Departments
Assessment, Intervention, and Data
The Assessment, Intervention, and Data Department exists to assist, support, and guide data-based decision-making for our schools and community by providing a path to Achievement, Enrichment, and Opportunity to all CPS students.
Athletics
The Columbia Public Schools Athletics department is proud to offer a strong athletics program, the purpose of which is to develop in young people an understanding of the positive impact an active lifestyle will have on their lives.
AVID
Each of the three comprehensive high schools and six middle schools in Columbia Public Schools offers AVID. AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a college-readiness system designed to assist students in meeting the challenges inherent in education and in attaining the dream of college. AVID is designed to increase school-wide learning and performance for students.
Business Services
The Columbia Public Schools Business Services department is responsible for the administration, direction, and coordination of all financial services of the school district involving financial planning, budgeting, treasury management, investments, purchasing, accounting, payroll, and employee benefits services.
Community Relations
The Columbia Public Schools Community Relations department serves to enhance the education of all Columbia students by developing and coordinating educational partnerships involving the entire Columbia Public Schools system and the Columbia community.
Curriculum and Instruction
The Curriculum and Instruction department aims to create an inclusive, challenging, and pertinent curriculum and programs that will aid in shaping a well-rounded "portrait of a graduate." The primary objective of this department is to enhance the student's performance in line with the district's overall goals.
CPS-TV
Your school information source. Available on Mediacom 81, CenturyLink 97, Charter 985 and streaming live with videos on-demand on the CPS-TV Web site.
Custodial Services
The Custodial Services department's mission is to create a safe, clean, and healthy indoor environment for all students, teachers, staff, and visitors. This department provides warehouse and custodial services to all buildings in the district.
Early Learning
Early Learning is a program designed to address the developmental learning needs of children ages 3-5. Certificated staff work closely with families and community resources to enhance the social/emotional, physical, learning, and communication development of young children. Early Learning in CPS includes Early Childhood Special Education, Parents As Teachers and Preschool.
Early College Program
Columbia Public Schools' partnership with Moberly Area Community College offers an Early College Program for high school students. Participants can make substantial progress toward a bachelor's degree or complete an Associate's degree before high school graduation.
English Learners and Migrant Services
The mission of the Columbia Public Schools English Learners (EL) program is to provide effective and age-appropriate English language instruction (listening, speaking, reading, and writing), and to support English Learners to achieve in all content areas, grades K-12.
Equity Department
The Equity Department aims to ensure that Columbia Public Schools is an educational and working environment unimpeded by bias or discrimination, where individuals of all backgrounds and experiences are welcomed, included, encouraged, and can succeed and flourish. Districtwide programs such as MAC Scholars and ComoEd fall under the Equity Department.
Facilities and Construction Services
The Columbia Public Schools Facilities and Construction Services department provides many services related to the school district's buildings, including building and grounds maintenance, construction management, and engineering and energy management.
Fine Arts
The Fine Arts department oversees the art, music, and theatre departments for students in grades K-12 in the Columbia Public School District. It is comprised of almost one hundred specialists who are dedicated to providing a comprehensive fine arts education for the development of the whole child.
Gifted Education
Columbia Public Schools' gifted programs operate under the guidelines for gifted programs established by the state of Missouri.
Health Services
The Columbia Public Schools Health Services department is made up of highly qualified Registered Professional Nurses providing case management, screenings, assistance to families in accessing care, immunization monitoring, health education, and direct nursing care including skilled nursing procedures, first aid, and medication administration.
Human Resources
The Columbia Public Schools Human Resources department is responsible for recruiting, interviewing, and hiring applicants for positions in the school district.
Language Arts
The Columbia Public Schools Language Arts department is dedicated to ensuring that its students are able to develop mastery of the English language and effectively apply critical literacy skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) in all academic, professional and personal areas of their lives.
Library Media Programs
The Columbia Public Schools Library Media Programs support teachers, principals, other administrators by providing high-quality resources and instructional support for information and technology literacy.
Mathematics
The Columbia Public Schools Mathematics department provides support for teachers, principals, other administrators and the community in providing the best possible mathematics education for all our students.
Multicultural Achievement
The Multicultural Achievement Committee (MAC) program is a holistic, collaborative, educational support function of Columbia Public Schools. The MAC program is designed to provide students with the necessary skills and support to succeed academically, emotionally, and socially.
Nutrition Services
Mission Statement: All students and staff of Columbia Public Schools will have access to fresh, flavorful, and nutritious meals daily while promoting local sustainability.
Physical Education and Health
The Columbia Public Schools Physical Education department is proud to offer a strong curriculum for all students in kindergarten through twelfth grades.
Online Educational Opportunities
Columbia Public Schools offers students the opportunity to take one/more of their classes virtually. There are options for both synchronous and asynchronous courses. Courses are available that are taught by CPS teachers as well as courses taught through MOCAP and LAUNCH, which are external vendors. Asynchronous courses are designed for students who are self-motivated and can work independently.
Practical Arts
Practical arts courses in the Columbia Public Schools provide students with a strong curriculum in Business, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Technology Education. Opportunities to participate in these programs are offered to students in grades 6-12.
Professional Development
The purpose of professional development in Columbia Public Schools is building capacity for improved student performance. Columbia Public Schools has long recognized the complexity of teaching and learning and is committed to continuous improvement.
School Counseling
School Counseling is an integral part of the Columbia Public Schools' education program. It is developmental by design and includes sequential activities, K-12, organized and implemented by certified school counselors with the support of teachers, administrators, students, and parents.
School Improvement
The School Improvement office provides professional development support, information and resources to help schools accomplish the goals identified in their school improvement plans.
Science
The Columbia Public Schools Science department encourages students to explore all areas of science, develop an understanding of the natural world, use appropriate scientific processes, become scientifically literate, and participate intelligently in public discourse about matters of scientific and technological concern.
Social Studies
The Columbia Public Schools Social Studies department prepares each student to be a responsible citizen in his or her community, nation, and world.
Special Services
The Special Services department provides staff, resources and supports throughout the district specific to the needs of students in each building. Our vision is to prepare our students with disabilities to be valued and contributing members of our community by individualizing the instruction and supports necessary for students to reach their educational goals.
Student Services
The Student Services Department focuses on areas of students in transition, discipline and supporting opportunities for success.
Technology Services
Technology Services will provide and protect an environment wherein infrastructure, services, and solutions are innovative, readily available, and utilized to deliver exceptional support to students, staff and our community in their endeavors to achieve the CPS Mission and Vision.
Transportation
The Columbia Public Schools Transportation department's mission is to ensure safe, efficient and reliable transportation service for the children of our school district.
World Languages
Members of the Columbia Public Schools Foreign Language department believe that communication is the essence of being human and that foreign language study provides students with the communication skills to understand and connect with other cultures and communities.