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 2025-26 school year, there are 2 public high schools serving 648 students in Polk County Schools. This district's average high testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Polk County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 71% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 68% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Polk County School have a Graduation Rate of 83%, which is less than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Polk County Early College, with ≥90% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 25% of the student body (majority Hispanic), 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
7 Schools
759 Schools
# Students
2,156 Students
565,383 Students
# Teachers
171 Teachers
33,426 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Polk County Schools, which is ranked within the top 20% 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 82% has decreased from 90-94% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#51 out of 325 school districts
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)66%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
67%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
74%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)85-89%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.40
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
12%
20%
% Black
6%
24%
% White
76%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $13,537 is higher than the state median of $11,191. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,184 is higher than the state median of $11,616. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$29 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$28 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$13,537
$11,191
Spending / Student
$13,184
$11,616
Best Polk County Schools Public High Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Polk County High School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1681 East Nc 108 Hwy
Columbus, NC 28722
(828) 894-2525
Columbus, NC 28722
(828) 894-2525
Gr: 9-12 | 593 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #22.
Polk County Early College
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1545 East Nc 108 Hwy
Columbus, NC 28722
(828) 894-2698
Columbus, NC 28722
(828) 894-2698
Gr: 9-12 | 55 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
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