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Columbia County

Washington · Public K-12

Combined enrollment across Columbia County's 6 public schools is roughly 1,144 students, an average of about 191 per campus. Starbuck School District runs the largest share. That works out to 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.

7-year change in Columbia County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
1,144
+700 (+158%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
6
+2 (+50%) vs SY 2017-18
% Hispanic
20%
was 16%
% Black
8%
was 1%
% Asian
4%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
4,014
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
6
2 districts
Enrollment
1,144
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$71,810
Below Washington avg
Free/reduced lunch
23.7%
Below Washington avg
Elementary
2
202 students
Middle
1
93 students
High
2
101 students
Combined / other
1
748 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Starbuck School District
765 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
83%
Hispanic
8%
Black
1%
Asian
2%
Two or more
10%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
61%
Hispanic
20%
Black
8%
Asian
4%
Two or more
4%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
3%
Bachelor's+
24.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.9%
civilian labor
Median age
50
18.0% under 18

All schools (6)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Virtual Preparatory Academy of WashingtonStarbuckCombinedKG-12748·
Dayton Elementary SchoolDaytonElementaryPK-05185·
Dayton Middle SchoolDaytonMiddle06-0893·
Dayton High SchoolDaytonHigh09-1288·
Starbuck SchoolStarbuckElementaryKG-0817·
Dayton School District Alternative ProgramDaytonHigh09-1213·

Cities in Columbia County

Dayton4 schoolsStarbuck1 schoolStarbuck1 school

About Columbia County

Across the small Washington county of Columbia County of about 4,014 residents, the public-school footprint covers 6 schools and about 1,144 students.

In context, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $71,810, about 25% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 4%. That income level is 9% meaningfully below the Washington median.

For a sense of the school types, Columbia County is built around 2 elementary schools (202 students), 1 middle school (93), 2 high schools (101), and 1 combined or other schools.

The largest single district in Columbia County is Starbuck School District, which alone enrolls about 765 students.

Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 1,144 students, rose 158% from the 444 reported in SY 2017-18. Columbia County now counts 6 public schools, up from 4 in SY 2017-18. Demographically, the Black share of enrollment climbed from 1% to 8%.

In the discussion threads here, the community for Columbia County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Columbia County?
Columbia County, Washington has 6 public K-12 schools serving approximately 1,144 students.
How many high schools are in Columbia County?
Columbia County, Washington has 2 public high schools, serving approximately 101 students.
How many middle schools are in Columbia County?
Columbia County, Washington has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 93 students.
How many elementary schools are in Columbia County?
Columbia County, Washington has 2 public elementary schools, serving approximately 202 students.
What is the largest school district in Columbia County?
Starbuck School District is the largest school district in Columbia County, serving approximately 765 students. The county contains 2 school districts overall.
What is the population of Columbia County?
Columbia County, Washington has a population of approximately 4,014, with a median age of 50. About 18.0% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Columbia County?
Median household income in Columbia County is $71,810, below the Washington average of $79,106. About 4.1% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Columbia County?
Approximately 24.9% 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 23.7% of students in Columbia County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Washington county average of 53.8%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Columbia County schools?
Across Columbia County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.6 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data