Columbus County Schools

Item: Columbus County Schools
Rating: 3
Author: Public School Review

2586 James B. White Hwy North, Building A
Whiteville, NC 28472

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

Tel: (910) 642-5168

www.columbus.k12.nc.us

Top Rankings

Columbus County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:

Overview

This School District

This State (NC)

# Schools

14 Schools

759 Schools

# Students

6,057 Students

565,383 Students

# Teachers

400 Teachers

33,426 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

15:1

Student By Grade

View Data

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Columbus County Schools	North Carolina
7	85	34
8	100	35
9	487	392
10	439	359
11	420	334
12	379	297

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District Rank

Columbus County Schools, 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.

This School District

State Average (NC)

#230 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Columbus County Schools
2023	#230
2022	#230
2021	#229
2019	#213
2018	#204
2017	#204
2016	#204
2015	#196
2014	#188
2013	#180
2012	#157

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(21-22)

42%

51%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Columbus County Schools	North Carolina
2022	42%	51%
2021	32%	42%
2019	31%	42%
2018	33%	48%
2017	38%	47%
2016	34%	47%
2015	31%	44%
2014	28%	43%
2013	27%	42%
2012	77%	82%
2011	77%	82%

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41%

50%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Columbus County Schools	North Carolina
2022	41%	50%
2021	34%	47%
2019	38%	46%
2018	33%	47%
2017	38%	46%
2016	37%	47%
2015	36%	46%
2014	36%	46%
2013	34%	45%
2012	67%	73%
2011	66%	70%

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55%

63%

View Data

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	Columbus County Schools	North Carolina
2022	55%	63%
2021	49%	61%

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(21-22)

85%

86%

View Data

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Columbus County Schools	North Carolina
2022	85%	86%
2021	82%	85%
2020	86%	86%
2019	85%	85%
2018	81%	86%
2017	85%	88%
2016	82%	88%
2015	85%	87%
2014	83%	86%
2013	85%	85%
2012	81%	83%

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Students by Ethnicity:

0.66

0.70

View Data

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Columbus County Schools	North Carolina
2023	0.66	0.71
2022	0.66	0.70
2021	0.66	0.69
2020	0.64	0.68
2019	0.64	0.68
2018	0.63	0.67
2017	0.63	0.67
2016	0.62	0.66
2015	0.61	0.66
2014	0.62	0.65
2013	0.62	0.65
2012	0.63	0.64
2011	0.63	0.64
2010	0.61	0.61
2009	0.61	0.61
2008	0.61	0.61
2007	0.61	0.60
2006	0.60	0.58
2005	0.59	0.58
2004	0.59	0.57
2003	0.58	0.56
2002	0.58	0.55
2001	0.58	0.53
2000	0.57	0.53
1999	0.57	0.52
1998	0.57	0.52
1997	0.56	0.50
1996	0.56	0.50
1995	0.56	0.49
1994	0.55	0.48
1993	0.55	0.48
1992	0.55	0.48
1991	0.54	0.48

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% American Indian

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Columbus County Schools	North Carolina
2023	4%	1%
2022	5%	1%
2021	5%	1%
2020	5%	1%
2019	5%	1%
2018	5%	1%
2017	5%	1%
2016	5%	1%
2015	6%	1%
2014	6%	1%
2013	6%	1%
2012	6%	1%
2011	6%	2%
2010	6%	1%
2009	7%	2%
2008	7%	2%
2007	7%	2%
2006	6%	2%
2005	6%	2%
2004	6%	2%
2003	6%	2%
2002	6%	2%
2001	6%	2%
2000	6%	2%
1999	6%	2%
1998	5%	2%
1997	6%	2%
1996	6%	2%
1995	6%	2%
1994	6%	2%
1993	5%	2%
1992	5%	2%
1991	5%	2%

