Public schools in Columbus, GA
49 open public schools with an address in Columbus, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
49
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
27,058
49 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14.1:1
Georgia median 13.7:1
Charter schools
0
18 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Columbus public schools
The federal directory lists 49 public schools in Columbus, GA: 29 elementary, 10 middle, 9 high, 1 combined or other. The 49 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 27,058 students, an average of 552 per school. The largest campus is Northside High School (1,405 students), and the largest elementary school is Mary A Buckner Academy (789).
Muscogee County operates the most schools here (48), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 14.1:1, similar to the statewide school median of 13.7:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 18 magnet schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 9 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 9 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 8 of 9 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 87% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Columbus
Elementary schools in Columbus
29| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen Elementary School Muscogee County | KG–05 | 436 | 14.1:1 | |
| Blanchard Elementary School Muscogee County | PK–05 | 451 | 14.5:1 | |
| Brewer Elementary School Muscogee County | PK–02 | 367 | 10.2:1 | |
| Britt David Magnet Academy Muscogee County · Magnet | KG–05 | 552 | 17.8:1 | |
| Clubview Elementary School Muscogee County · Magnet | PK–05 | 566 | 14.9:1 | |
| Davis Elementary School Muscogee County | KG–05 | 387 | 13.1:1 | |
| Dimon Elementary Muscogee County · Magnet | KG–05 | 358 | 12.3:1 | |
| Dorothy Height Elementary School Muscogee County | PK–05 | 419 | 11.2:1 | |
| Double Churches Elementary School Muscogee County | PK–05 | 472 | 17.2:1 | |
| Downtown Elementary Magnet Academy Muscogee County · Magnet | PK–05 | 382 | 15:1 | |
| Eagle Ridge Academy Muscogee County | PK–05 | 658 | 13.7:1 | |
| Forrest Road Elementary School Muscogee County | PK–05 | 278 | 15.9:1 | |
| Fox Elementary School Muscogee County | PK–05 | 383 | 13.7:1 | |
| Gentian Elementary School Muscogee County | KG–05 | 442 | 11.3:1 | |
| Georgetown Elementary School Muscogee County | PK–05 | 394 | 14.3:1 | |
| Hannan Elementary Muscogee County · Magnet | KG–05 | 322 | 10.6:1 | |
| Johnson Elementary School Muscogee County | KG–05 | 336 | 11:1 | |
| Key Elementary School Muscogee County | PK–05 | 263 | 11.5:1 | |
| Lonnie Jackson Academy Muscogee County | PK–05 | 395 | 14.9:1 | |
| Martin Luther King- Jr. Elementary School Muscogee County | PK–05 | 487 | 14.8:1 | |
| Mary A Buckner Academy Muscogee County | PK–05 | 789 | 19.7:1 | |
| North Columbus Elementary Muscogee County | PK–05 | 737 | 16:1 | |
| Reese Road Leadership Academy Muscogee County · Magnet | KG–05 | 387 | 13.6:1 | |
| Rigdon Road Elementary School Muscogee County | PK–05 | 437 | 13.9:1 | |
| River Road Elementary School Muscogee County | PK–05 | 454 | 13.8:1 | |
| South Columbus Elementary School Muscogee County | PK–05 | 326 | 16.1:1 | |
| Waddell Elementary School Muscogee County | PK–05 | 520 | 16.5:1 | |
| Wesley Heights Elementary School Muscogee County | PK–05 | 349 | 13.2:1 | |
| Wynnton Elementary School Muscogee County | KG–05 | 332 | 11.6:1 |
Middle schools in Columbus
10| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arnold Middle School Muscogee County | 06–08 | 582 | 15.6:1 | |
| Baker Middle School Muscogee County | 06–08 | 631 | 15.6:1 | |
| Blackmon Road Middle School Muscogee County | 06–08 | 478 | 10.3:1 | |
| Double Churches Middle School Muscogee County | 06–08 | 429 | 12:1 | |
| East Columbus Magnet Academy Muscogee County · Magnet | 06–08 | 395 | 12.6:1 | |
| Eddy Middle School Muscogee County | 06–08 | 448 | 14.3:1 | |
| Fort Middle School Muscogee County · Magnet | 06–08 | 440 | 13.5:1 | |
| Richards Middle School Muscogee County · Magnet | 06–08 | 799 | 17.2:1 | |
| Rothschild Leadership Academy School Muscogee County | 06–08 | 498 | 14:1 | |
| Veterans Memorial Middle School Muscogee County | 06–08 | 681 | 15.8:1 |
High schools in Columbus
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carver High School Muscogee County · Magnet | 09–12 | 887 | 14.4:1 | |
| Columbus High School Muscogee County · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,161 | 19:1 | |
| Hardaway High School Muscogee County · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,067 | 13.3:1 | |
| Jordan Vocational High School Muscogee County · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,040 | 12.6:1 | |
| Kendrick High School Muscogee County · Magnet | 09–12 | 840 | 14.9:1 | |
| Northside High School Muscogee County · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,405 | 15.6:1 | |
| Rainey McCullers School of the Arts Muscogee County · Magnet | 06–12 | 420 | 12.7:1 | |
| Shaw High School Muscogee County · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,162 | 14.6:1 | |
| Spencer High School Muscogee County · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,016 | 15.8:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Columbus
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscogee Education Transition Center Department of Juvenile Justice · Special Education School | 06–11 | 0 | 0:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White17.4%
- Hispanic13.9%
- Black58.2%
- Asian2.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial7.3%
Enrollment-weighted across 48 Columbus schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (27,058 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Columbus
How many public schools are in Columbus, GA?
The current NCES directory lists 49 open public schools with a location address in Columbus: 29 elementary, 10 middle, 9 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 27,058 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Columbus?
Schools with an address in Columbus belong to 2 education agencies, led by Muscogee County (48 schools), Department of Juvenile Justice (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Columbus?
Northside High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Columbus, with 1,405 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Columbus?
No school with an address in Columbus is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Georgia.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Columbus schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Columbus public schools is 14.1:1, similar to the Georgia school median of 13.7:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Columbus guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Georgia cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Georgia cities