St. Columba School

Saint Columba Catholic School is a preschool through eighth grade parochial school in the Diocese of San Diego and is the parish school for the community of Saint Columba Catholic Church located in the Serra Mesa community of San Diego.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Top Ranked CA School
  • Grades: Nursery/Preschool-8
  • Enrollment: 272 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $5,150
  • Acceptance rate: 90%
  • Average class size: 22 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

St. Columba School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for:

Category
Attribute

School Overview

Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Nursery/Preschool-8
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Learning Difference Programs
Yes
Learning Programs Supported
ADD/ADHD, Processing Disorders, Dyslexia, Autism Spectrum Disorder
Year Founded
1963

Student Body

Total Students
272 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
58%
State avg.: 51%
Students by Grade
St. Columba School Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers
11 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
25:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
55%
Average Class Size
22 students
List of Courses Offered
Classroom Dress Code
Formal
Uniform required

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline
None / Rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost
Tuition Notes
Multi-Child Discounts are provided Tuition Rates for Preschool differ from K-8
% on Financial Aid
25%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$850
Acceptance Rate
90%
National avg.: 85%
Admissions Director
Mr. John Amann
Admissions Associate
Miss Linda Glenwinkel

Sports

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
4 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Liturgical Team, Spanish Club

Arts and Music Programs:
Band Program, Choir

School Notes

  • Saint Columba Catholic School, in union with parents and guardians as the primary educators of our students, is a community of faith dedicated to academic excellence while bearing witness to the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. We seek to educate the whole child within the tradition of the Catholic Church so students may confidently meet the challenge of living a Christ-centered life in a changing world.
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does St. Columba School cost?
St. Columba School's tuition is approximately $5,150 for private students.
What is the acceptance rate of St. Columba School?
The acceptance rate of St. Columba School is 90%, which is higher than the national average of 84%.
What sports does St. Columba School offer?
St. Columba School offers 7 interscholastic sports: Basketball, Cheering, Cross Country, Flag Football, Soccer, Track and Field and Volleyball.
What is St. Columba School's ranking?
St. Columba School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for: Least expensive tuition and Largest student body.
When is the application deadline for St. Columba School?
The application deadline for St. Columba School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).
What neighborhood is St. Columba School located?
St. Columba School is located in the Serra Mesa neighborhood of San Diego, CA. There are 1 other private schools located in Serra Mesa.

School Reviews

  5.00 out of 5  (2 reviews)
5  
Mr. John Ammon is such a wonderful and caring principal. I was very impressed with him and also the teachers. They made it their goal to offer in person learning for children and succeeded. I also liked the school's organizational skills. They were ready for anything on a moment's notice. If a class had to be sent home because of COVID-19, the kids were instructed to transition to remote learning effortlessly. All the materials were prepackaged for parent pickup. The communication was remarkable. I found it to be refreshing since San Diego Unified lacked proper communication skills or leadership during the Pandemic. I am so glad we switched now from San Diego Unified and are not looking to ever go back. Due to the uncertainty of the district and lack of leadership. I felt so confident with Mr. Ammon at the helm. He cares about the students and the community. He is a great role model.
- Posted by
5  
Our family has been at this school for a couple years now and I now feel that I can give an honest assessment at this point. When we were looking for public schools in our area we were pretty disappointed. After touring this school it had the feel of the school we wanted. In addition to academics, we wanted the right environment and atmosphere. A place our children would want to be and not dread going everyday. The students were all listening at attention and the teachers had full command of the classroom during our unscheduled visit. This is an old school. It just celebrated 50 years as a school. It could use updating in many areas, but it has everything it needs. It does have a library and computer lab - though small, it works. It does have an art program, music and dance options for those that choose to participate. The school choir is absolutely fabulous-impressive. Sports programs offered are Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Football (flag) and Track. They compete against other Catholic schools which is fun. The kids go to mass every Friday and parents are welcome to join. A Catholic school relies heavily on volunteer work of the parents. We appreciate this because we know many parents are then involved with the school and their children. We constantly assess this school compared to our other choices - public and private - and always choose this school. One reason is hearing what the graduating 8th graders have to say about their time spent at St. Columba. They all seem to love it and appreciate the education, life lessons as well as the friends they made. This year 100% of the 8th grade students passed the Catholic H.S. acceptance exam. Over 60% are moving on to Catholic/Christian schools. Other notes: 1. There is fundraising to be done at every school. 2. Science curriculum is done in class at each grade level. 3. There is music class offered. 4. The Spanish is basic, but it isn't a Spanish immersion - it is for exposure and cultural teaching. 7. Uniforms - We love uniforms - we save money on other clothes in the long run. And makes getting ready in the morning so much easier as well as removes the competitiveness from dressing for friends and classmates. Is it perfect? No - perfect doesn't exist. But we like it here. Our kids like it here. We are happy.
- Posted by

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • Top Ranked CA School
  • Grades: Nursery/Preschool-8
  • Enrollment: 272 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $5,150
  • Acceptance rate: 90%
  • Average class size: 22 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in San Diego, CA is $13,662 for elementary schools and $24,118 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
The average acceptance rate in San Diego, CA is 86% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).

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