Columbia County

Columbia County

Augusta CanalColumbia County, the 12th county formed in Georgia, was created in 1790. Originally part of Richmond County, Columbia County was named for Christopher Columbus.

Rapid growth has transformed this county from a rural neighbor of Augusta to the major suburban county in the second largest metropolitan area in Georgia. There are many reasons for this rapid growth (475 percent since 1970) – a growing and diversified job market, a premier school system, affordable land, open spaces lending an air of the countryside, and a stable, conservative county government. Columbia County is predominantly residential and includes a highly-skilled workforce. Household income levels rank third among Georgia’s 159 counties. The predominantly rural county had 22,327 residents in 1970 and the current estimated population is 107,000.

The two largest “cities” in Columbia County, Martinez and Evans, are not actually cities … they are census-designated places (CDP). Martinez is located on the eastern edge of the county adjacent to Augusta and had an estimated population of 32,390 in 2005. Evans, with an estimated population of 20,681 in 2005, is the current center of the county’s explosive growth and is the defacto county seat, even though the traditional courthouse remains in Appling.

Appling, chartered in 1816, was one of 187 inactive municipalities which lost their charters in 1995 as a result of a 1993 Act of the General Assembly. There is some controversy over whether or not Appling ever was incorporated.
Incorporated cities in Columbia County are Harlem and Grovetown.

Harlem, located in the southern part of Columbia County, is the birthplace of Oliver Hardy, the rotund member of one of Hollywood’s greatest comedy team. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy remained partners and friends until Hardy’s death in 1957.
Grovetown, located near Fort Gordon, is growing rapidly with its population increasing from 6,089 in 2000 to an estimated 8,200 today.

With 1,200 miles of shoreline, Clarks Hill Lake is the largest man-made lake east of the Mississippi and is partially located in Columbia County. The lake, which is also known as Thurmond Lake, was created in 1946 when the Army Corps of Engineers built the Clarks Hill Dam on the Savannah River.

The Augusta Canal Heritage Area, which is partially in Columbia County, has been designated a historical waterway by the U.S. Congress and designated as a Regionally Important Resource (RIR).

Columbia County’s high schools consistently rank among the top high schools in the state and the nation.


Columbia County Schools

The Columbia County School System has established a pattern for consistent excellence and achievement making it one of the premier school systems in Georgia. Columbia County students at the elementary and secondary school level consistently excel at a level greater than their peers at both the state and national level in the areas of academic achievement.

Expansion Magazine, a leading national publication for expansion and relocation, has honored Columbia County School System with a “Blue Ribbon” rating. This Blue Ribbon rating is determined by evaluating college-board scores, graduation rates, and the community’s financial commitment to education. Expansion Magazine has evaluated school districts around the country for the past 15 years.

School Organization

The Columbia County School System currently operates 17 elementary schools, pre-kindergarten through fifth grade; seven middle schools with grades six through eight, four high schools, grades nine through 12 and one alternative school, grades six through 12. Building new or renovating and upgrading existing facilities is a constant process which enables the Columbia County School System to maintain leading edge facilities and accommodate future growth while providing a world class education for all students.

Elementary Schools

The elementary program addresses the development of students in five areas – intellectual development, social and emotional development, development of social responsibility, physical development, and artistic development, in addition to the core subject of communication skills (language arts-reading, English, spelling, handwriting), mathematics, science, social studies, health, music and art. School times are 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

Middle Schools

At the middle school level, each grade level is divided into teams or pods, of approximately 75 to 125 students working with a specific interdisciplinary team of teachers. The term “interdisciplinary” means that teachers work and plan together to present subjects in such a way that students begin to see and understand relationships among the disciplines of math, science, social studies, and communication skills. Teachers in each interdisciplinary team have the same planning period each day so they can meet frequently to discuss the progress of students and to plan the best education for those students.

In addition to the core subject areas, the middle school program addresses an exploratory program. This program provides brief (nine to 18 weeks) but meaningful exposure to subject areas that students will eventually have options to take in high school for much longer periods of time. Some of these options are: technology lab, business, family and consumer science, band, general music, chorus, and visual arts.

Two new middle schools are planned in the next five years to serve students in the Martinez/Evans area.

High Schools

The high school curriculum is composed of courses in communication skills (grammar, composition, and literature); fine arts (art, band, chorus, and drama); foreign language (French, German, Latin, and Spanish); Junior Reserved Officer’s Training Corps (JROTC); mathematics; physical education and health; science; social studies; and technology and career education.

Georgia offers two types of diplomas, Technology/Career Preparatory and College Preparatory. The requirements for the diplomas are similar with the Technology/Career Prep courses being taught as real-world, hands-on courses and the College Prep courses being taught in a more traditional manner.

Students, with parental approval, will select courses in which to enroll each year. The selections should be based on needs, abilities, graduation requirements and plans following high school. Graduation from Columbia County Schools will be based on meeting attendance guidelines; passing all required sections of the Georgia High School Graduation Exam; earning Carnegie units of credit as specified through state and local policy; completing a Senior Project; and at least completing one of the required programs of study.


