For the 2025 school year, there are 22 public schools serving 9,145 students in Columbus County, NC (there are 3 private schools, serving 203 private students). 98% of all K-12 students in Columbus County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in Columbus County, NC are Columbus Career And College Academy, Old Dock Elementary School and Whiteville High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Columbus County, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 46% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 43% (versus the 50% statewide average). Schools in Columbus County have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 54% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Columbus County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Columbus Career And College Academy
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4564 Chadbourn Hwy
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 788-6281
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 788-6281
Grades: 9-13
| 206 students
Rank: #22.
Old Dock Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
12489 New Britton Hwy
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 642-2084
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 642-2084
Grades: PK-4
| 278 students
Rank: #33.
Whiteville High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
413 N Lee Street
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 914-4189
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 914-4189
Grades: 9-12
| 635 students
Rank: #44.
West Columbus High School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
7294 Andrew Jackson Hwy
Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
(910) 654-6111
Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
(910) 654-6111
Grades: 9-12
| 455 students
Rank: #55.
Central Middle School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
310 S Martin L King Jr Ave
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 642-3546
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 642-3546
Grades: 6-8
| 461 students
Rank: #66.
Edgewood Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
317 E Calhoun Street
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 642-3121
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 642-3121
Grades: 3-5
| 440 students
Rank: #77.
North Whiteville Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
310 S Martin Luther King Jr Av
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 914-4161
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 914-4161
Grades: 6-12
| 23 students
Rank: #88.
South Columbus High School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
40 Stallion Drive
Tabor City, NC 28463
(910) 653-4073
Tabor City, NC 28463
(910) 653-4073
Grades: 9-12
| 689 students
Rank: #99.
Nakina Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
9822 Seven Creeks Hwy
Nakina, NC 28455
(910) 642-8301
Nakina, NC 28455
(910) 642-8301
Grades: 5-8
| 207 students
Rank: #1010.
Chadbourn Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
409 E Third Avenue
Chadbourn, NC 28431
(910) 654-3825
Chadbourn, NC 28431
(910) 654-3825
Grades: K-5
| 199 students
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Acme Delco Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
16337 Old Lake Road
Riegelwood, NC 28456
(910) 655-2957
Riegelwood, NC 28456
(910) 655-2957
Grades: PK-6
| 310 students
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Hallsboro-artesia Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1337 Giles Byrd Road
Hallsboro, NC 28442
(910) 646-3510
Hallsboro, NC 28442
(910) 646-3510
Grades: PK-6
| 376 students
Rank: #1313.
Williams Township
(Math: 46% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
10400 James B White Hwy
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 653-3791
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 653-3791
Grades: PK-8
| 634 students
Rank: #1414.
Classical Charter Schools Of Whiteville
Charter School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
35 Bacon's Way
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 641-4042
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 641-4042
Grades: K-8
| 892 students
Rank: #1515.
Cerro Gordo Elementary School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
7685 Andrew Jackson Hwy
Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
(910) 654-4250
Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
(910) 654-4250
Grades: PK-8
| 380 students
Rank: #1616.
East Columbus Junior-senior High School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
32 Gator Lane
Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450
(910) 646-4094
Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450
(910) 646-4094
Grades: 7-12
| 560 students
Rank: #1717.
Evergreen Elementary School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
7211 Old 74 Hwy
Evergreen, NC 28438
(910) 654-3502
Evergreen, NC 28438
(910) 654-3502
Grades: PK-8
| 353 students
Rank: #1818.
East Arcadia Elementary School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
21451 Nc Hwy 87 East
Riegelwood, NC 28456
(910) 247-4609
Riegelwood, NC 28456
(910) 247-4609
Grades: PK-5
| 75 students
Rank: #1919.
