Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST

Mississippi · Public School District
9
Schools
3,090
Students
$13,197
Per-Pupil Spend
-8% nat'l
100.0%
Free Lunch Rate
+48pp vs nat'l
71.0%
Graduation Rate
-15.5pp vs nat'l
District Overview

COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST is a public school district in Mississippi serving 3,090 students across 9 schools. It includes 5 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high schools. Its graduation rate of 71.0% is below the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $13,197 is near the national average for a US public school district. 100% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 36/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (9)
Elementary Schools5 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
COOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOLPK–05388
FAIRVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOLPK–05236
FRANKLIN ACADEMYPK–05261
SALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLPK–05275
STOKES BEARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLPK–05365
Middle School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
COLUMBUS MIDDLE SCHOOL06–08667
High Schools2 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL09–12898
MCKELLAR VOCATIONAL CENTER09–120
Other School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
CMSD ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLKG–120
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$13,197Near national avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
38%
34%
State
38.2%
Local (property tax)
33.6%
Federal
28.1%

Funding is shared between state (38%) and local sources (34%), with notable federal support (28%).

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
9
Schools
3,090
Students
100%
Free Lunch
$13K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate71.0%
Opportunity Score36/100
StateMississippi →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Below-average graduation rate
At 71.0%, graduation is 15.5 points below the national average of 86.5%.
High economic need in community
100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
28% of revenue comes from federal sources. High federal reliance typically signals a limited local tax base or high concentration of low-income families.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST?
COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST has 9 public schools, serving a total of 3,090 students.
What is the graduation rate for COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST?
The graduation rate is 71.0%, which is below the national average of 86.5%.
How much does COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST spend per student?
COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST spends $13,197 per pupil — 8% below the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST?
100% of students in COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST?
No, COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST serve?
COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST?
The median opportunity score across schools in COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST is 36/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.