Public schools in Columbus, NE
15 open public schools with an address in Columbus, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
15
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
5,040
15 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
15.5:1
Nebraska median 12.5:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Columbus public schools
The federal directory lists 15 public schools in Columbus, NE: 6 elementary, 2 middle, 4 high, 3 combined or other. The 15 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 5,040 students, an average of 336 per school. The largest campus is Columbus High School (1,337 students), and the largest elementary school is Shell Creek Elementary School (373).
Columbus Public Schools operates the most schools here (9), and 2 regular districts have at least one Columbus campus, 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 15.5:1, higher than the statewide school median of 12.5:1. 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 1 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 52% 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
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centennial Elementary School Columbus Public Schools | PK–04 | 353 | 14.1:1 | |
| Emerson Elementary School Columbus Public Schools | PK–04 | 286 | 19.7:1 | |
| Lost Creek Elementary Sch Columbus Public Schools | PK–04 | 318 | 12.7:1 | |
| North Park Elementary Columbus Public Schools | PK–04 | 304 | 15.6:1 | |
| Shell Creek Elementary School Lakeview Community Schools | PK–06 | 373 | 13.6:1 | |
| West Park Elementary Columbus Public Schools | PK–04 | 215 | 15.4:1 |
Middle schools in Columbus
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Middle School Columbus Public Schools | 05–08 | 1,166 | 15.7:1 | |
| Lakeview Junior High School Lakeview Community Schools | 07–08 | 152 | 21.9:1 |
High schools in Columbus
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus High School Columbus Public Schools | 09–12 | 1,337 | 17.2:1 | |
| ESU 7 Center Educational Service Unit 07 · Special Education School | 08–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| Lakeview High School Lakeview Community Schools | 09–12 | 344 | 13:1 | |
| Non-Traditional Learning and Support Center Columbus Public Schools · Alternative School | 05–12 | 22 | — |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Columbus
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESU 7 Bridges Educational Service Unit 07 · Special Education School | PK–12 | 0 | — | |
| ESU 7 Learning Academy Educational Service Unit 07 · Special Education School | PK–12 | 0 | — | |
| Kramer Education Center Columbus Public Schools | PK–PK | 170 | 24.3:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White47.1%
- Hispanic48.9%
- Black1.4%
- Asian0.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.7%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial1.3%
Enrollment-weighted across 12 Columbus schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (5,040 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Columbus
How many public schools are in Columbus, NE?
The current NCES directory lists 15 open public schools with a location address in Columbus: 6 elementary, 2 middle, 4 high, 3 combined or other. Together they reported 5,040 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 3 education agencies, led by Columbus Public Schools (9 schools), Educational Service Unit 07 (3 schools), Lakeview Community Schools (3 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Columbus?
Columbus High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Columbus, with 1,337 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 Nebraska.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Columbus schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Columbus public schools is 15.5:1, higher than the Nebraska school median of 12.5:1. 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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska cities