Thomas Academy
Alternative School
Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
206-b Rube Mccray Circle
Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450
(910) 646-2237
Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450
(910) 646-2237
Grades: 6-12
| 70 students
Rank: n/an/a
203 Stake Road
Tabor City, NC 28463
(910) 653-3618
Tabor City, NC 28463
(910) 653-3618
Grades: PK-8
| 598 students
Rank: n/an/a
7685 Andrew Jackson Hwy Sw
Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
(910) 654-4250
Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
(910) 654-4250
Grades: PK-8
| 812 students
Rank: n/an/a
805 Barbcrest Avenue
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 642-4119
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 642-4119
Grades: PK-2
| 492 students
Columbus County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
26133 Andrew Jackson Hwy
Delco, NC 28436
(910) 655-3200
Delco, NC 28436
(910) 655-3200
Grades: 6-8
| n/a students
Flemington Dr
Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450
(910) 646-3088
Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450
(910) 646-3088
Grades: 6-12
| 37 students
801 W Smith Street
Chadbourn, NC 28431
(910) 654-4300
Chadbourn, NC 28431
(910) 654-4300
Grades: 6-8
| 108 students
Fair Bluff Careertechnical Adademy (Closed 2012)
Alternative School
685 Academy St
Fair Bluff, NC 28439
(910) 642-5168
Fair Bluff, NC 28439
(910) 642-5168
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Po Box 277
Fair Bluff, NC 28439
(910) 649-7622
Fair Bluff, NC 28439
(910) 649-7622
Grades: PK-8
| 144 students
11570 Swamp Fox Hwy East
Tabor City, NC 28463
(910) 653-2723
Tabor City, NC 28463
(910) 653-2723
Grades: PK-5
| n/a students
89 School Road
Hallsboro, NC 28442
(910) 646-4192
Hallsboro, NC 28442
(910) 646-4192
Grades: 6-8
| n/a students
Harlem Promise Charter School (Closed 2023)
Charter School
Po Box 248
Hallsboro, NC 28442
(910) 646-4192
Hallsboro, NC 28442
(910) 646-4192
Grades: 5-8
| 379 students
Nakina Alternative (Closed 2008)
Alternative School
9822 Seven Creeks Hwy
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 642-8301
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 642-8301
Grades: 6-10
| 20 students
44 Dream Ave
Delco, NC 28436
(910) 655-4061
Delco, NC 28436
(910) 655-4061
Grades: K-7
| 106 students
203 Stake Road
Tabor City, NC 28463
(910) 653-3618
Tabor City, NC 28463
(910) 653-3618
Grades: PK-5
| 415 students
701 W Sixth Street
Tabor City, NC 28463
(910) 653-3637
Tabor City, NC 28463
(910) 653-3637
Grades: 6-8
| 179 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Columbus County, NC?
The top ranked public schools in Columbus County, NC include Columbus Career And College Academy, Old Dock Elementary School and Whiteville High School.
How many public schools are located in Columbus County?
22 public schools are located in Columbus County.
What percentage of students in Columbus County go to public school?
98% of all K-12 students in Columbus County are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Columbus County?
Columbus County public schools minority enrollment is 54% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public schools average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Columbus County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Columbus County include: Whiteville Primary vs. Classical Charter Schools Of Whiteville, West Columbus High School vs. South Columbus High School, East Columbus Junior-senior High School vs. Whiteville High School
Recent Articles
What Is A Charter School?
Explore the world of charter schools in this comprehensive guide. Learn about their history, how they operate, and the pros and cons of this educational innovation. Discover key facts about charter schools, including admission policies, demographics, and funding, as well as what to look for when considering a charter school for your child.
10 Reasons Why High School Sports Benefit Students
Discover the 10 compelling reasons why high school sports are beneficial for students. This comprehensive article explores how athletics enhance academic performance, foster personal growth, and develop crucial life skills. From improved fitness and time management to leadership development and community representation, learn why participating in high school sports can be a game-changer for students' overall success and well-being.
February 05, 2025
Understanding the U.S. Department of Education: Structure, Impact, and EvolutionWe explore how the Department of Education shapes American education, from its cabinet-level leadership to its impact on millions of students, written for general audiences seeking clarity on this vital institution.
