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Public School Review - Established 2003

Columbus Elementary School District

433 N 3rd St
Columbus, MT 59019
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
9/
10
Top 20%
Tel: (406) 322-5373
www.columbus.k12.mt.us

Top Rankings

Columbus Elementary School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Montana for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 10%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 2 public schools serving 456 students in Columbus Elementary School District. This district's average testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public schools in Montana.
Public Schools in Columbus Elementary School District have an average math proficiency score of 42% (versus the Montana public school average of 37%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 10% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Montana public school average of 24% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (MT)
# Schools
2 Schools
845 Schools
# Students
456 Students
147,515 Students
# Teachers
29 Teachers
10,737 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1

Student By Grade

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends

GradeColumbus Elementary School DistrictMontana
Pre-K68
Kind3825
13626
25428
34429
44529
55529
65229
76028
86629
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District Rank

Columbus Elementary School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 335 school districts in Montana (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
Definition of Terms
This School District
State Average (MT)
#60 out of 350 school districts
(Top 20%)

Overall School District Rank Trends

YearColumbus Elementary School District
2023#60
2022#117
2021#129
2019#87
2018#35
2017#29
2016#30
2015#86
2013#10
2012#23
2011#105
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42%
37%

Math Proficiency Trends

YearColumbus Elementary School DistrictMontana
202342%37%
202242%35%
202137%36%
201949%42%
201853%42%
201754%41%
201660%43%
201549%40%
201382%66%
201281%68%
201177%68%
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54%
46%

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends

YearColumbus Elementary School DistrictMontana
202254%46%
202153%47%
201960%50%
201853%51%
201763%51%
201660%50%
201556%48%
201393%84%
201292%86%
201190%84%
201094%84%
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55-59%
37%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.19
0.40

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends

YearColumbus Elementary School DistrictMontana
20240.190.39
20230.200.39
20220.190.38
20210.210.38
20200.210.38
20190.210.38
20180.190.36
20170.190.36
20160.200.36
20150.180.35
20140.170.35
20130.180.33
20120.160.34
20110.160.33
20100.180.30
20090.170.29
20080.160.28
20070.130.28
20060.140.27
20050.110.27
20040.080.27
20030.100.27
20020.100.26
20010.120.26
20000.120.25
19990.070.24
19980.110.24
19970.100.24
19960.050.22
19950.070.22
19940.080.22
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% American Indian
2%
10%

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1992-2024)

YearColumbus Elementary School DistrictMontana
20242%10%
20232%10%
20221%11%
20212%11%
20203%11%
20193%11%
20182%12%
20172%12%
20162%12%
20152%11%
20143%11%
20133%11%
20123%12%
20113%11%
20102%12%
20093%12%
20083%11%
20072%12%
20062%12%
20051%11%
20032%11%
20022%11%
20012%11%
20004%11%
19992%10%
19982%10%
19972%10%
19951%10%
19942%10%
19933%9%
19929%9%
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% Asian
n/a
1%

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1992-2024)

YearColumbus Elementary School DistrictMontana
20241%1%
20231%1%
20221%1%
20211%1%
20201%1%
20191%1%
20101%1%
20091%1%
20082%1%
20072%1%
20062%1%
20052%1%
20042%1%
20032%1%
20021%1%
20012%1%
20001%1%
19991%1%
19982%1%
19971%1%
19961%1%
19951%1%
19941%1%
19931%1%
19921%1%
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% Hispanic
5%
7%

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2024)

YearColumbus Elementary School DistrictMontana
20245%6%
20235%6%
20224%5%
20216%5%
20205%5%
20195%5%
20184%4%
20174%4%
20163%4%
20153%4%
20144%4%
20134%4%
20125%4%
20114%4%
20105%3%
20094%3%
20084%3%
20073%2%
20062%2%
20051%2%
20041%2%
20031%2%
20022%2%
20012%2%
19981%1%
19971%2%
19951%1%
19941%1%
19931%1%
19921%1%
19912%1%
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% Black
1%
1%

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1998-2024)

YearColumbus Elementary School DistrictMontana
20241%1%
20231%1%
20221%1%
20121%1%
20101%1%
20091%1%
20071%1%
20051%1%
20041%1%
19991%1%
19981%1%
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% White
90%
76%

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1994-2024)

YearColumbus Elementary School DistrictMontana
202490%77%
202389%77%
202290%78%
202189%78%
202089%78%
201989%78%
201890%79%
201790%79%
201689%79%
201591%80%
201491%80%
201391%81%
201291%81%
201192%82%
201091%83%
200991%83%
200891%84%
200792%84%
200693%85%
200594%85%
200496%85%
200395%85%
200295%85%
200194%85%
200094%86%
199996%86%
199894%87%
199795%87%
199698%88%
199596%88%
199496%88%
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% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
5%

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2014-2024)

YearColumbus Elementary School DistrictMontana
20241%5%
20232%5%
20223%4%
20212%4%
20202%4%
20192%4%
20184%3%
20174%3%
20166%3%
20154%3%
20142%3%
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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $15,094 in this school district is less than the state median of $15,490. The school district revenue/student has grown by 25% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,439 is less than the state median of $15,580. The school district spending/student has declined by 30% over four school years.
Definition of Terms
This School District
This State (MT)
Total Revenue
$7 MM
$2,285 MM

