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 2025-26 school year, there are 10 public elementary schools serving 4,147 students in Columbus County Schools School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Columbus County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 44% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 40% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 49% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
14 Schools
2,174 Schools
# Students
6,057 Students
1,091,007 Students
# Teachers
400 Teachers
73,903 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Columbus County Schools School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 320 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 86% has increased from 81% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#230 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)42%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
55%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)85%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.66
0.72
% American Indian
3%
1%
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
12%
21%
% Black
29%
25%
% White
50%
43%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $10,557 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has declined by 12% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,258 is less than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has declined by 12% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$64 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$62 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$10,557
$11,187
Spending / Student
$10,258
$11,612
Best Columbus County Schools School District Public Elementary Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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
Gr: PK-4 | 278 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #22.
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
Gr: 5-8 | 207 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #33.
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
Gr: K-5 | 199 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
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
Gr: PK-6 | 310 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
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
Gr: PK-6 | 376 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #66.
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
Gr: PK-8 | 634 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #77.
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
Gr: PK-8 | 380 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #88.
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
Gr: PK-8 | 353 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: n/an/a
203 Stake Road
Tabor City, NC 28463
(910) 653-3618
Tabor City, NC 28463
(910) 653-3618
Gr: PK-8 | 598 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: n/an/a
7685 Andrew Jackson Hwy Sw
Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
(910) 654-4250
Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
(910) 654-4250
Gr: PK-8 | 812 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Recent Articles

10 Advantages of Public Education in 2025
Explore 10 key benefits of public education in 2025, with fresh statistics, expert insights, and real-world examples for parents and educators.

COVID-19’s Lasting Impact on U.S. Public Schools (2025)
Explore how COVID-19 continues to affect U.S. public schools in 2025: learning losses, enrollment shifts, mental health, and recovery strategies.