Top Rankings
Columbus County Schools 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 2026-27 school year, there are 4 public high schools serving 1,913 students in Columbus County Schools. 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 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 have a Graduation Rate of 86%, which is equal to the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is East Columbus Junior-senior High School, with 85-89% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 54% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
12 Schools
758 Schools
# Students
5,419 Students
568,636 Students
# Teachers
347 Teachers
31,535 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Columbus County Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 314 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%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)42%
51%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
50%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
55%
63%
Graduation Rate
86%
86.5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)38.6%
28.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.66
0.71
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
4%
1%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
13%
21%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 28-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
27%
25%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
50%
44%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $15,047 is higher than the state median of $13,318. The school district revenue/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,106 is higher than the state median of $13,934. The school district spending/student has grown by 9% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$82 MM
$20,622 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$82 MM
$21,575 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$15,047
$13,318
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$15,106
$13,934
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Columbus County Schools Public High Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
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
Gr: 9-13 | 209 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #22.
West Columbus High School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
7294 Andrew Jackson Hwy Sw
Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
(910) 654-6111
Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
(910) 654-6111
Gr: 9-12 | 459 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #33.
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
Gr: 9-12 | 669 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #44.
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
Gr: 7-12 | 576 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
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