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% Asian

n/a

% Hispanic

12%

20%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Columbus County Schools	North Carolina
2023	12%	20%
2022	12%	20%
2021	12%	19%
2020	10%	18%
2019	10%	18%
2018	10%	17%
2017	10%	17%
2016	10%	16%
2015	10%	16%
2014	9%	15%
2013	9%	14%
2012	9%	13%
2011	8%	13%
2010	7%	11%
2009	6%	11%
2008	6%	11%
2007	6%	10%
2006	5%	8%
2005	4%	8%
2004	4%	7%
2003	3%	6%
2002	3%	5%
2001	2%	4%
2000	2%	4%
1999	1%	3%
1998	1%	3%
1997	1%	2%
1996	1%	2%

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% Black

29%

24%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Columbus County Schools	North Carolina
2023	31%	25%
2022	31%	25%
2021	31%	25%
2020	33%	25%
2019	33%	25%
2018	33%	26%
2017	33%	26%
2016	33%	26%
2015	34%	26%
2014	31%	26%
2013	32%	26%
2012	33%	26%
2011	34%	26%
2010	36%	31%
2009	36%	31%
2008	36%	29%
2007	37%	29%
2006	40%	32%
2005	40%	31%
2004	41%	31%
2003	40%	31%
2002	42%	31%
2001	42%	31%
2000	43%	31%
1999	44%	31%
1998	44%	30%
1997	43%	31%
1996	43%	31%
1995	43%	30%
1994	42%	30%
1993	42%	30%
1992	41%	30%
1991	40%	30%

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% White

50%

45%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Columbus County Schools	North Carolina
2023	49%	44%
2022	48%	45%
2021	48%	46%
2020	49%	48%
2019	49%	48%
2018	50%	49%
2017	50%	49%
2016	51%	50%
2015	49%	50%
2014	53%	51%
2013	52%	52%
2012	51%	53%
2011	51%	53%
2010	51%	54%
2009	51%	54%
2008	51%	55%
2007	50%	56%
2006	49%	56%
2005	50%	57%
2004	49%	58%
2003	51%	59%
2002	49%	60%
2001	50%	61%
2000	49%	61%
1999	49%	62%
1998	50%	63%
1997	50%	64%
1996	50%	64%
1995	51%	65%
1994	52%	66%
1993	53%	66%
1992	54%	66%
1991	55%	66%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

% Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Columbus County Schools	North Carolina
2023	4%	6%
2022	4%	5%
2021	4%	5%
2020	3%	5%
2019	3%	5%
2018	2%	4%
2017	2%	4%
2016	1%	4%
2015	1%	4%
2014	1%	4%
2013	1%	4%

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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $10,557 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,191. 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 $11,616. The school district spending/student has declined by 12% over four school years.

This School District

This State (NC)

Total Revenue

$64 MM

$17,307 MM

View Data

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Columbus County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$64 MM	$8 MM
2022	$61 MM	$8 MM
2021	$64 MM	$8 MM
2020	$61 MM	$8 MM
2019	$63 MM	$8 MM
2018	$59 MM	$8 MM
2017	$64 MM	$8 MM
2016	$63 MM	$8 MM
2015	$65 MM	$18 MM
2014	$58 MM	$10 MM
2012	$61 MM	$17 MM
2011	$64 MM	$19 MM
2010	$65 MM	$18 MM
2009	$65 MM	$19 MM
2008	$64 MM	$18 MM
2007	$65 MM	$18 MM
2006	$56 MM	$15 MM
2005	$55 MM	$15 MM
2004	$56 MM	$17 MM
2003	$50 MM	$17 MM
2002	$51 MM	$16 MM
2001	$53 MM	$17 MM
2000	$55 MM	$20 MM
1999	$47 MM	$23 MM
1998	$45 MM	$26 MM
1997	$42 MM	$34 MM
1996	$40 MM	$34 MM
1995	$39 MM	$32 MM

