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 school year, there are 4 public high schools serving 1,910 students in Columbus County Schools School District. 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 School District 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 School District have a Graduation Rate of 86%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 85%.
The school with highest graduation rate is East Columbus Junior-senior High School, with 90-94% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 52% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 55% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
14 Schools
761 Schools
# Students
6,057 Students
565,764 Students
# Teachers
400 Teachers
33,453 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)
42%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
55%
63%
Graduation Rate
85%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.66
0.70
% American Indian
3%
1%
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
12%
20%
% Black
29%
24%
% White
50%
45%
% 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 High Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
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
Grades: 9-13
| 206 students
Rank: #22.
West Columbus High School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
7294 Andrew Jackson Hwy
Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
(910) 654-6111
Cerro Gordo, NC 28430
(910) 654-6111
Grades: 9-12
| 455 students
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
Grades: 9-12
| 689 students
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
Grades: 7-12
| 560 students
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