Columbia Central High School

Summary:

Columbia Central High School is a public high school serving 1,474 students in grades 9-12 in Columbia, Tennessee. The school is part of the Maury County School District, which is ranked 95 out of 139 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite its diverse student population, with 49.05% White, 28.83% African American, and 19.2% Hispanic students, Columbia Central High School consistently ranks in the bottom third of Tennessee high schools, receiving a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's academic performance is significantly below state and county averages across various subject areas, such as Biology I, US History, English I, and Algebra II. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 10% of 10th-grade students were proficient or better in Biology I, compared to 36.5% statewide and 29.8% in Maury County. The school's low performance is particularly concerning for African American, Hispanic, and low-socioeconomic status (SES) students, who rank in the bottom 25% of Tennessee high schools for these subgroups.

The relatively low per-student spending of $8,675 and higher student-teacher ratio of 20.2 at Columbia Central High School, compared to nearby schools like Mt. Pleasant High School ($10,831 per student, 12.5 student-teacher ratio) and Spring Hill High School ($8,845 per student, 18 student-teacher ratio), may be contributing factors to the school's academic challenges. The persistent underperformance and equity concerns at Columbia Central High School suggest the need for a comprehensive, data-driven approach to school improvement, with a focus on addressing the unique needs of the school's diverse student population.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 921 Lion PKWY
       Columbia, TN  38401


(931) 381-2222

District: Maury County

SchoolDigger Rank:
344th of 392 Tennessee High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,875 Help


Feeder schools for Columbia Central High School:

Elementary:    Highland Park Elementary
    J E Woodard Elementary
    J. Brown Elementary
    J. R. Baker Elementary
    More...
Middle:    E. A. Cox Middle School
    Whitthorne Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  17.0 Help
Number of students:  1,409

Racial breakdown:

White:
47.8%
African American:
27.8%
Hispanic:
21.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  54.1% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Columbia Central High School ranks worse than 87.8% of high schools in Tennessee. It also ranks last among 3 ranked high schools in the Maury County School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 15.02. (See more...)
Help
The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Columbia Central High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Help
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
Help
Compare Details Columbia Central High School has the largest high school student body size in the Maury County School District. Student population at Columbia Central High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (47.8%), African American (27.8%), Hispanic (21.1%). (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Columbia Central High School is 17. 2 high schools in the Maury County School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Columbia Central High School employs 82.8 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Columbia Central High School is $9,875. 3 high schools in the Maury County School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Columbia Central High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Columbia Central High School 344th of 392 Tennessee public high schools. (See Columbia Central High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Maury County:

SchoolDigger ranks Maury County 95th of 140 Tennessee school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Columbia Central High School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Columbia Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2010 61.07 118th 267 55.8%
2011 63.60 106th 273 61.2%
2012 38.07 206th 269 23.4%
2013 52.61 161st 285 43.5%
2014 44.16 197th 296 33.4%
2015 42.05 224th 300 25.3%
2016 44.30 197th 351 43.9%
2017 18.62 247th 273 9.5%
2018 21.13 288th 341 15.5%
2019 17.62 299th 342 12.6%
2021 22.68 283rd 347 18.4%
2022 12.94 316th 358 11.7%
2023 15.72 331st 384 13.8%
2024 15.02 344th 392 12.2%
See the entire list of Tennessee High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Columbia Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 30.62 118th 159 25.8%
2022 36.63 93rd 151 38.4%
2024 19.86 171st 183 6.6%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Columbia Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 24.44 259th 308 15.9%
2019 23.01 260th 302 13.9%
2021 21.75 267th 317 15.8%
2022 12.72 304th 322 5.6%
2023 15.45 305th 330 7.6%
2024 14.59 311th 337 7.7%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Columbia Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 16.76 298th 337 11.6%
2021 22.85 273rd 340 19.7%
2022 12.67 312th 350 10.9%
2023 15.97 322nd 366 12.0%
2024 13.95 328th 365 10.1%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Columbia Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 19.75 280th 329 14.9%
2021 21.41 281st 332 15.4%
2022 13.80 313th 349 10.3%
2023 14.14 323rd 359 10.0%
2024 14.22 334th 366 8.7%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Columbia Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 18.71 188th 199 5.5%
2019 18.36 174th 187 7.0%
2021 16.80 190th 208 8.7%
2022 14.65 206th 222 7.2%
2023 12.55 227th 239 5.0%
2024 12.63 230th 240 4.2%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Columbia Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.28 132nd 159 17.0%
2019 24.60 115th 153 24.8%
2021 25.32 141st 180 21.7%
2022 13.85 185th 189 2.1%
2023 17.19 185th 202 8.4%
2024 19.38 188th 209 10.0%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Columbia Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 22.44 278th 307 9.4%
2019 18.75 280th 301 7.0%
2021 25.37 249th 306 18.6%
2022 13.87 298th 312 4.5%
2023 15.91 302nd 325 7.1%
2024 18.62 293rd 326 10.1%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Tennessee 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.

