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 7 public middle schools serving 3,544 students in Columbus County Schools School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in North Carolina.
Public Middle Schools in Columbus County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 40% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 48% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public middle school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
14 Schools
882 Schools
# Students
6,057 Students
494,023 Students
# Teachers
400 Teachers
31,644 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
0.71
% American Indian
3%
1%
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
12%
20%
% Black
29%
25%
% White
50%
44%
% 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 Middle Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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: #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 | 560 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #55.
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.