Total enrollment
12,688
+300 (+2%) vs SY 2017-18
Bartholomew County
Indiana · Public K-12
Public-school families in Bartholomew County pick from 20 schools serving the county's roughly 12,688 K-12 students, with a mix of 13 elementary, 2 middle, and 5 high.
7-year change in Bartholomew County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
19
+1 (+6%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
65%
was 73%
% Hispanic
20%
was 14%
% Black
3%
was 2%
% Asian
7%
was 6%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
20
3 districts
Enrollment
12,688
NCES CCD
Median income
$79,901
Above Indiana avg
Free/reduced lunch
43.6%
Below Indiana avg
Elementary
13
6,694 students
Middle
2
1,698 students
High
5
4,296 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Bartholomew Con School Corp
11,657 students · 3 districts in Bartholomew County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Bartholomew 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
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
34.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.1%
civilian labor
Median age
38
24.1% under 18
Test scores in Bartholomew County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 15 schools ranked. Indiana state average: 39.2%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- CSA Lincoln Campus· 70.7%
- Southside Elementary School· 57.2%
- Rockcreek Elementary School· 50.3%
- Parkside Elementary School· 48.7%
- Hope Elementary School· 41.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus North High School | Columbus | High | 09-12 | 2,360 | · |
| Columbus East High School | Columbus | High | 09-12 | 1,452 | · |
| Northside Middle School | Columbus | Middle | 07-08 | 908 | · |
| Southside Elementary School | Columbus | Elementary | PK-06 | 891 | · |
| Central Middle School | Columbus | Middle | 07-08 | 790 | · |
| Parkside Elementary School | Columbus | Elementary | PK-06 | 733 | · |
| Clifty Creek Elementary School | Columbus | Elementary | PK-06 | 705 | · |
| Lillian Schmitt Elementary School | Columbus | Elementary | PK-06 | 704 | · |
| W D Richards Elementary School | Columbus | Elementary | PK-06 | 610 | · |
| Taylorsville Elementary School | Taylorsville | Elementary | PK-06 | 580 | · |
| Hope Elementary School | Hope | Elementary | KG-06 | 547 | · |
| Hauser Jr-Sr High School | Hope | High | 07-12 | 435 | · |
| L F Smith Elementary | Columbus | Elementary | PK-06 | 420 | · |
| Mount Healthy Elementary School | Columbus | Elementary | PK-06 | 365 | · |
| CSA Lincoln Campus | Columbus | Elementary | KG-06 | 357 | · |
| CSA Fodrea Campus | Columbus | Elementary | PK-06 | 351 | · |
| Rockcreek Elementary School | Columbus | Elementary | PK-06 | 351 | · |
| Richard L Johnson Early Educ Cntr | Columbus | Elementary | PK-PK | 80 | · |
| Excel Center - Bartholomew County | Columbus | High | 09-12 | 49 | · |
| Columbus Area Career Connection | Columbus | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Bartholomew County
About Bartholomew County
Across the medium-population Indiana county of Bartholomew County of about 83,536 residents, the public-school footprint covers 20 schools and about 12,688 students.
For perspective, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $79,901, roughly 34% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 7%. That income level is 14% above the Indiana median.
For a sense of the school types, Bartholomew County comprises 13 elementary schools (6,694 students), 2 middle schools (1,698), and 5 high schools (4,296).
Bartholomew Con School Corp is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 11,657 students across Bartholomew County.
Five-year track record. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment held roughly steady: 12,388 students in SY 2017-18 versus 12,688 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Bartholomew County gained 1 school, going from 18 to 19. Demographically, the White share of enrollment fell from 73% to 65%.
On this page, the community for Bartholomew County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
Bartholomew County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data