Columbus County Schools School District

817 Washington Street
Whiteville, NC 28472
(District boundaries shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%

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 8 public preschools serving 3,741 students in Columbus County Schools School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in North Carolina.
Public Preschools in Columbus County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 44% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 39% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 48% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
14 Schools
994 Schools
# Students
6,057 Students
464,055 Students
# Teachers
400 Teachers
33,275 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.
This School District
State Average (NC)
#230 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(21-22)
42%
51%
41%
50%
55%
63%
(21-22)
85%
86%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.66
0.72
% American Indian
3%
1%
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
12%
23%
% Black
29%
25%
% White
50%
41%
% 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.
This School District
This State (NC)
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 Preschools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Old Dock Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
12489 New Britton Hwy
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 642-2084
Gr: PK-4 | 278 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Acme Delco Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
16337 Old Lake Road
Riegelwood, NC 28456
(910) 655-2957
Gr: PK-6 | 310 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Hallsboro-artesia Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1337 Giles Byrd Road
Hallsboro, NC 28442
(910) 646-3510
Gr: PK-6 | 376 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #44.
Williams Township
(Math: 46% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
10400 James B White Hwy
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 653-3791
Gr: PK-8 | 634 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #55.
Cerro Gordo Elementary School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
7685 Andrew Jackson Hwy
Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
(910) 654-4250
Gr: PK-8 | 380 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #66.
Evergreen Elementary School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
7211 Old 74 Hwy
Evergreen, NC 28438
(910) 654-3502
Gr: PK-8 | 353 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: n/an/a
Tabor City School
203 Stake Road
Tabor City, NC 28463
(910) 653-3618
Gr: PK-8 | 598 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: n/an/a
West Columbus School
7685 Andrew Jackson Hwy Sw
Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
(910) 654-4250
Gr: PK-8 | 812 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 48%

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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

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