Top Rankings
Columbus County Schools School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2024-25 school year, there are 4 public high schools serving 1,898 students in Columbus County Schools School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Columbus County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 35% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Columbus County School School District have a Graduation Rate of 86%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 85%.
The school with highest graduation rate is East Columbus Junior-senior High School, with 90-94% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 50% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 54% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
14 Schools
752 Schools
# Students
5,298 Students
559,056 Students
# Teachers
350 Teachers
32,592 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
District Rank
Columbus County Schools School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 321 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 85% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#230 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
42%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
55%
63%
Graduation Rate
85%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.66
0.69
# American Indian Students
203 Students
5,904 Students
% American Indian Students
4%
1%
# Asian Students
8 Students
19,945 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
4%
# Hispanic Students
660 Students
109,180 Students
% Hispanic Students
13%
19%
# Black Students
1,511 Students
138,132 Students
% Black Students
28%
25%
# White Students
2,673 Students
258,223 Students
% White Students
50%
46%
# Hawaiian Students
10 Students
769 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
270 Students
28,636 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
182
615
# Students in K Grade:
372
6,480
# Students in 1st Grade:
408
6,758
# Students in 2nd Grade:
387
6,722
# Students in 3rd Grade:
362
6,899
# Students in 4th Grade:
349
7,141
# Students in 5th Grade:
376
7,365
# Students in 6th Grade:
359
11,110
# Students in 7th Grade:
390
11,749
# Students in 8th Grade:
413
12,074
# Students in 9th Grade:
462
139,774
# Students in 10th Grade:
472
128,053
# Students in 11th Grade:
390
111,043
# Students in 12th Grade:
376
103,273
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,069 is higher than the state median of $11,229. The school district revenue/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,728 is higher than the state median of $11,655. The school district spending/student has grown by 9% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$64 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$62 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,069
$11,229
Spending / Student
$11,728
$11,655
Best Columbus County Schools School District Public High Schools (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Columbus Career And College Academy
Magnet School
(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
| 212 students
Rank: #22.
West Columbus High School
Magnet 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
| 400 students
Rank: #33.
South Columbus High School
Magnet 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
| 692 students
Rank: #44.
East Columbus Junior-senior High School
Magnet 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
| 594 students
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