Total enrollment
18,648
+331 (+2%) vs SY 2017-18
40 schools in Columbia
Missouri · Public K-12
Columbia's 40 public-school campuses collectively enroll about 18,648 students across 23 elementary, 7 middle, and 7 high.
7-year change in Columbia
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
35
-1 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
52%
was 60%
% Hispanic
9%
was 7%
% Black
22%
was 20%
% Asian
6%
was 5%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
About Columbia
Public education in Columbia, Missouri runs across 40 schools that teaches roughly 18,648 students. By footprint, Columbia sits in the sizable bracket.
Looking at the level breakdown, the city spans 23 elementary, 7 middle, 7 high, and 3 other.
Average school size in Columbia is around 466 students, 22% meaningfully above the Missouri average of about 382.
Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 18,648 students, remained close to its prior level from the 18,317 reported in SY 2017-18. Columbia now counts 35 public schools, down from 36 in SY 2017-18. The White share of public-school enrollment shrank from 60% to 52%.
On this page, the community for Columbia discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.