Columbia Central High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 







Data source: Tennessee Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Columbia Central High School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 848 236 2 2 0 n/a n/a 0 1088
1989 1156 309 6 5 n/a n/a n/a 0 1476
1990 1162 328 0 10 0 n/a n/a 0 1500
1991 1213 363 10 22 0 n/a n/a 0 1608
1992 1335 399 11 24 0 n/a n/a 0 1769
1993 1291 425 6 19 1 n/a n/a 0 1742
1994 1294 462 6 30 2 n/a n/a 0 1794
1995 1308 536 7 31 0 n/a n/a 0 1882
1996 1308 536 7 31 0 n/a n/a 0 1882
1997 1247 539 6 44 0 n/a n/a -43 1793
1998 1097 299 7 31 2 n/a n/a -1 1435
1999 1037 357 10 55 0 n/a n/a -2 1457
2000 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1487 1487
2001 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1281 1281
2002 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1436 1436
2003 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1436 1436
2004 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1427 1427
2005 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1524 1524
2006 1030 446 9 63 5 n/a n/a 0 1553
2007 1038 427 8 60 3 n/a n/a 0 1536
2008 983 432 10 67 3 n/a n/a 0 1495
2009 916 410 8 67 2 n/a n/a 0 1403
2010 887 383 10 75 2 n/a n/a 0 1357
2011 815 411 8 69 3 1 5 0 1312
2012 822 408 9 84 2 0 10 0 1335
2013 769 407 12 87 3 1 12 0 1291
2014 760 395 11 93 4 0 15 0 1278
2015 796 425 13 131 4 2 1 0 1372
2016 776 407 15 131 1 2 1 0 1333
2017 780 395 12 159 4 1 2 0 1353
2018 772 432 17 172 3 1 2 0 1399
2019 744 410 16 181 4 0 6 0 1361
2020 728 425 14 211 3 0 5 0 1386
2021 680 418 14 237 1 1 6 0 1357
2022 720 415 12 263 1 1 11 0 1423
2023 723 425 14 283 5 2 22 0 1474
2024 674 391 12 297 6 1 28 0 1409

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 Columbia Central High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1088 60.0 18.1 n/a
1989 1476 60.0 24.6 n/a
1990 1500 60.0 25.0 n/a
1991 1608 82.0 19.6 n/a
1992 1769 82.0 21.5 n/a
1993 1742 82.0 21.2 n/a
1994 1794 91.0 19.7 n/a
1995 1882 106.0 17.8 n/a
1996 1882 106.0 17.8 n/a
1997 1793 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 1435 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 1457 n/a 0.0 n/a
2000 1487 n/a 0.0 n/a
2001 1281 n/a 0.0 n/a
2002 1436 n/a n/a n/a
2003 1436 n/a n/a n/a
2004 1427 n/a n/a n/a
2005 1524 n/a n/a n/a
2006 1553 90.0 17.3 n/a
2007 1536 102.0 15.1 39.7
2008 1495 100.0 15.0 41.7
2009 1403 100.0 14.0 46.3
2010 1357 97.5 13.9 43.2
2011 1312 99.0 13.2 44.7
2012 1335 98.0 13.6 53.1
2013 1291 100.1 12.8 57.6
2014 1278 99.0 12.9 52.7
2015 1372 92.0 14.9 53.8
2016 1333 90.0 14.8 61.1
2017 1353 95.0 14.2 n/a
2018 1399 91.0 15.3 n/a
2019 1361 83.7 16.2 n/a
2020 1386 79.6 17.4 54.1
2021 1357 68.3 19.8 n/a
2022 1423 78.8 18.0 n/a
2023 1474 72.8 20.2 n/a
2024 1409 82.8 17.0 n/a

