	46	37.0%
2023	39.89	40^th	70	42.9%
2024	16.83	27^th	32	15.6%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Columbus Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	40.70	74^th	120	38.3%
2019	48.15	72^nd	123	41.5%
2021	38.99	75^th	115	34.8%
2022	32.46	87^th	118	26.3%
2023	25.56	117^th	144	18.8%
2024	18.17	78^th	92	15.2%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Migrant students at Columbus Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NE State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	63.74	2^nd	9	77.8%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska Middle Schools for Migrant Students!

Rank History for Female students at Columbus Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	43.16	88^th	147	40.1%
2019	39.89	100^th	156	35.9%
2021	31.12	103^rd	137	24.8%
2022	24.85	125^th	150	16.7%
2023	22.45	121^st	146	17.1%
2024	16.61	91^st	106	14.2%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Columbus Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	28.52	112^th	141	20.6%
2019	35.44	111^th	153	27.5%
2021	39.12	95^th	144	34.0%
2022	25.44	132^nd	160	17.5%
2023	22.05	132^nd	156	15.4%
2024	12.04	94^th	106	11.3%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Columbus Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	50.71	25^th	56	55.4%
2019	54.30	23^rd	62	62.9%
2021	38.60	36^th	59	39.0%
2022	35.11	40^th	61	34.4%
2023	31.28	51^st	67	23.9%
2024	15.39	48^th	56	14.3%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Columbus Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	NE State Percentile
2018	42.79	124^th	203	38.9%
2019	42.18	132^nd	222	40.5%
2021	49.07	103^rd	204	49.5%
2022	35.04	164^th	234	29.9%
2023	37.41	143^rd	217	34.1%
2024	21.68	118^th	141	16.3%

See the entire list of Best Nebraska Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Nebraska Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Nebraska Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Columbus Middle School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	678	2	4	0	2	n/a	n/a	0	686
1989	484	1	5	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	492
1990	481	0	4	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	486
1991	750	5	2	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	758
1992	796	3	0	3	2	n/a	n/a	0	804
1993	844	2	0	7	1	n/a	n/a	0	854
1994	815	3	5	13	3	n/a	n/a	0	839
1995	841	5	3	24	7	n/a	n/a	0	880
1996	841	5	3	24	7	n/a	n/a	0	880
1997	842	7	4	34	8	n/a	n/a	0	895
1998	836	8	8	44	6	n/a	n/a	0	902
1999	737	8	8	21	4	n/a	n/a	28	806
2000	708	4	9	57	2	n/a	n/a	0	780
2001	662	4	9	64	3	n/a	n/a	0	742
2002	648	5	7	108	5	n/a	n/a	0	773
2003	648	5	7	108	5	n/a	n/a	0	773
2004	665	9	6	140	6	n/a	n/a	0	826
2005	662	8	7	164	8	n/a	n/a	0	849
2006	631	7	8	178	6	n/a	n/a	0	830
2007	574	6	8	185	8	n/a	n/a	0	781
2008	551	8	12	212	3	n/a	n/a	0	786
2009	526	7	10	229	4	n/a	n/a	0	776
2010	516	9	10	234	8	n/a	n/a	0	777
2011	526	1	6	263	16	0	16	0	828
2012	528	4	4	249	10	0	13	0	808
2013	504	4	1	249	5	1	12	0	776
2014	478	6	3	288	5	1	14	0	795
2015	497	10	2	319	5	1	12	0	846
2016	503	9	4	328	7	1	8	0	860
2017	484	9	4	329	6	0	13	0	845
2018	610	13	8	452	6	0	21	0	1110
2019	621	14	7	463	9	0	25	0	1139
2020	619	19	10	489	7	0	21	0	1165
2021	629	14	12	489	12	0	19	0	1175
2022	578	11	11	502	8	0	24	0	1134
2023	549	15	11	565	11	0	23	0	1174
2024	529	21	12	605	16	0	24	0	1207

