to be the result of arson; however, no one was ever arrested. The fire began where the school records were stored and much of the early records of CHS were destroyed. The school was rebuilt, and on August 27, 1983, a re-dedication ceremony was held for the reconstructed building. In 2001, CHS became a total magnet school and continues as such today. In school years 2004-2005, CHS was named a Georgia School of Excellence and a National Blue Ribbon School and has been awarded gold status each year since as one of the best high schools in Georgia and the nation. In 2017, CHS shared the ranking as the top (#1) high school in the state of Georgia, #21 nationwide for magnet high schools, and #83 nationwide in overall high schools by U.S. News & World Report. Statistics/Rankings Columbus High School's overall performance is higher than 99% of schools in the state of Georgia, its academic growth is higher than 94% of schools in the state, and its four-year graduation rate is 99.6%, which is higher than 99% of high schools in the state of Georgia. CHS students have a college readiness index of 85.8%, with Mathematics and English proficiencies at 88 and 84 percents, respectively - more than twice the state average. In 2017, CHS was ranked #4 in the state of Georgia for "Best Teachers". In 2018, CHS ranked third in the state of Georgia, 105th in the nation, and 21st among magnet schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. CHS' student body makeup is 40% male and 60% female, and the total minority enrollment is 42%. Graduation requirements All Liberal Arts College Preparatory Magnet students entering the program as 9th graders must earn a total of 32 Carnegie units. To stay in the magnet program, a student must maintain at least a "C" average in any taken course. Failure to do so can result in the removal of the student from Columbus High School, the one exception being for freshmen who fail during their first semester, as the transition to high school may be overwhelming. Students take one core course each year in English, math, science, and social studies. Community involvement Each year, freshmen, sophomores, and juniors complete 20 hours of community service with a local non-profit organization. Seniors obtain hours through a Senior Project or AP Research Project. The senior project requires students