Top Rankings
Polk County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 4 public preschools serving 1,008 students in Polk County Schools. This district's average pre testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 5% of public pre schools in North Carolina.
Public Preschools in Polk County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 69% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 65% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 23% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
7 Schools
1,005 Schools
# Students
2,110 Students
477,346 Students
# Teachers
151 Teachers
32,717 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Polk County Schools, which is ranked within the top 20% 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 82% has decreased from 90-94% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#51 out of 325 school districts
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)66%
51%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
67%
50%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
74%
63%
Graduation Rate
82%
86.5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)28.8%
28.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.41
0.73
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
13%
24%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 33-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
6%
25%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
76%
40%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
6%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $16,600 is higher than the state median of $13,318. The school district revenue/student has declined by 9% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,457 is higher than the state median of $13,934. The school district spending/student has declined by 9% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$35 MM
$20,622 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$35 MM
$21,575 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$16,600
$13,318
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$16,457
$13,934
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Polk County Schools Public Preschools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Saluda Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
214 E Main Street
Saluda, NC 28773
(828) 894-1040
Saluda, NC 28773
(828) 894-1040
Gr: PK-5 | 142 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #22.
Tryon Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
100 School Place
Tryon, NC 28782
(828) 859-6584
Tryon, NC 28782
(828) 859-6584
Gr: PK-5 | 367 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #33.
Polk Central Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2141 South Nc9 Hwy
Mill Spring, NC 28756
(828) 894-8233
Mill Spring, NC 28756
(828) 894-8233
Gr: PK-5 | 379 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #44.
Sunny View Elementary School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
86 Sunny View School Road
Mill Spring, NC 28756
(828) 894-1050
Mill Spring, NC 28756
(828) 894-1050
Gr: PK-5 | 120 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 4%
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