Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Columbia County

Georgia · Public School District
30
Schools
29,025
Students
$12,726
Per-Pupil Spend
-11% nat'l
31.2%
Free Lunch Rate
-21pp vs nat'l
92.0%
Graduation Rate
+5.5pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Columbia County is a public school district in Georgia serving 29,025 students across 30 schools. It includes 17 elementary, 8 middle, 5 high schools. Its graduation rate of 92.0% is above the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $12,726 is below the national average for a US public school district. 31% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Opportunity scores across its schools are moderate, with a district median of 49/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (30)
Middle Schools8 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Columbia Middle School06–08993
Evans Middle School06–08980
Greenbrier Middle School06–08845
Grovetown Middle School06–081,080
Harlem Middle School06–08981
Lakeside Middle School06–08531
Riverside Middle School06–08757
Stallings Island Middle School06–08690
High Schools5 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Evans High School09–121,887
Greenbrier High School09–121,801
Grovetown High School09–122,236
Harlem High School09–121,223
Lakeside High School09–121,940
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$12,726-11% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
45%
44%
State
45.4%
Local (property tax)
43.9%
Federal
10.7%

Funding is shared between state (45%) and local sources (44%), with limited federal reliance.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
30
Schools
29,025
Students
31%
Free Lunch
$13K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate92.0%
Opportunity Score49/100
StateGeorgia →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Strong graduation outcomes
92.0% graduation rate — 5.5 points above the national average of 86.5%.
Range of school options
With 30 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Columbia County?
Columbia County has 30 public schools, serving a total of 29,025 students.
What is the graduation rate for Columbia County?
The graduation rate is 92.0%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Columbia County spend per student?
Columbia County spends $12,726 per pupil — 11% below the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Columbia County?
31% of students in Columbia County qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Columbia County?
No, Columbia County does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Columbia County serve?
Columbia County serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Columbia County?
The median opportunity score across schools in Columbia County is 49/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.