For the 2024-25 school year, there are 19 public schools serving 9,887 students in Columbia County, FL (there are 12 private schools, serving 1,115 private students). 90% of all K-12 students in Columbia County, FL are educated in public schools (compared to the FL state average of 86%).
The top ranked public schools in Columbia County, FL are Belmont Academy, Westside Elementary School and Pinemount Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Columbia County, FL public schools have an average math proficiency score of 56% (versus the Florida public school average of 52%), and reading proficiency score of 53% (versus the 52% statewide average). Schools in Columbia County have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of Florida public schools.
Minority enrollment is 39% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Florida public school average of 65% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Columbia County (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Belmont Academy
Magnet School
Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1476 Sw Walter Ave
Lake City, FL 32024
(386) 487-0487
Lake City, FL 32024
(386) 487-0487
Grades: PK-12
| 759 students
Rank: #22.
Westside Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1956 Sw County Road 252b
Lake City, FL 32024
(386) 755-8280
Lake City, FL 32024
(386) 755-8280
Grades: PK-5
| 696 students
Rank: #33.
Pinemount Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
324 Sw Gabriel Pl
Lake City, FL 32024
(386) 755-8172
Lake City, FL 32024
(386) 755-8172
Grades: PK-5
| 486 students
Rank: #44.
Columbia City Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
7438 Sw State Road 47
Lake City, FL 32024
(386) 758-4850
Lake City, FL 32024
(386) 758-4850
Grades: PK-5
| 615 students
Rank: #55.
Eastside Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
256 Se Beech St
Lake City, FL 32025
(386) 755-8220
Lake City, FL 32025
(386) 755-8220
Grades: PK-5
| 631 students
Rank: #66.
Summers Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1388 Sw Mcfarlane Ave
Lake City, FL 32025
(386) 755-8250
Lake City, FL 32025
(386) 755-8250
Grades: PK-5
| 517 students
Rank: #77.
Fort White Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
18119 Sw State Road 47
Fort White, FL 32038
(386) 344-6301
Fort White, FL 32038
(386) 344-6301
Grades: PK-5
| 681 students
Rank: #88.
Richardson Sixth Grade Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
646 Se Pennsylvania St
Lake City, FL 32025
(386) 755-8130
Lake City, FL 32025
(386) 755-8130
Grades: 6
| 450 students
Rank: #99.
Niblack Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
837 Ne Broadway Ave
Lake City, FL 32055
(386) 755-8200
Lake City, FL 32055
(386) 755-8200
Grades: PK-5
| 282 students
Rank: #1010.
Five Points Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
303 Nw Johnson St
Lake City, FL 32055
(386) 755-8230
Lake City, FL 32055
(386) 755-8230
Grades: PK-5
| 400 students
Rank: #1111.
Columbia Virtual Instruction Program
Magnet School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥50% )
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
372 W. Duval St
Lake City, FL 32055
(386) 755-8020
Lake City, FL 32055
(386) 755-8020
Grades: K-12
| n/a students
Rank: #1212.
Lake City Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
843 Sw Arlington Blvd
Lake City, FL 32025
(386) 758-4800
Lake City, FL 32025
(386) 758-4800
Grades: 7-8
| 970 students
Rank: #1313.
Fort White High School
Magnet School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
17828 Sw State Road 47
Fort White, FL 32038
(386) 319-7272
Fort White, FL 32038
(386) 319-7272
Grades: 6-12
| 1,158 students
Rank: #1414.
Columbia High School
Magnet School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
469 Se Fighting Tiger Dr
Lake City, FL 32025
(386) 755-8080
Lake City, FL 32025
(386) 755-8080
Grades: 9-12
| 1,737 students
Rank: #1515.
Melrose Park Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
820 Se Putnam St
Lake City, FL 32025
(386) 755-8260
Lake City, FL 32025
(386) 755-8260
Grades: PK-5
| 398 students
Rank: #1616.
Columbia Virtual Instruction Program (District Provided)
Magnet School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
372 W Duval St
Lake City, FL 32055
(386) 158-4935
Lake City, FL 32055
(386) 158-4935
Grades: 6-12
| 16 students
Rank: #1717.
Pathways Academy
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1301 Nw Labonte Ln
Lake City, FL 32055
(386) 755-8296
Lake City, FL 32055
(386) 755-8296
Grades: K-12
| 87 students
Rank: n/an/a
Columbia Virtual Franchise
Magnet School
372 W Duval St
Lake City, FL 32055
(352) 758-4935
Lake City, FL 32055
(352) 758-4935
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Prek Ese
Special Education School
Magnet School
Magnet School
444 W Duval St
Lake City, FL 32055
(386) 755-8049
Lake City, FL 32055
(386) 755-8049
Grades: PK
| 4 students
Columbia County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
Columbia County Superintendent's Office (Closed 2008)
Alternative School
0372 W Duval Street
Lake City, FL 32055
(386) 755-800
Lake City, FL 32055
(386) 755-800
Grades: PK-12
| 71 students
519 E. Washington St.
Lake City, FL 32056
(386) 755-8849
Lake City, FL 32056
(386) 755-8849
Grades: 7-12
| 21 students
102 Se Academic Ave
Lake City, FL 32025
(386) 755-4935
Lake City, FL 32025
(386) 755-4935
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
Residential Services Elementary School (Closed 2020)
Special Education School
444 W Duval St
Lake City, FL 32055
(386) 755-8049
Lake City, FL 32055
(386) 755-8049
Grades: 10-12
| n/a students
Shining Star Academy Of The Arts (Closed 2016)
Charter School
7443 Us Hwy 90 W
Lake City, FL 32055
(386) 965-9256
Lake City, FL 32055
(386) 965-9256
Grades: K-8
| 101 students
Test121 School (Closed 2021)
Special Education School
Magnet School
Charter School
Magnet School
Charter School
1001 Eagle Road
Lake City, FL 85967
(905) 263-8744
Lake City, FL 85967
(905) 263-8744
Grades: PK-7
| 112 students
Vine Academy Of The Arts (Closed 2014)
Charter School
217 Ne Kingston Ln
Lake City, FL 32055
(386) 438-5786
Lake City, FL 32055
(386) 438-5786
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
409 Sw Saint Johns St
Lake City, FL 32025
(386) 755-8190
Lake City, FL 32025
(386) 755-8190
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Columbia County, FL?
The top ranked public schools in Columbia County, FL include Belmont Academy, Westside Elementary School and Pinemount Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Columbia County?
19 public schools are located in Columbia County.
What percentage of students in Columbia County go to public school?
90% of all K-12 students in Columbia County are educated in public schools (compared to the FL state average of 86%).
What is the racial composition of students in Columbia County?
Columbia County public schools minority enrollment is 39% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Florida public schools average of 65% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Columbia County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Columbia County include: Columbia High School vs. Fort White High School, Niblack Elementary School vs. Westside Elementary School, Fort White High School vs. Columbia High School
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