Elementary Schools

The elementary program addresses the development of students in five areas – intellectual development, social and emotional development, development of social responsibility, physical development, and artistic development, in addition to the core subject of communication skills (language arts-reading, English, spelling, handwriting), mathematics, science, social studies, health, music and art. School times are 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

School Address Phone Fax
Bel-Air 325 North Belair Road
Evans, GA 30809
706-863-8724 706-868-2180
Blue Ridge 550 Blue Ridge
Evans, GA 30809
706-868-0894 706-868-2181
Brookwood 455 S. Old Bel Air Road
Grovetown, GA 30813
706-855-7538 706-868-2182
Cedar Ridge 1000 Trudeau Trail
Grovetown, GA 30813
706-447-2100 706-854-5839
Euchee Creek 795 Louisville Road
Grovetown, GA 30813
706-556-4000 706-556-4003
Evans 628 Gibbs Road
Evans, GA 30809
706-863-1202 706-868-2183
Greenbrier 5116 Riverwood Parkway
Evans, GA 30809
706-650-6060 706-650-6063
Grovetown 300 Ford Avenue
Grovetown, GA 30813
706-868-3703 706-868-2184
Lewiston 5426 Hereford Farm Road
Evans, GA 30809
706-650-6064 706-650-6067
Martinez 213 Flowing Wells Road
Martinez, GA 30907
706-863-8308 706-868-2185
North Columbia 2874 Ray Owens Road
Appling, GA 30802
706-541-1158 706-541-2741
North Harlem 525 Fairview Drive
Harlem, GA 30814
706-556-5995 706-556-5960
River Ridge 4109 Mullikin Road
Evans, GA 30809
706-447-1016 706-447-1019
Riverside 4431 Hardy McManus Road
Evans, GA 30809
706-868-3736 706-868-2186
South Columbia 325 McCormick Road
Martinez, GA 30907
706-863-3220 706-868-2187
Stevens Creek 3780 Evans-to-Lock Road
Martinez, GA 30907
706-868-3705 706-868-2188
Westmont 4558 Oakley Pirkle Road
Martinez, Georgia 30907
706-863-0992 706-868-2189

Middle Schools

At the middle school level, each grade level is divided into teams or pods, of approximately 75 to 125 students working with a specific interdisciplinary team of teachers. The term “interdisciplinary” means teachers work and plan together to present subjects in such a way students begin to see and understand relationships among the disciplines of math, science, social studies, and communication skills.

Teachers in each interdisciplinary team have the same planning period each day so they can meet frequently to discuss the progress of students and to plan the best education for those students. School times are 7:35 a.m. until 2:40 p.m.

In addition to the core subject areas, the middle school program addresses an exploratory program. This program provides brief (nine to 18n weeks) but meaningful exposure to subject areas that students will eventually have options to take in high school for much longer periods of time. Some of these options are: technology lab, business, family and consumer science, band, general music, chorus, and visual arts.

School Address Phone Fax
Columbia 6000 Columbia Road
Grovetown, GA 30813
706-541-1252 706-541-2742
Evans 4785 Hereford Farm Road
Evans, GA 30809
706-863-2275 706-868-2190
Greenbrief 5120 Riverwood Parkway
Evans, GA 30809
706-650-6080 706-650-6085
Grovetown 5463 Harlem-Grovetown Road
Grovetown, GA 30813
706-855-2514 706-868-3734
Harlem 375 W. Forrest Street
Harlem, GA 30814
706-556-5990 706-556-5961
Lakeside 527 Blue Ridge Drive
Evans, GA 30809
706-855-6900 706-868-2191
Riverside 1095 Fury’s Ferry Road
Evans, GA 30809
706-868-3712 706-868-2192
Stallings Island 3830 Blackstone Camp RoadMartinez, GA 30907 706-447-2106 706-447-2103

High Schools

The high school curriculum is composed of courses in communication skills (grammar, composition, and literature); fine arts (art, band, chorus, and drama); foreign language (French, German, Latin, and Spanish); Junior Reserved Officer’s Training Corps (JROTC); mathematics; physical education and health; science; social studies; and technology and career education.

Georgia offers two types of diplomas, Technology/Career Preparatory and College Preparatory. The requirements for the diplomas are similar with the Technology/Career Prep courses being taught as real-world, hands-on courses and the College Prep courses being taught in a more traditional manner. Students, with parental approval, will select courses in which to enroll each year. The selections should be based on needs, abilities, graduation requirements and plans following high school. School times are 7:40 a.m. until 2:45 p.m.

Graduation from Columbia County Schools will be based on meeting attendance guidelines; passing all required sections of the Georgia High School Graduation Exam; earning Carnegie units of credit as specified through state and local policy; completing a Senior Project; and at least completing one of the required programs of study.

School Address Phone Fax
Academy of
Richmond County
910 Russell Street
Augusta, GA 30904
706-737-7152 706-737-7155
Butler 2011 Lumpkin Road
Augusta, GA 30906
706-796-4959 706-796-4780
Cross Creek 3855 Old Waynesboro Road
Augusta, GA 30906
706-772-8140 706-772-8153
Glenn Hills 2840 Glenn Hills Drive
Augusta, GA 30906
706-796-4924 706-796-4932
Hephzibah 4558 Brothersville Road
Hephzibah, GA 30815
706-592-2089 706-592-3975
Lucy C. Laney 1339 Laney-Walker Blvd
Augusta, GA 30901
706-823-6900
T.W. Josey 1701 15th Street
Augusta, GA 30901
706-737-7360 706-737-7668
Westside 1002 Patriots Way
Augusta, GA 30909
706-868-4030 706-868-4005