Public schools in Columbia, MS
9 open public schools with an address in Columbia, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
9
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,296
9 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.1:1
Mississippi median 13.9:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Columbia public schools
The federal directory lists 9 public schools in Columbia, MS: 3 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high, 1 combined or other. The 9 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,296 students, an average of 255 per school. The largest campus is Columbia High School (484 students), and the largest elementary school is Columbia Primary School (448).
Marion County School District operates the most schools here (5), and 2 regular districts have at least one Columbia campus. 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 13.1:1, lower than the statewide school median of 13.9:1. 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.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 82% 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 Columbia
Elementary schools in Columbia
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Elementary School Columbia School District | 03–05 | 378 | 13.1:1 | |
| Columbia Primary School Columbia School District | PK–02 | 448 | 12.9:1 | |
| East Marion Elementary School Marion County School District | PK–05 | 298 | 17.8:1 |
Middle schools in Columbia
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Marion Middle School Marion County School District | 06–08 | 143 | 15.1:1 | |
| Jefferson Middle School Columbia School District | 06–08 | 329 | 12.1:1 |
High schools in Columbia
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia High School Columbia School District | 09–12 | 484 | 13.7:1 | |
| East Marion High School Marion County School District | 09–13 | 216 | 10.4:1 | |
| Marion Co Voc Complex Marion County School District · Career and Technical School | 08–12 | 0 | — |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Columbia
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion Co Alt School Marion County School District · Alternative School | 01–12 | 0 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White42.4%
- Hispanic2%
- Black51%
- Asian0.4%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial4.1%
Enrollment-weighted across 7 Columbia schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,296 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Columbia
How many public schools are in Columbia, MS?
The current NCES directory lists 9 open public schools with a location address in Columbia: 3 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 2,296 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Columbia?
Schools with an address in Columbia belong to 2 education agencies, led by Marion County School District (5 schools), Columbia School District (4 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Columbia?
Columbia High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Columbia, with 484 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Columbia?
No school with an address in Columbia is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Mississippi.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Columbia schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Columbia public schools is 13.1:1, lower than the Mississippi school median of 13.9:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Columbia 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi cities