Public schools in Columbia, TN
12 open public schools with an address in Columbia, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
12
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
6,491
12 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
Not reported
Across reporting schools
Charter schools
0
1 virtual
An overview of Columbia public schools
The federal directory lists 12 public schools in Columbia, TN: 6 elementary, 2 middle, 4 high. The 12 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 6,491 students, an average of 541 per school. The largest campus is Columbia Central High School (1,401 students), and the largest elementary school is R Howell Elementary School (587).
Every listed school belongs to Maury County Schools. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
School choice options include 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
School districts and agencies serving Columbia
Elementary schools in Columbia
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Park Elementary School Maury County Schools | PK–04 | 308 | — | |
| J E Woodard Elementary School Maury County Schools | PK–04 | 581 | — | |
| J. Brown Elementary School Maury County Schools | PK–04 | 336 | — | |
| J. R. Baker Elementary School Maury County Schools | PK–04 | 283 | — | |
| R Howell Elementary School Maury County Schools | PK–04 | 587 | — | |
| Riverside Elementary School Maury County Schools | PK–04 | 380 | — |
Middle schools in Columbia
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E. A. Cox Middle School Maury County Schools | 05–08 | 626 | — | |
| Whitthorne Middle School Maury County Schools | 05–08 | 951 | — |
High schools in Columbia
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Central High School Maury County Schools | 09–12 | 1,401 | — | |
| Northfield Academy Maury County Schools | 09–12 | 74 | — | |
| Spring Hill High School Maury County Schools | 09–12 | 907 | — | |
| Virtual Academy of Maury County Maury County Schools · Virtual | 07–12 | 57 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White45.9%
- Hispanic23.1%
- Black23.5%
- Asian1.2%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial6%
Enrollment-weighted across 12 Columbia schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (6,491 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Columbia
How many public schools are in Columbia, TN?
The current NCES directory lists 12 open public schools with a location address in Columbia: 6 elementary, 2 middle, 4 high. Together they reported 6,491 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Columbia?
All listed public schools with an address in Columbia belong to Maury County Schools. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Columbia?
Columbia Central High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Columbia, with 1,401 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 Tennessee.
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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee cities