The bulletin board for America's public schools. Parents, teachers, students, and staff. One community per school.

Columbia County

Arkansas · Public K-12

Parents in Columbia County researching K-12 options have 9 public schools to consider, with combined enrollment near 3,472 (4 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high).

7-year change in Columbia County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
3,472
-103 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
9
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
46%
was 47%
% Hispanic
6%
was 4%
% Black
42%
was 45%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
9
2 districts
Enrollment
3,472
NCES CCD
Median income
$55,334
Above Arkansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
82.3%
Above Arkansas avg
Elementary
4
1,256 students
Middle
2
1,019 students
High
3
1,197 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
MAGNOLIA SCHOOL DISTRICT
2,505 students · 2 districts in Columbia County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Columbia County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
61%
Hispanic
4%
Black
34%
Asian
0%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
46%
Hispanic
6%
Black
42%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
21.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
17.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.2%
civilian labor
Median age
34
21.5% under 18

Test scores in Columbia County

Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 7 schools ranked. Arkansas state average: 33.9%.

See all 7 schools in Columbia County ranked by score →

All schools (9)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
MAGNOLIA HIGH SCHOOLMagnoliaHigh09-12797·
EAST SIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLMagnoliaElementaryKG-02570·
CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLMagnoliaMiddle03-07527·
MAGNOLIA MIDDLE SCHOOLMagnoliaMiddle06-08492·
TAYLOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLTaylorElementaryKG-06341·
TAYLOR HIGH SCHOOLTaylorHigh07-12264·
EMERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLEmersonElementaryKG-06226·
EMERSON HIGH SCHOOLEmersonHigh07-12136·
WALKER PRE-K CENTERMagnoliaElementaryPK-PK119·

Cities in Columbia County

Magnolia5 schoolsEmerson2 schoolsTaylor2 schools

About Columbia County

Columbia County is a rural-scale county of about 22,349 residents in Arkansas. Its public-school system enrolls approximately 3,472 students across 9 schools.

Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $55,334, about 22% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 17%. That income level is 6% meaningfully above the Arkansas median.

For a sense of the school types, Columbia County spans 4 elementary schools (1,256 students), 2 middle schools (1,019), and 3 high schools (1,197).

The largest single district in Columbia County is MAGNOLIA SCHOOL DISTRICT, which alone enrolls about 2,505 students.

Over the past 7-year window. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 3%: 3,575 students in SY 2017-18 versus 3,472 in SY 2024-25.

On allk12, the community for Columbia County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Columbia County?
Columbia County, Arkansas has 9 public K-12 schools serving approximately 3,472 students.
How many high schools are in Columbia County?
Columbia County, Arkansas has 3 public high schools, serving approximately 1,197 students.
How many middle schools are in Columbia County?
Columbia County, Arkansas has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 1,019 students.
How many elementary schools are in Columbia County?
Columbia County, Arkansas has 4 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,256 students.
What is the largest school district in Columbia County?
MAGNOLIA SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest school district in Columbia County, serving approximately 2,505 students. The county contains 2 school districts overall.
What is the population of Columbia County?
Columbia County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 22,349, with a median age of 34. About 21.5% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Columbia County?
Median household income in Columbia County is $55,334, above the Arkansas average of $52,446. About 17.1% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Columbia County?
Approximately 21.9% of adults 25 and older in Columbia County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Columbia County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 82.3% of students in Columbia County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Arkansas county average of 76.1%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Columbia County schools?
Across Columbia County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.2 to 1.

Columbia County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data