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Columbus Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	686	40.8	16.8	11.5
1989	492	33.0	14.9	11
1990	486	34.4	14.1	11.9
1991	758	52.6	14.4	10.8
1992	804	53.6	15.0	12.9
1993	854	54.5	15.7	13.5
1994	839	54.2	15.5	14.8
1995	880	57.1	15.4	15.5
1996	880	57.1	15.4	15.5
1997	895	55.8	16.0	16.8
1998	902	56.9	15.9	15.9
1999	806	56.9	14.2	26.1
2000	780	54.9	14.2	27.9
2001	742	55.9	13.3	27.1
2002	773	57.5	13.4	30.7
2003	773	57.5	13.4	30.7
2004	826	58.6	14.1	35
2005	849	58.7	14.5	39.3
2006	830	59.0	14.1	38.3
2007	781	59.7	13.1	38.8
2008	786	60.0	13.1	40.1
2009	776	58.8	13.2	43
2010	777	58.8	13.2	51.4
2011	828	56.9	14.5	50.1
2012	808	58.0	13.9	51
2013	776	56.5	13.7	50.6
2014	795	56.5	14.0	51.3
2015	846	58.0	14.5	52.7
2016	860	60.0	14.3	56.9
2017	845	59.0	14.3	56.1
2018	1110	75.5	14.7	59.6
2019	1139	78.0	14.6	56.8
2020	1165	80.1	14.5	54.8
2021	1175	79.1	14.8	53
2022	1134	81.1	13.9	58.5
2023	1174	78.2	15.0	55.4
2024	1207	74.8	16.1	62.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Columbus Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	686	40.8	16.8	11.5
1989	492	33.0	14.9	11
1990	486	34.4	14.1	11.9
1991	758	52.6	14.4	10.8
1992	804	53.6	15.0	12.9
1993	854	54.5	15.7	13.5
1994	839	54.2	15.5	14.8
1995	880	57.1	15.4	15.5
1996	880	57.1	15.4	15.5
1997	895	55.8	16.0	16.8
1998	902	56.9	15.9	15.9
1999	806	56.9	14.2	26.1
2000	780	54.9	14.2	27.9
2001	742	55.9	13.3	27.1
2002	773	57.5	13.4	30.7
2003	773	57.5	13.4	30.7
2004	826	58.6	14.1	35
2005	849	58.7	14.5	39.3
2006	830	59.0	14.1	38.3
2007	781	59.7	13.1	38.8
2008	786	60.0	13.1	40.1
2009	776	58.8	13.2	43
2010	777	58.8	13.2	51.4
2011	828	56.9	14.5	50.1
2012	808	58.0	13.9	51
2013	776	56.5	13.7	50.6
2014	795	56.5	14.0	51.3
2015	846	58.0	14.5	52.7
2016	860	60.0	14.3	56.9
2017	845	59.0	14.3	56.1
2018	1110	75.5	14.7	59.6
2019	1139	78.0	14.6	56.8
2020	1165	80.1	14.5	54.8
2021	1175	79.1	14.8	53
2022	1134	81.1	13.9	58.5
2023	1174	78.2	15.0	55.4
2024	1207	74.8	16.1	62.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Columbus Middle School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$420 (4.3%)	$8,597 (88.1%)	$9,762
2020	$157 (1.4%)	$9,740 (87.3%)	$11,154
2021	$423 (3.4%)	$10,633 (86.2%)	$12,333
2022	$610 (4.7%)	$11,043 (85.2%)	$12,966
2023	$851 (6.5%)	$11,037 (84.3%)	$13,098

