Growth Projections

Over the past 20 years, Columbus has grown by over 3,057 community members. Currently, Columbus is the fourth fastest growing community in the state of Nebraska.

** Source - RDG

RDG has projected that the community of Columbus will continue to grow over the next ten years by an additional 2,514 residents.

** Source - RDG

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Between the 2011-2012 and 2019-2020 school years CPS had grown by 471 students.

Table 1 - Columbus Public Schools Enrollment 2012-2023
* enrollment as of 2/28/2024

Data Years	PK	KG	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	11th	12th	Total
2023-2024	188	258	292	281	296	299	305	315	260	348	309	332	316	361	4260
2022-2023	187	287	271	298	291	308	304	260	335	296	320	320	332	304	4115
2021-2022	239	284	285	267	293	311	250	319	278	287	310	331	288	352	4094
2020-2021	194	286	282	304	324	269	325	274	285	291	332	296	334	363	4159
2019-2020	236	298	299	320	263	314	271	294	291	309	287	333	345	344	4204
2018-2019	237	302	311	236	310	263	300	287	292	260	328	334	309	321	4090
2017-2018	213	279	228	311	260	297	284	279	258	289	332	306	284	308	3928
2016-2017	229	238	297	263	293	278	284	255	284	306	296	276	282	310	3891
2015-2016	202	285	257	270	272	275	254	271	308	281	280	278	274	331	3838
2014-2015	172	255	272	265	252	252	264	300	287	259	258	271	293	320	3740
2013-2014	149	288	285	277	274	274	300	287	259	249	267	293	296	277	3756
2012-2013	141	286	287	251	296	296	279	256	252	268	293	298	232	273	3680
2011-2012	144	299	259	257	285	285	260	262	271	275	306	256	260	289	3733

The current CPS enrollment is pushing capacity at many buildings, not including the need for classroom space for a growing population in special education and English learners. You will see that we have surpassed expectations of both studies in a number of buildings already.

Table 2 - Columbus Public Schools Building Capacity and Enrollment Study Projections
* The bold numbers show buildings that are at or over capacity.
Bold and Italic numbers show areas where the current CPS enrollment has surpassed the projections.

* enrollment as of 2/28/2024

Building	Capacity	Current Enrollment	2013 Study 2026-2027 Enrollment	2022 Study 2026-2027 Enrollment
Kramer Preschool		188	N/A	N/A
Centennial	450	355	*401*	*404*
Emerson	260	221	*276*	*301*
Lost Creek	355	319	*354*	*390*
North Park	340	231	*345*	*347*
West Park	280	269	*280*	*285*
Middle School	1200	1226	1140	1156
High School	1400	1307	1210	1255

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Since the 2017-2018 school year the English learner (EL) program has increased by 6.46%, an increase of 285 students in the program. EL students currently make up 165% of the CPS student enrollment compared to the state average of 7.76%. 200 NEW EL students enrolled in Columbus Public Schools for the 2022-2023 school year.

English Learners Growth from 2017-2022

From the 2017-2018 school year to the 2022-2023 school year, the special education numbers have increased by 5.57%, an increase of 282 students in the program. Special education students currently make up 19% of the CPS student enrollment compared to the state's 2022-2023 average of 16.45%.

District Students in Special Education Growth from 2017-2022

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Bond Information

Growth Projections

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