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Spending

$62 MM

$17,964 MM

View Data

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Columbus County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$62 MM	$8 MM
2022	$60 MM	$8 MM
2021	$62 MM	$8 MM
2020	$60 MM	$8 MM
2019	$61 MM	$7 MM
2018	$61 MM	$8 MM
2017	$62 MM	$9 MM
2016	$64 MM	$8 MM
2015	$64 MM	$18 MM
2014	$60 MM	$11 MM
2012	$61 MM	$16 MM
2011	$63 MM	$17 MM
2010	$64 MM	$18 MM
2009	$65 MM	$18 MM
2008	$60 MM	$17 MM
2007	$60 MM	$18 MM
2006	$58 MM	$15 MM
2005	$54 MM	$15 MM
2004	$49 MM	$16 MM
2003	$49 MM	$17 MM
2002	$49 MM	$15 MM
2001	$51 MM	$17 MM
2000	$53 MM	$20 MM
1999	$47 MM	$24 MM
1998	$43 MM	$26 MM
1997	$41 MM	$36 MM
1996	$40 MM	$33 MM
1995	$39 MM	$32 MM

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Revenue / Student

$10,557

$11,191

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Columbus County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$12,069	$10,093
2022	$10,785	$9,918
2021	$12,006	$10,282
2020	$10,785	$9,918
2019	$11,004	$9,125
2018	$10,910	$9,419
2017	$10,587	$10,522
2016	$10,195	$9,128
2015	$10,338	$10,864
2014	$9,512	$9,046
2012	$9,123	$10,562
2011	$9,487	$12,703
2010	$9,367	$10,864
2009	$8,989	$11,105
2008	$9,126	$11,767
2007	$8,922	$9,479
2006	$7,963	$9,335
2005	$7,817	$8,913
2004	$7,891	$8,734
2003	$7,052	$8,577
2002	$7,052	$8,130
2001	$7,188	$7,294
2000	$7,366	$7,636
1999	$6,259	$7,252
1998	$5,951	$5,688
1997	$5,511	$5,690
1995	$5,090	$5,545
1992	$4,554	$4,737

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Spending / Student

$10,258

$11,616

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Columbus County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$11,728	$9,807
2022	$10,728	$9,654
2021	$11,666	$9,990
2020	$10,728	$9,654
2019	$10,661	$8,949
2018	$11,239	$9,637
2017	$10,291	$11,583
2016	$10,323	$9,753
2015	$10,185	$10,591
2014	$9,827	$9,388
2012	$9,051	$10,336
2011	$9,322	$11,927
2010	$9,228	$10,591
2009	$8,971	$10,880
2008	$8,634	$11,136
2007	$8,347	$9,418
2006	$8,228	$8,813
2005	$7,734	$8,647
2004	$6,897	$8,413
2003	$6,849	$8,886
2002	$6,794	$7,903
2001	$6,943	$7,301
2000	$7,203	$7,650
1999	$6,338	$7,340
1998	$5,792	$5,663
1997	$5,347	$6,040
1995	$5,032	$5,570
1992	$4,431	$4,725

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Best Columbus County Schools Public High Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)

Location

Quick Facts

Rank: #11.

Columbus Career And College Academy

(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 60-79%)
:

Top 20%

Add to Compare

4564 Chadbourn Hwy
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 788-6281

Gr: 9-13 | 206 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 45%

Rank: #22.

West Columbus High School

(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
:

Top 50%

Add to Compare

7294 Andrew Jackson Hwy
Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
(910) 654-6111

Gr: 9-12 | 455 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 55%

Rank: #33.

South Columbus High School

(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 40-44%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

40 Stallion Drive
Tabor City, NC 28463
(910) 653-4073

Gr: 9-12 | 689 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 37%

Rank: #44.

East Columbus Junior-senior High School

(Math: 23% | Reading: 42%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

32 Gator Lane
Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450
(910) 646-4094

Gr: 7-12 | 560 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 72%

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Quick Facts (2025-26)

District size: 14 schools
Grades: PK-13
Enrollment: 6,057 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
Minority Enrollment: 50%
: 85% (Top 50% in NC)
: Bottom 50%
: 42% (Btm 50%)
: 41% (Btm 50%)
: 55% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education