Data source: Nebraska Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Columbus Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 162^nd of 247 Middle schools	Ranks 203^rd of 238 Middle schools	19.7%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
5th Grade English Language Arts (Columbus Middle School)	41	41
5th Grade English Language Arts (Columbus Public Schools)	41	41
5th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	48	56	8%
5th Grade Mathematics (Columbus Middle School)	41	43	2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Columbus Public Schools)	41	43	2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	54	65	11%
5th Grade Science (Columbus Middle School)	66	68	2%
5th Grade Science (Columbus Public Schools)	66	68	2%
5th Grade Science (Nebraska)	68	76	8%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Columbus Middle School)	39	43	4%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Columbus Public Schools)	39	43	4%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	49	55	6%
6th Grade Mathematics (Columbus Middle School)	50	47	3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Columbus Public Schools)	50	47	3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	55	57	2%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Columbus Middle School)	42	43	1%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Columbus Public Schools)	42	43	1%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	49	54	5%
7th Grade Mathematics (Columbus Middle School)	44	58	14%
7th Grade Mathematics (Columbus Public Schools)	44	58	14%
7th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	48	66	18%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Columbus Middle School)	43	50	7%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Columbus Public Schools)	43	50	7%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Nebraska)	50	62	12%
8th Grade Mathematics (Columbus Middle School)	56	58	2%
8th Grade Mathematics (Columbus Public Schools)	56	58	2%
8th Grade Mathematics (Nebraska)	47	61	14%
8th Grade Science (Columbus Middle School)	67	49	18%
8th Grade Science (Columbus Public Schools)	67	49	18%
8th Grade Science (Nebraska)	62	64	2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1139	1174	3.1%
African American	14	15	7.1%
American Indian	9	11	22.2%
Asian	7	11	57.1%
Hispanic	463	565	22%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	621	549	11.6%
Two or More Races	25	23	8%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	56.8%	55.4%	1.4%

Schools Near Columbus Middle School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Columbus Middle School	Public	5-8	2200 26th St	Columbus	68602	Platte County	Columbus Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(402) 563-7060	1,207	75	16.1	62.6%	529 (43.8%)	21 (1.7%)	605 (50.1%)	12 (1.0%)	16 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (2.0%)	10.3	187^th of 200 public middle schools	6.5%		20.8	203^rd of 238 public middle schools	14.7%	16	$13,098	$851	$11,037
Lakeview Junior High School	Public	7-8	3744 83rd Street	Columbus	68601	Platte County	Lakeview Community Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(402) 564-8518	136	7	19.5	39.7%	95 (69.9%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (28.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.5%)	39.2	136^th of 200 public middle schools	32.0%		48.9	134^th of 238 public middle schools	43.7%	2	$14,915	$195	$11,402
Schuyler Middle School	Public	6-8	200 W 10th St	Schuyler	68661	Colfax County	Schuyler Community Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(402) 352-5514	380	29	12.9	67.9%	34 (8.9%)	10 (2.6%)	334 (87.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	16.1	178^th of 200 public middle schools	11.0%		24.9	197^th of 238 public middle schools	17.2%	19	$14,722	$1,279	$11,139
Shelby - Rising City Middle School	Public	6-8	650 N Walnut St	Shelby	68662	Polk County	Shelby - Rising City Public Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(402) 527-5946	84	6	15.0	40.5%	67 (79.8%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (17.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.4%)	32.6	151^st of 200 public middle schools	24.5%		37.1	167^th of 238 public middle schools	29.8%	16	$20,372	$566	$16,237

Columbus Middle School

Columbus Middle School:

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Columbus Public Schools:

What do you think?

Rank History for Columbus Middle School

Rank History for all students at Columbus Middle School

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Columbus Middle School

Rank History for Special Education students at Columbus Middle School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Columbus Middle School

Rank History for Migrant students at Columbus Middle School

Rank History for Female students at Columbus Middle School

Rank History for Male students at Columbus Middle School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Columbus Middle School

Rank History for White students at Columbus Middle School

Enrollment information for Columbus Middle School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Columbus Middle School

Student/Teacher Ratio Columbus Middle School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Columbus Middle School

Impact of COVID-19 on Columbus Middle School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Columbus Middle School