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 Columbia Central High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1088 60.0 18.1 n/a
1989 1476 60.0 24.6 n/a
1990 1500 60.0 25.0 n/a
1991 1608 82.0 19.6 n/a
1992 1769 82.0 21.5 n/a
1993 1742 82.0 21.2 n/a
1994 1794 91.0 19.7 n/a
1995 1882 106.0 17.8 n/a
1996 1882 106.0 17.8 n/a
1997 1793 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 1435 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 1457 n/a 0.0 n/a
2000 1487 n/a 0.0 n/a
2001 1281 n/a 0.0 n/a
2002 1436 n/a n/a n/a
2003 1436 n/a n/a n/a
2004 1427 n/a n/a n/a
2005 1524 n/a n/a n/a
2006 1553 90.0 17.3 n/a
2007 1536 102.0 15.1 39.7
2008 1495 100.0 15.0 41.7
2009 1403 100.0 14.0 46.3
2010 1357 97.5 13.9 43.2
2011 1312 99.0 13.2 44.7
2012 1335 98.0 13.6 53.1
2013 1291 100.1 12.8 57.6
2014 1278 99.0 12.9 52.7
2015 1372 92.0 14.9 53.8
2016 1333 90.0 14.8 61.1
2017 1353 95.0 14.2 n/a
2018 1399 91.0 15.3 n/a
2019 1361 83.7 16.2 n/a
2020 1386 79.6 17.4 54.1
2021 1357 68.3 19.8 n/a
2022 1423 78.8 18.0 n/a
2023 1474 72.8 20.2 n/a
2024 1409 82.8 17.0 n/a

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 Columbia Central High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $525 (6.2%) $7,557 (89.4%) $8,450
2020 $478 (5.5%) $7,807 (89.7%) $8,708
2021 $653 (7.5%) $7,709 (88.9%) $8,675
2022 $1,054 (11.5%) $7,794 (84.8%) $9,189
2023 $959 (9.7%) $8,478 (85.9%) $9,875

Data source: Tennessee Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Columbia Central High 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 299th of 342 High schoolsRanks 331st of 384 High schools
 1.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
9th Grade Algebra I (Columbia Central High School)6.25
 1.2%
   9th Grade Algebra I (Maury County)5.96.9
 1%
   9th Grade Algebra I (Tennessee)21.817.8
 4%
9th Grade English I (Columbia Central High School)18.417.6
 0.8%
   9th Grade English I (Maury County)23.924.2
 0.3%
   9th Grade English I (Tennessee)33.336
 2.7%
9th Grade Geometry (Columbia Central High School)48.237.2
 11%
   9th Grade Geometry (Maury County)49.854.1
 4.3%
   9th Grade Geometry (Tennessee)7965.9
 13.1%
10th Grade Algebra II (Columbia Central High School)28.128.2
 0.1%
   10th Grade Algebra II (Maury County)3436.9
 2.9%
   10th Grade Algebra II (Tennessee)46.747.7
 1%
10th Grade English II (Columbia Central High School)28.333.5
 5.2%
   10th Grade English II (Maury County)35.443
 7.6%
   10th Grade English II (Tennessee)4450.7
 6.7%
11th Grade Algebra II (Columbia Central High School)17.27.2
 10%
   11th Grade Algebra II (Maury County)11.48.7
 2.7%
   11th Grade Algebra II (Tennessee)17.717
 0.7%
All Grades Algebra I (Columbia Central High School)5.75.3
 0.4%
   All Grades Algebra I (Maury County)10.710.8
 0.1%
   All Grades Algebra I (Tennessee)27.420.7
 6.7%
All Grades Algebra II (Columbia Central High School)16.19.4
 6.7%
   All Grades Algebra II (Maury County)18.815
 3.8%
   All Grades Algebra II (Tennessee)27.425.6
 1.8%
All Grades English I (Columbia Central High School)1816.9
 1.1%
   All Grades English I (Maury County)23.323.5
 0.2%
   All Grades English I (Tennessee)32.735.4
 2.7%
All Grades English II (Columbia Central High School)25.733
 7.3%
   All Grades English II (Maury County)33.942.5
 8.6%
   All Grades English II (Tennessee)42.749.4
 6.7%
All Grades Geometry (Columbia Central High School)20.910.3
 10.6%
   All Grades Geometry (Maury County)2617.8
 8.2%
   All Grades Geometry (Tennessee)33.926.2
 7.7%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students13611474
 8.3%
African American410425
 3.7%
American Indian45
 25%
Asian1614
 12.5%
Hispanic181283
 56.4%
Pacific Islander02
White744723
 2.8%
Two or More Races622
 266.7%


Schools Near Columbia Central High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Columbia Central High School

Columbia Central High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Highland Park Elementary
Elementary : J E Woodard Elementary
Elementary : J. Brown Elementary
Elementary : J. R. Baker Elementary
Elementary : R Howell Elementary
Elementary : Riverside Elementary
Middle : E. A. Cox Middle School
Middle : Whitthorne Middle School

Columbia Central High School ranks in the bottom 12.2% of Tennessee high schools.

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,409 students attended Columbia Central High School.

Students at Columbia Central High School are 48% White, 28% African American, 21% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Tennessee Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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