Columbia County
Columbia 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 |