Best Schools in Columbia County, WI
Columbia County, WI has 68 public schools (16 high, 13 middle, 38 elementary) serving 20,974 students. On average they score 46% on state proficiency tests against a projected 46%, so schools in Columbia County meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Columbia County, WI
The top high schools in Columbia County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Rio Middle/high
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rio Community School District • Public • Grades 6 - 12 • 190 Students
2. Cambria Friesland Middle/high
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cambria-friesland School District • Public • Grades 6 - 12 • 162 Students
3. Fall River High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Fall River School District • Public • Grades 6 - 12 • 265 Students
4. Poynette High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Poynette School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 307 Students
5. Columbus High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Columbus School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 385 Students
6. Sun Prairie East High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sun Prairie Area School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1274 Students
7. De Forest High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
De Forest Area School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1099 Students
8. Lodi High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lodi School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 451 Students
9. Sauk Prairie High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sauk Prairie School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 864 Students
10. Portage High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Portage Community School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 706 Students
Best Middle Schools in Columbia County, WI
The top middle schools in Columbia County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Poynette Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Poynette School District • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 276 Students
2. Sauk Prairie Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sauk Prairie School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 582 Students
3. Lodi Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lodi School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 335 Students
4. Columbus Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Columbus School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 265 Students
5. Harvest Intermediate School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
De Forest Area School District • Public • Grades 4 - 6 • 914 Students
6. De Forest Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
De Forest Area School District • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 561 Students
7. Pardeeville Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pardeeville Area School District • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 244 Students
8. Wisconsin Dells Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Wisconsin Dells School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 387 Students
9. Randolph Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Randolph School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 101 Students
10. Markesan Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Markesan School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 188 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Columbia County, WI
The top elementary schools in Columbia County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Endeavor Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Portage Community School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 67 Students
2. Merrimac Community
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sauk Prairie School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 136 Students
3. Discovery Charter School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Columbus School District • Charter • Grades KG - 3 • 73 Students
4. Poynette Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Poynette School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 412 Students
5. Randolph Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Randolph School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 220 Students
6. Fall River Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Fall River School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 234 Students
7. Rio Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rio Community School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 170 Students
8. Token Springs Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sun Prairie Area School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 430 Students
9. Lodi Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lodi School District • Public • Grades 3 - 5 • 230 Students
10. Grand Avenue Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sauk Prairie School District • Public • Grades 3 - 5 • 410 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Columbia County, WI
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Columbia County, WI has a total population of 58,490 with 21% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 94%, and 26% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Columbia County, WI
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Columbia County, WI.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
11.96 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
2.47 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
9.50 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Columbia County, WI.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Columbia County, WI.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Columbia County, WI Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Columbia County, WI
How many schools are in Columbia County, WI?
Columbia County, WI has 68 public schools: 16 high schools, 13 middle schools and 38 elementary schools, serving 20,974 students in total.
How do schools in Columbia County perform on state tests?
On average, 68 schools in Columbia County score 46% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 46%, so on average schools in Columbia County meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Columbia County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Columbia County, WI
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 42%
- Projected: 40%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 40%
- Projected: 42%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 47%
- Projected: 49%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 42%
- Projected: 42%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 45%
- Projected: 43%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 33%
- Projected: 33%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 46%
- Projected: 46%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 36%
- Projected: 38%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 47%
- Projected: 44%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 43%
- Projected: 48%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Columbia County
9 places in Columbia County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (9)
- Portage (6)
- Columbus (4)
- Lodi (4)
- Pardeeville (3)
- Poynette (3)
- Cambria (2)
- Fall River (2)
- Rio (2)
- Wisconsin Dells (2)
School districts (4)
- Portage Community School District (8 schools)
- Lodi School District (5 schools)
- Pardeeville Area School District (3 schools)
- Poynette School District (3 schools)