Total Revenues Trends

YearColumbus Elementary School DistrictMontana
2023$7 MM$2 MM
2022$6 MM$2 MM
2021$7 MM$2 MM
2020$6 MM$2 MM
2019$7 MM$2 MM
2018$5 MM$2 MM
2017$5 MM$2 MM
2016$5 MM$2 MM
2015$4 MM$2 MM
2014$4 MM$2 MM
2012$4 MM$2 MM
2011$4 MM$2 MM
2010$4 MM$2 MM
2009$4 MM$1 MM
2008$4 MM$2 MM
2007$4 MM$1 MM
2006$3 MM$1 MM
2005$3 MM$1 MM
2004$3 MM$1 MM
2003$3 MM$1 MM
2002$3 MM$1 MM
2001$3 MM$1 MM
2000$2 MM$1 MM
1999$2 MM$1 MM
1998$2 MM$1 MM
1997$2 MM$1 MM
1996$2 MM$1 MM
1995$2 MM$1 MM
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Spending
$6 MM
$2,298 MM

Total Expenditure Trends

YearColumbus Elementary School DistrictMontana
2023$6 MM$2 MM
2022$10 MM$2 MM
2021$6 MM$2 MM
2020$10 MM$2 MM
2019$5 MM$2 MM
2018$4 MM$2 MM
2017$5 MM$2 MM
2016$4 MM$2 MM
2015$4 MM$2 MM
2014$4 MM$2 MM
2012$4 MM$2 MM
2011$4 MM$2 MM
2010$4 MM$2 MM
2009$4 MM$1 MM
2008$4 MM$1 MM
2007$3 MM$1 MM
2006$3 MM$1 MM
2005$3 MM$1 MM
2004$3 MM$1 MM
2003$3 MM$1 MM
2002$2 MM$1 MM
2001$2 MM$1 MM
2000$3 MM$1 MM
1999$4 MM$1 MM
1998$2 MM$1 MM
1997$2 MM$1 MM
1996$2 MM$1 MM
1995$2 MM$1 MM
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Revenue / Student
$15,094
$15,490

Average Revenue Per Student Trends

YearColumbus Elementary School DistrictMontana
2023$14,676$17,353
2022$12,073$17,118
2021$14,898$18,438
2020$12,073$17,118
2019$13,370$16,964
2018$10,710$17,300
2017$9,722$17,087
2016$9,852$16,286
2015$8,129$15,305
2014$8,718$16,457
2012$9,260$16,184
2011$9,222$15,398
2010$8,977$15,305
2009$9,239$13,611
2008$8,965$14,981
2007$8,620$13,019
2006$7,897$12,206
2005$6,850$11,851
2004$7,016$11,519
2003$6,215$10,500
2002$6,043$10,028
2001$6,260$9,685
2000$5,169$9,308
1999$5,528$8,330
1998$4,669$8,573
1997$4,280$7,655
1995$4,431$7,082
1992$4,121$7,082
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Spending / Student
$13,439
$15,580

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends

YearColumbus Elementary School DistrictMontana
2023$13,066$16,311
2022$19,212$16,545
2021$13,264$17,330
2020$19,212$16,545
2019$9,499$16,216
2018$9,062$17,245
2017$9,028$16,779
2016$9,194$16,362
2015$8,133$14,876
2014$8,586$16,381
2012$9,458$15,796
2011$8,454$15,854
2010$8,982$14,876
2009$8,609$13,259
2008$8,179$13,942
2007$7,523$12,364
2006$7,047$11,636
2005$6,126$11,089
2004$6,400$10,717
2003$5,848$10,434
2002$5,577$9,725
2001$5,511$9,463
2000$6,199$9,009
1999$9,211$8,277
1998$4,526$8,100
1997$4,199$7,814
1995$4,062$7,055
1992$3,587$6,494
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Best Columbus Elementary School District Public Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Columbus Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
218 E 1st Ave N
Columbus, MT 59019
(406) 322-5372
Gr: PK-5 | 278 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #22.
Columbus Middle School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
415 N 3rd St
Columbus, MT 59019
(406) 322-5375
Gr: 6-8 | 178 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 9%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Columbus Elementary School District?
Columbus Elementary School District manages 2 public schools serving 456 students.
What is the rank of Columbus Elementary School District?
Columbus Elementary School District is ranked #115 out of 335 school districts in Montana (top 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Montana school districts for: Highest overall rank (Top 20%), Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%), Highest science proficiency (Top 10%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Columbus Elementary School District?
90% of Columbus Elementary School District students are White, 5% of students are Hispanic, 2% of students are American Indian, 2% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are Black.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Columbus Elementary School District?
Columbus Elementary School District has a student/teacher ratio of 16:1, which is higher than the Montana state average of 14:1.
What is Columbus Elementary School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $13,439 is less than the state median of $15,580. The school district spending/student has declined by 30% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 2 schools
  • Grades: PK-08
  • Enrollment: 456 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 10%
  • : Top 20% in MT
  • : 42% (Top 30%)
  • : 54% (Top 20%)
  • : 55-59% (Top 10%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MT Dept. of Education

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