In Columbia County, a 2026-27 FES-EO, FTC or PEP scholarship pays $8,6101 for K-3 and $7,8061 for high school; FES-UA pays from $10,0332 up to $35,7782 depending on grade and matrix level. The county had 153 registered private schools in 2024-25. Families apply through a scholarship funding organization: Step Up For Students, AAA Scholarship Foundation or Sunshine State Kids Foundation.
Award amounts in Columbia County, 2026-27
| Program and level | K-3 (FES-UA: ages 3-4 and K-3) | Grades 4-8 | Grades 9-12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| FES-EO, FTC and PEP | $8,610 | $8,005 | $7,806 |
| FES-UA, matrix levels 1-3 or a diagnosis | $10,837 | $10,232 | $10,033 |
| FES-UA, matrix level 4 (254) | $22,242 | same | same |
| FES-UA, matrix level 5 (255) | $35,778 | same | same |
2025-26 comparison and ranking: Columbia County scholarship amounts.
State FES funding for Columbia County, 2026-27
The Family Empowerment Scholarships are funded through each school district's share of the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP). The Legislature's 2026-27 budget counts students in unweighted full-time equivalents (UFTE), a funding measure rather than a headcount.
| Program | Students funded (UFTE) | Funds |
|---|---|---|
| FES-EO | 1,241 | $10,117,508 |
| FES-UA | 507.5 | $5,458,644 |
| Total | 1,748.5 | $15,576,152 |
Private schools in Columbia County
Columbia County had 153 private schools that filed Florida's annual private-school survey for 2024-25, enrolling 1,5925 students from pre-K through grade 12. This counts every registered private school, not only those taking scholarships, and the survey data are self-reported. A directory of Columbia County schools is coming in the next update of this site.
Students funded through Step Up For Students, 2024-25
| Program | Funded students |
|---|---|
| FES-EO | 924 |
| FES-UA | 387 |
| FTC (private school) | 237 |
| PEP | 237 |
| New Worlds Scholarship Accounts | 84 |
Funded-student counts that Step Up For Students reported to the State Board of Education in its 2026-27 renewal application. Students funded by AAA Scholarship Foundation or Sunshine State Kids Foundation are not included, so these are not county totals.
Languages spoken at home
In Columbia County, 5.45%7 of residents aged 5 and older speak Spanish at home and 0.87%7 speak French, Haitian or Cajun (the Census group that includes Haitian Creole), according to the American Community Survey. Spanish-language guides to these programs are planned for this site.
Programs available to Columbia County families
- Private-school scholarship (FES-EO and FTC)
- FES-UA (Unique Abilities Scholarship)
- PEP (Personalized Education Program): closed to new students for 2026-27
- Transportation Stipend for public-school choice
- Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit scholarships, starting in 2027
Dates: deadlines · payment dates · Questions: eligibility FAQ · All 67 counties
Sources
- 2026-27 Scholarship Amounts: FTC/FES-EO/PEP by District · p.1 · as stated by Step Up For Students · verified on
- 2026-27 Scholarship Amounts: FES-UA by District · p.1 · as stated by Step Up For Students · verified on
- FDOE Private Schools 2024-25 Annual Report (via Wayback snapshot 2026-06-14) · p. 5 "Number of Private Schools by District, 2024-25" · as stated by Florida Department of Education · verified on · prior-year figure
- Public School Funding: The FEFP FY 2026-27, Conference Report for HB 5001E (May 26, 2026) · p.9 · as stated by Florida Legislature · verified on
- FDOE, Florida's Private Schools 2024-25 Annual Report · pp.4-5 · as stated by Florida Department of Education · verified on
- Step Up For Students 2026-2027 SFO Renewal Application packet (SBE item 10-2) · Annual Report on Student Demographics, county x grade tables · as stated by State Board of Education · verified on
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table-based summary files · GEO_ID 0500000US12023; C16001, B16004, B04006_E101, B05006_E147 · as stated by U.S. Census Bureau · verified on