Columbus (Christopher) High School: Top School in Downey, CA (2026 List)

About Columbus (Christopher) High

Columbus (Christopher) High School is a public secondary school in Downey, California, that serves about 400 students in grades 9 through 12. It has a student-teacher ratio of about 19:1 and is one of the best schools for alternative education in the Downey Unified School District. The school is known for being one of the best because it has a lot of different kinds of students. 96% of the students are minorities, and 77% of them come from low-income families. Columbus (Christopher) High School is one of the best schools for personalized student pathways. It has a reading proficiency rate of 13% and a math proficiency rate of 1%. The school helps its students reach their college goals by setting up SAT and ACT testing for them. With about $14,037 per student in funding, the campus creates a high-quality environment that encourages students to stick with it. Overall, the school is known as one of the best because it is dedicated to giving students a lot of options for how to finish school and do well in the future, and it is one of the best high school in California.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 1%

Reading 13%

State average proficiency is 1% in Math and 13% in Reading.

26

Full-time Teachers

18 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

466

Total Students

$58409

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 3.65%

Asian 0.43%

Hispanic 89.27%

Black 5.36%

Two+ Races 1.07%

Native Am. 0%

White

3.65%

Asian

0.43%

Hispanic

89.27%

Black

5.36%

Two+ Races

1.07%

Native Am.

0%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 466

38.41%

179 Female

61.59%

287 Male

Student Population

466 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 18 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

582 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Columbus (Christopher) High Contact Information

Address

12330 Woodruff Ave., Downey, CA, 90241

View on Map

Phone

(562) 904-3552

Call Now

Website

web.dusd.net/columbus

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 8:15 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) has officially given Columbus High School a full six-year accreditation. This is a big deal because it means that the school's high standards of education will stay that way until 2031. On March 17, the school will hold its 2026 Open House and Family Paint Night. The goal of this event is to bring people together and show off what the students have learned. The campus is also adding more Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways, like welding and media makeup programs.

FAQ

Q1. Are college entrance exams conducted here?

Ans. Students can take the SAT and ACT tests on-site or through programs that work to gether.

Q2. What does Columbus (Christopher) High do to help students get ready for life after graduation?

Ans. College planning, men to ring, and skill-building programs help students move on to higher education, vocational paths, or jobs.

Q3. Are students allowed to go to cultural and arts events?

Ans. Yes, Columbus (Christopher) High encourages students to be creative by offering programs in music, theater, and the visual arts.

Q4. Can students get rides from all neighborhoods?

Ans. Bus service is available depending on the district's eligibility zones.

Q5. Does Columbus (Christopher) High offer individualized learning assistance?

Ans. Yes, Columbus (Christopher) High gives students advice and help to help them reach their academic goals.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

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What Parents Say